In this Newcomers article, we introduce Up Luxembourg, an issuer of meal vouchers distributed on a card. We had a conversation with its Country Manager, Alicia Brun, who shared insights about the company's origins, unique features, and plans for the future.

1 - Please introduce your company and the products/services it offers.

Up Luxembourg is an issuer of meal vouchers distributed on a card. Our products and services are also accessible via an online platform and a mobile application. We aim to offer the best quality/price ratio on the market, in addition to a top-quality customer service and 100% automated management. We enable employees to increase their salary by €140 net/month, while saving employers 40% on an equivalent salary by being 100% exempt from social security charges.

2 - What led to the creation of your company?

In 2011, the then Belgian Minister for the Economy signed for the launch of dematerialized meal vouchers. That’s what drove Jean-Louis Van Houwe, whose ambition was to revolutionize meal voucher transactions, to create Monizze as Belgium's first 100% electronic meal voucher payment system. In 2015, Monizze was acquired by the cooperative and participative French UP group. Building in the success and roots of Monizze, we launch Up Luxembourg.

As in Belgium in 2011, the Luxembourg meal voucher market is not very competitive and has historically been paper-based. We are proud to launch Up Luxembourg to revitalize Meal Vouchers solutions, in the wake of the announced reform of meal vouchers (digitization).  This new legal framework will fuel innovation and open up the market, bringing more services and benefits to users. Our aim is to offer an ever more effective, advantageous, simple, secure and innovative solution. 

3 - What is the most difficult or unexpected thing you've had to overcome on your journey?

As a newcomer entrant, the most difficult is to gain our first clients to build our local credibility. We have to prove and convince that our solution is working and stable.

4 - How is your offering different from your competitors and other market players?

Up Luxembourg is more than a service, more than a product, it's a 360° tool simplifying the life of your company and your employees, with purchasing power at the heart of our mission. Our corporate culture is based on innovation. The company was the first in Belgium to offer a 100% digital service and use of meal vouchers. Digitalization remains anchored in our DNA, we innovate, adapt and improve quickly.

A pioneer in payment simplicity, we’re constantly reinventing ourselves and creating new features to make our users’ life easier. In Belgium, the Belgian fintech collaborates with Payconiq by Bancontact and a loyalty system, enabling its users to make cardless payments directly via the app on their smartphone, while accumulating loyalty points.

On top of that, we have responsive, customer-oriented service (answering your call within 3 ringtones!); online tools for a 100% automated management; and simple, transparent pricing.

5 - What did you find at LHoFT and what did LHoFT bring you?

The LHoft plays a major role in Luxembourg FinTech Ecosystem and is helping startups to connect, collaborate and innovate. So, it was natural to set up our company there. Being hosted at the LHoft, is a great opportunity to find many relevant connections with the fintech scene but also get support to showcase our innovative solutions and ideas.

6 - What's next?

We're launching our bêta phase. All employers, independants, who would like to test our solution are more than welcome! All feedbacks to build the best-in-class digital solution will be seriously considered. If you have questions or you want to participate, please contact me at alicia@up-luxembourg.lu.