Capstone Project & Potential Startup

Hypothesis

Financial literacy is linked to wealth. Many individuals remain financially illiterate due to a lack of time, interest, resources, or conducive environments.

Mission

Empower the lower/middle class to improve their financial situations despite low literacy rates.

Concept

Develop a personal finance copilot targeting college students, offering features beyond existing apps like Mint or NerdWallet:

  • Predictive forecasting
  • Economic context for decisions
  • Budget automation

Strategic Thoughts

  • Collaborate with professors and mentors like Prof. Raftopolous and Liz Brown.
  • Build a developer market for quick MVP iterations and multiple startup explorations simultaneously.
  • Integrate features like:
    • Bill splitting
    • Deals and credit card savings
    • Open-source approaches

Potential Application Areas

  • Macroeconomics, technical analysis, and ETFs vs. mutual funds.
  • AI-driven financial accountability programs.

Broader Inspiration

  • Leveraging tokenized securities and modern AI for personal finance.
  • Exploring user-friendly financial tools like Bloomberg for broader accessibility.

Reference Links:


Backlog

Tasks

  • Courses:
    • Complete Python LinkedIn, Yale, or Bloomberg market concepts courses.
  • Tools:
    • Focus on Laravel for capstone/startup development.
  • Readings:
    • Leadership materials (e.g., Amazon’s principles, “Blue Ocean Strategy”).
  • Research:
    • Explore hacking platforms like OWASP and HackerOne for potential cybersecurity integration.
  • Engagement:
    • Connect with mentors and industry professionals for guidance on entrepreneurial endeavors.

Specific Contacts

  • Reach out to David Yates, Lincoln Mantra, and Chad for Laravel development.
  • Connect with Sergei Revzin for insights on startups and entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways

  • Focus:
    • Integrate macroeconomic principles, AI, and personal finance for scalable financial literacy tools.
  • Emphasis:
    • Rapid MVP testing and learning through collaboration and mentorship.