30 March 2023 – The National University of Singapore (NUS) Fintech Society successfully hosted its annual flagship event, NUS Fintech Month, in January 2023. The event, which was sponsored by Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) and Panda Commercial Bank Plc, provided a platform for an inspiring display of ideas, talent, and heart in the fintech industry.
Throughout the month, 311 participants, ranging from fledgling developers to diehard crypto enthusiasts, had the opportunity to engage in a variety of events and activities, including symposia, workshops, and a hackathon. The symposia and workshops featured a spectacular line-up of speakers, covering a wide range of topics, such as “Web3 101,” presented by Ms. Celine Wan, the Assistant Vice President of Fintech & Ecosystems at OCBC bank, and “Digital Currencies 101,” delivered by Mr. Nischint Sanghavi, the Regional Crypto Lead in Asia Pacific Visa, to spark the interest of new fintech entrants and engage the minds of fintech explorers. The hackathon, which centred around the theme of “Fintech as a Service,” provided valuable insights and opportunities for tertiary students to explore the world of fintech and develop innovative solutions under mentorship. The hackathon concluded with a Finalist Demo Day, where top teams showcased their work to a panel of esteemed judges.
The grand prize (SGD$12,000) was awarded to Team Wen Lambo, who developed a custodial service for blockchain wallets integrated with bank accounts, offering instant creation of a crypto wallet, handling of crypto and fiat payments in one account. The 1st runner-up (SGD$8,000) went to Team F.R.I.D.A.Y., who developed a self-learning AI tool for small businesses to provide 24/7 customer service, and the 2nd runner-up (SGD$4,000) went to Team Fin Zone, who developed a smart contract-powered wealth inheritance service. The remaining 11 finalists teams each received SGD$1,000.
In addition, special sponsored awards totalling SGD$6,000 were given out to the top teams for their outstanding solutions. Team TakoHackies, who developed a blockchain-based cross-border payment API platform, won the “MOST RELIABLE FINTECH SOLUTION” award sponsored by Bybit; Team Fin Zone (2nd runner-up) won the “MOST INCLUSIVE FINTECH SOLUTION” award sponsored by Vega Solutions; and Team Wen Lambo (Champion) won the “MOST ANALYTICS DRIVEN SOLUTION” award sponsored by 1Inch. Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their hard work and creativity.
Advisor to the NUS Fintech Society, Professor Jungpil Hahn said of the event: “I am proud of NUS Fintech Society to have hosted such a vibrant and engaging event. Being able to observe first-hand the deep technical capabilities of the participants and their creative ideations reassured me that the future of fintech is indeed bright. We look forward to continuing our commitment to creating a positive impact in the Singapore fintech ecosystem and beyond and nurturing the next generation of fintech leaders. We greatly appreciate the generous support of our sponsors without whom this event would not have been possible.”
Overall, NUS Fintech Month 2023 provided a vibrant platform for the next generation of fintech leaders to showcase their ideas and talents, and solidified NUS Fintech Society’s commitment to creating positive impact in the fintech ecosystem.
We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous contributions and unwavering support to the event:
Platinum Sponsors: Panda Commercial Bank Plc and AWS Startups.
Gold Sponsors: Bybit,Vega Solutions and 1inch Foundation.
Silver Sponsors: Visa, Thought Machine, Paypal and Coingecko.
