Meet the students

Get inspired. Maybe it's your turn next time.

Team 2019, fall

SEBASTIAN

Aalborg

Study program:

Master’s degree in Management Accounting and Control at Aalborg University.

FinTech idea:

Help SMEs improve current efforts to manage corporate risk through new risk management processes - build on Tech.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

The fact, that the entire governance paradigm is built for large enterprises, although 99 % of today’s and future businesses belongs to the SME segment.

I applied for the scholarship because:

The scholarship is a unique opportunity for me to develop my FinTech idea as part of one of the best entrepreneurial communities in the world.

What I look forward to:

I look forward to working with top-class fellow students from UC Berkeley and the Silicon Valley environment in general. Engaging in the scholarship program will be a brilliant learning experience.

SIMON

Copenhagen

Study program:

I am currently studying a master’s degree in Business Administration and Information Systems at Copenhagen Business School.

FinTech idea:

By leveraging artificial intelligence and the future open banking possibilities in the PSD2 directive, I am developing a chatbot that can assist in finding ethical investment opportunities.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

June by Danske Bank, that have had a great deal of success in ensuring that younger people invest their money. Moreover, I’ve had great inspiration from the several sustainable pension schemes that are offered in the market.

I applied for the scholarship because:

I’ve worked with new technologies for several years, in that line of business Berkeley and the surrounding areas pose a unique combination of interesting people, large tech-firms and exciting entrepreneurs. Moreover, UC Berkeley is a world-renowned university, with some most innovative and knowledgeable people in the business. This combination is an incubator for growth and learning - professionally and personal.

What I look forward to:

Working and collaborating with the brilliant students and professors at UC Berkeley, participating in the unique entrepreneurial environment and experiencing the exceptional nature in California.

EIGIL

Copenhagen

Study program:

Mathematical Modelling and Computation at the Technical University of Denmark.

FinTech idea:

Insurance Fraud Detection using machine learning.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

My own experience when I was browsing insurance and later when I made a theft claim. I was met with a wall of opacity and policy information. In addition, the theft claim took several interactions and caused substantial customer friction. The insurance industry is not responding adequately to a new business reality, where customer flexibility, mobility and ease of use is paramount. I hope to change this with faster and better processing of insurance claims through sophisticated algorithms.

I applied for the scholarship because:

Berkeley offers a unique environment, where the culture from the innovation capital of the world meets cutting-edge academia. As a DTU student, I’ve been heavily exposed to technical insight, but it is in the interface between technology and business understanding that the real magic happens. I’m participating in the FinTech scholarship because it is an unbelievable chance to couple my competencies with completely new perspectives and approaches.

What I look forward to:

To take world-renowned courses within deep learning and statistical machine learning and to experience the vibrant ecosystem of Berkeley. In particular, I look forward to meeting a business perspective that’ll complement my technical proficiency. Lastly, I can’t wait to repeatedly sink my teeth into calorie-heavy juicy, American cheeseburgers.

FREDERIK

Copenhagen

Study program:

MSc Finance & Strategic Management, Copenhagen Business School.

FinTech idea:

Allowing private investors to invest sustainably while building a diversified portfolio.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

My biggest inspiration for my Fintech Idea has been the growing importance of sustainability in our society. In this sense, it is naturally also important to consider where we put our money and which kind of growth opportunities we fuel through our private investments.

I applied for the scholarship because:

To gain experience within an entrepreneurial setting which hopefully would allow for taking a different approach to solving problems and doing business than the more conventional approach taught at most courses in business school. I see the entrepreneurial track and the academic track as great complementarities which really extends the overall learning outcome.

What I look forward to:

I am mostly looking forward to the entrepreneurial track that will take place in the very inspiring setting of Silicon Valley, which hopefully would provide valuable insights and a dynamic approach to solving problems. Furthermore, I look forward to live in Berkeley and have a full-on American college experience combined with a strong academic agenda.

FREDERIK

Copenhagen

Study program:

MSc Finance & Strategic Management, Copenhagen Business School.

FinTech idea:

Allowing private investors to invest sustainably while building a diversified portfolio.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

I applied for the scholarship because:

What I look forward to:

FREDERIK

Copenhagen

Study program:

MSc Finance & Strategic Management, Copenhagen Business School.

FinTech idea:

Allowing private investors to invest sustainably while building a diversified portfolio.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

I applied for the scholarship because:

What I look forward to:

JANINE

Copenhagen

Study program:

I study M.Sc. Business Administration and Information Systems with a major in Data Science (cand. merc. IT) at Copenhagen Business School.

FinTech idea:

I want to simplify the identification process for opening a new bank account for people coming to Denmark only for a short time (< 2 years). Therefore, I want to develop an interface that connects a foreign bank account together with a Danish CPR number to create a (virtual) bank account with Danish bank credentials, so that it is possible to use services like MobilePay. The connection to the foreign bank account helps with the identification process and the financial securities without the need of a working contract.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

Being an international master student myself, I experienced that a lot of people who did not get a job right away or decided not to work during their short term stay in Denmark had a lot of difficulties opening a bank account and were therefore not able to use certain services like MobilePay.

I applied for the scholarship because:

The FinTech scholarship is giving me the great opportunity to study at one of the best universities in the world, where they offer a lot of courses that combine financial technologies and engineering with data science related topics. Since FinTech courses are not part of the mandatory program of my master, this is giving me the opportunity to specialize in one of the most vibrant and interesting industries these days. Also, the entrepreneurship track, where I can not only develop my own FinTech idea, but learn from the best in Silicon Valley, the birthplace of the most successful startups in the world, was motivating me to apply for the scholarship.

What I look forward to:

Learning from the best and having a great time in California.

Team 2019, spring

ALEXANDRA

København

Study program:

My name is Alexandra and I’m studying a master in Software Development at the IT-University of Copenhagen, from where I also have a bachelor in Global Business Informatics. I choose to study at ITU because I wanted to understand the digitalized world we live in, where it is headed, and have a say in how it is going to shape our future.

FinTech idea:

In my FinTech idea, I wish to explore how the application of blockchain technology can be used to innovate the way we do transactions. Currently, a middleman is often used when people make a transaction, however, blockchain allow consumers and suppliers to connect directly and thereby remove the need for a third party. Blockchain use cryptography to keep exchanges secure, and provide a decentralised database of transactions that are visible for everyone in the network. The network is fundamentally a chain of computers that must all approve an exchange before it can be verified and recorded.

In short, blockchain is a technology that has the potential to be used in many ways and prove beneficial in the finance sector, where there is an inherent lack of trust when two parties wish to conduct a value exchange.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

Through the last year, media have brought detailed stories about corruption, money laundering and dividend tax. The costs of these crimes reached many millions nationally and billions alone in Europe. Based on knowledge about blockchain, I am inspired to further investigate the possibility of using this technology to help secure and regulate economic transactions.

I applied for the scholarship because:

I applied for the FinTech scholarship because the overall program presented itself as an inimitable opportunity to combine a world-class academic education at UC Berkeley with real-life experience from the SPARK entrepreneurship program. From experience, I have learned that I develop myself the most when I engage and explore things outside my comfort zone. Ultimately, I perceive the scholarship as a rewarding challenge, which will help me grow both professionally and personally.

What I look forward to:

I look forward to everything from meeting the other scholarship beneficiaries, to the classes at UC Berkeley, and the experience of working in a top-notch multicultural environment. I’m excited to see how the entrepreneurship program unfolds and what results we achieve in the end. Finally, I really look forward to meeting new, ambitious and likeminded people on the journey. I am certain that this collaboration will prove fruitful and the lessons learned will assist all of us in our future career and aspirations.

EMIL

Aarhus

Study program:

I'm a law student at Aarhus University.

FinTech idea:

Chatbots with legal skills.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

Joshua Browder.

I applied for the scholarship because:

It's an opportunity for me, to come and study at one of the top-ranked law schools in the world, and the same time develop my entrepreneur skills and my FinTech idea.

What I look forward to:

I’m looking forward to see another side of the world. I love to travel and in my gap year I lived in London for 7 months. So I'm looking forward to live a new place, meet new people and experience to live in the US.

RASMUS

Aarhus

Study program:

Mathematical-Economics at Aarhus University.

FinTech idea:

Leveraging Machine Learning to fight Money Laundering.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

A money laundering scandal that ravaged the largest Danish commercial bank in 2018.

I applied for the scholarship because:

It combines a rigorous academic agenda with entrepreneurial thinking and training.

What I look forward to:

Working with brilliant fellow students in the best entrepreneurial community in the world.

RUNE

Aarhus

Study program:

I am currently studying for a master’s degree in Economics and Management at Aarhus University.

FinTech idea:

Using modern prediction tools, I want to help people save money and make smart investments.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

I have had the pleasure of working with many entrepreneurial mentors throughout my career, and I’ve always wanted to create something of my own. I became fascinated by machine learning through my studies and later on in my work, which inspired me to this idea.

I applied for the scholarship because:

It poses a unique and exciting opportunity for me to learn and build upon my existing knowledge by learning from some of the smartest and most successful people in the field. UC Berkeley is a world-renowned university, and Silicon Valley is the place to be if you want to be inspired and meet some of the most successful entrepreneurs of today.

What I look forward to:

Experiencing the real Silicon Valley, as well as the American university life. Submerging into this entrepreneurial culture that is different from what I am used to.

FREDERIK

København

Study program:

Mathematical Modelling and Computation at The Technical University of Denmark.

FinTech idea:

CleverCard: A need-based credit card.

My greatest inspiration for the FinTech idea:

Cash... I believe that cash have two important attributes that the current credit card is missing. When withdrawing cash, an upper limit for your spending is automatically established and throughout your day, you can easily access have much you have spent just by looking in your wallet.

I applied for the scholarship because:

I have always been fascinated by entrepreneurs and their ability to create and inspire. I see the scholarship and the entrepreneurship track, SPARK, as a unique opportunity for me to learn from some of these people. Moreover, Berkeley is a world-leading university within my field, Computer Vision, and situated in one of the most innovative environments in the world. Therefore, I cannot think of a better place to combine my passion and drive for Computer Vision and entrepreneurship than Berkeley.

What I look forward to:

I am very excited to see which adventures awaits in California; whether they are found in the beautiful mountains of Sierra Nevada, at the golden beaches along the coast, in the historic auditoriums of Berkeley, or in a small garage in Silicon Valley.