From communal savings apps to real-time credit card optimization, the first-ever FinHacks—hosted by Disrupt in collaboration with IDEA: Northeastern University's Venture Accelerator—showcased the exciting future of finance and innovation. Sponsored by leading companies, including Hudson River Trading, Silicon Valley Bank, JMAN Group, Percent, and more, this beginner-friendly hackathon welcomed undergraduate students from across the Boston area, encouraging them to build, create, and disrupt.
Inspiring leaders
FinHacks was spearheaded by a dynamic team of Northeastern University students dedicated to fostering innovation across disciplines. Co-Directors Rich Zou (DMSB'27) and Tomas D'Avola (Khoury'27), alongside Disrupt President & Operations Lead Philip Leung (DMSB'26), Design & Logistics Lead Erica Zheng (DMSB'27), and Tech Lead Xiao (Charlotte) Su (Khoury'27), worked to ensure an inclusive and impactful experience.
“It's crazy that, as a business major, I've been able to host two successful hackathons. I love innovation, and hackathons are the best entry point. Seeing so many of my friends struggle to start projects or feel excluded from CS clubs inspired me to create a beginner-friendly hackathon—one where everyone feels welcome to take their first steps into entrepreneurship,” says Zou.
A Snapshot of Success
- 137 Attendees
- 33 Project Submissions
- 41% Female Attendees
- 71% First-Time Hackers
These key metrics reflect FinHacks' commitment to belonging, experiential learning, and cross-college collaboration, which are all core values of Northeastern's approach to education.
Top teams and awards
After a whirlwind of coding, pitching, and refining, three standout teams took home top honors:
- First Place — ProsperouSSS
A financial “digital twin” software that uses data analysis and ML models to help businesses and governments make strategic pricing, policy, and market decisions.
- Second Place — Susu (Adesola Odubiyi, DMSB'27, Ahamed Diallo, DMSB'27, and Rachel Des Bordes, DMSB'27)
A modern adaptation of the traditional West African/Caribbean practice of communal saving, offering a secure platform for pooling money, tracking contributions, and managing payouts.
- Third Place — Portal Card (Alex Mohammed, DMSB'27)
A transit-specific credit card provides universal transit compatibility, cashback rewards, and robust security features, making commutes more seamless and rewarding.
Driving future-focused innovation
FinHacks attracted a broad network of sponsors beyond D'Amore-McKim, reflecting confidence in Northeastern's knack for producing future-ready innovators. Attendees sharpened their coding skills, connected with mentors, and forged partnerships that would stay with them beyond the hackathon's timeframe.
“I think my business classes give me somewhere to meet a lot of innovative people from different backgrounds and majors,” notes Zheng. When looking back at her time coordinating FinHacks, she says, “It's just really one of those things that you can refer back to in the future and kind of realize like how much you grew in like the last six months.”
Looking ahead
Building on this momentum, FinHacks is on track to becoming a staple event that exemplifies D'Amore-McKim and Khoury College's commitment to experiential learning, with many sponsors hiring participants as co-ops:
“I am thankful to Silicon Valley Bank and the JMAN Group because I heard that they're both going to be hiring finance co-ops next semester. We're creating great partnerships with these corporations through our clubs,” says Zou.
By empowering students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems, D'Amore-McKim continues to shape the next generation of leaders in finance, technology, and beyond.
“Every single person that was involved, including organizers, volunteers, mentors, and sponsors, all contributed to this. And so, I'm just really proud of what Disrupt has been able to achieve,” says Leung.
FinHacks underscores D'Amore-McKim's collaborative, forward-thinking culture, reminding us that when it comes to disrupting the future of finance, the brightest ideas often originate from dedicated students forging new paths in entrepreneurship and tech.