Opportunities in FinTech draw students to computer and data science
Fri 10.30.20 / Aditi Peyush
Opportunities in FinTech draw students to computer and data science
Fri 10.30.20 / Aditi Peyush
Fri 10.30.20 / Aditi Peyush
Fri 10.30.20 / Aditi Peyush
Opportunities in FinTech draw students to computer and data science
Fri 10.30.20 / Aditi Peyush
Opportunities in FinTech draw students to computer and data science
Fri 10.30.20 / Aditi Peyush
Fri 10.30.20 / Aditi Peyush
Fri 10.30.20 / Aditi Peyush
“A unique aspect about technology and finance is that technology improves processes in nearly every sector – the combination can make a large impact on the way that individuals and companies alike go about handling money,” explained Vasu Zalawadia (BS ’23), combined major in CS and finance and member of Disrupt.
“A unique aspect about technology and finance is that technology improves processes in nearly every sector – the combination can make a large impact on the way that individuals and companies alike go about handling money,” explained Vasu Zalawadia (BS ’23), combined major in CS and finance and member of Disrupt.
“A unique aspect about technology and finance is that technology improves processes in nearly every sector – the combination can make a large impact on the way that individuals and companies alike go about handling money,” explained Vasu Zalawadia (BS ’23), combined major in CS and finance and member of Disrupt.
“A unique aspect about technology and finance is that technology improves processes in nearly every sector – the combination can make a large impact on the way that individuals and companies alike go about handling money,” explained Vasu Zalawadia (BS ’23), combined major in CS and finance and member of Disrupt.
Meet Disrupt, one of the newest student organizations at Northeastern. Capitalizing on the buzz around “FinTech”– the elevation of technology to advance financial services – Disrupt creates a community for students, alumni, and professionals who have a passion for this interdisciplinary sector.
One of the club’s core values is that technological innovation can productively disrupt traditional financial methods. Because programming, data science, and the digital transformation to financial services are central to FinTech, the sector and the club are a natural fit for Khoury students.
Case in point is Disrupt member Vasu Zalawadia (BS ’23), who has a combined major in CS and finance. His motivation for joining? “A unique aspect about technology and finance is that technology improves processes in nearly every sector – the combination can make a large impact on the way that individuals and companies alike go about handling money.”
Founded in 2019, Disrupt already has 750+ students subscribed to their newsletter, 50 students enrolled in the Bootcamp, and about 40 students consistently coming to meetings. Reported current Disrupt president Mohamed Bennis (BS ’22), combined major in mathematics and finance, “Disrupt was founded during the infancy of FinTech, when it was just breaking out.” He further explained that Northeastern’s commitment to financial technology education has been demonstrated in its wholehearted support of Disrupt and the establishment of a FinTech concentration in the D’Amore-McKim School of Business.
Bennis, inspired to pursue FinTech through his combined major, followed his curiosity to more methodical approaches to innovation, which led him to Khoury College and a minor in data science–where he learned Python from scratch.
Speculating on what he sees as opportunities at the intersection of tech and finance, Bennis said, “I believe such FinTech solutions will be integrated in our everyday life, such as digital payments with cashless transaction apps like Square.”
Disrupt’s executive board emphasizes peer learning, connecting, and growing. These knowledge spillovers could translate into experiential learning through other students and utilizing that knowledge in co-op positions. Bennis said, “It’s upon us to bring FinTech to the Northeastern ecosystem and turn this mentality into something that resonates with everyone.” Having a space at the university, now a virtual one due to the pandemic, Disrupt enables its members to tap into the resources of alumni and professionals as FinTech expands.
In addition to the club, students interested in FinTech have several options for courses offered at Northeastern. Bennis recommended Programming with Data (DS2000), saying it allowed him to pursue a project in any field with financial modeling as a focus. Another Khoury College course, Database Design (CS3200), allows students to understand the technological logistics behind what makes FinTech possible. A D’Amore-McKim course offering, Fintech and Financial Innovation (FINA2730), offers a fundamental educational experience that directly ties to FinTech.
For students who come to FinTech from a computer science angle, there’s a strong desire for side projects they can engage in to expand their portfolio and skillset. Disrupt encourages members to take the first step by hosting Python and MATLAB bootcamps. The club’s executive board is running an eight-week-long bootcamp, called Finnovate, that focuses on FinTech innovation—the students are challenged to create a solution or come up with an idea for financial services.
Salem Alnahdi (BS ’22), a dual major in finance and entrepreneurship, is the director of technology at Disrupt; he uses his minor in CS to his advantage, holding office hours for Finnovate and running workshops on topics in computing. Alnahdi added, “My knowledge in CS has come in handy for this role–I have used my experience in developing websites and setting up cloud servers to create the Disrupt website and maintain it.”
The Finnovate bootcamp wraped up its first session in November 2020. While it has been focused on innovation, Disrupt’s objective has been to connect students with professionals to allow them to produce a deliverable product. Topics have included design thinking in FinTech, programming with Python and SQL, preparing a business plan and understanding financial statements, and digital transformation in financial services. Students also had the opportunity to learn about new ideas in digital banking, blockchain, and artificial intelligence.
About the design of the bootcamp, club president Bennis explained that, because the bootcamp “bridges the gap between Khoury and DMSB students as well as other Northeastern colleges, teams were paired based on their majors in order to have teams with different skillsets.”
Update (4/21/21):
Since the original publication date, Disrupt’s leadership team has grown to over 20 students, and over 1,000 students currently engage with the club. The Finnovate bootcamp, mentioned above, had more than 100 students participate over two semesters.
Bennis is planning to launch a new initiative, FinTech Labs, which will be the incubator for Disrupt. Student entrepreneurs who are interested in FinTech can email Bennis to connect on ways to work together and gain assistance in growing their ventures.
Any student with a passion for FinTech should consider applying to the Finnovate bootcamp. About 100 students have participated so far, and Disrupt has awarded $10K in funding to ventures that were created during the first two bootcamps. Applications open at the end of August.
To learn more about Disrupt, click here.
Meet Disrupt, one of the newest student organizations at Northeastern. Capitalizing on the buzz around “FinTech”– the elevation of technology to advance financial services – Disrupt creates a community for students, alumni, and professionals who have a passion for this interdisciplinary sector.
One of the club’s core values is that technological innovation can productively disrupt traditional financial methods. Because programming, data science, and the digital transformation to financial services are central to FinTech, the sector and the club are a natural fit for Khoury students.
Case in point is Disrupt member Vasu Zalawadia (BS ’23), who has a combined major in CS and finance. His motivation for joining? “A unique aspect about technology and finance is that technology improves processes in nearly every sector – the combination can make a large impact on the way that individuals and companies alike go about handling money.”
Founded in 2019, Disrupt already has 750+ students subscribed to their newsletter, 50 students enrolled in the Bootcamp, and about 40 students consistently coming to meetings. Reported current Disrupt president Mohamed Bennis (BS ’22), combined major in mathematics and finance, “Disrupt was founded during the infancy of FinTech, when it was just breaking out.” He further explained that Northeastern’s commitment to financial technology education has been demonstrated in its wholehearted support of Disrupt and the establishment of a FinTech concentration in the D’Amore-McKim School of Business.
Bennis, inspired to pursue FinTech through his combined major, followed his curiosity to more methodical approaches to innovation, which led him to Khoury College and a minor in data science–where he learned Python from scratch.
Speculating on what he sees as opportunities at the intersection of tech and finance, Bennis said, “I believe such FinTech solutions will be integrated in our everyday life, such as digital payments with cashless transaction apps like Square.”
Disrupt’s executive board emphasizes peer learning, connecting, and growing. These knowledge spillovers could translate into experiential learning through other students and utilizing that knowledge in co-op positions. Bennis said, “It’s upon us to bring FinTech to the Northeastern ecosystem and turn this mentality into something that resonates with everyone.” Having a space at the university, now a virtual one due to the pandemic, Disrupt enables its members to tap into the resources of alumni and professionals as FinTech expands.
In addition to the club, students interested in FinTech have several options for courses offered at Northeastern. Bennis recommended Programming with Data (DS2000), saying it allowed him to pursue a project in any field with financial modeling as a focus. Another Khoury College course, Database Design (CS3200), allows students to understand the technological logistics behind what makes FinTech possible. A D’Amore-McKim course offering, Fintech and Financial Innovation (FINA2730), offers a fundamental educational experience that directly ties to FinTech.
For students who come to FinTech from a computer science angle, there’s a strong desire for side projects they can engage in to expand their portfolio and skillset. Disrupt encourages members to take the first step by hosting Python and MATLAB bootcamps. The club’s executive board is running an eight-week-long bootcamp, called Finnovate, that focuses on FinTech innovation—the students are challenged to create a solution or come up with an idea for financial services.
Salem Alnahdi (BS ’22), a dual major in finance and entrepreneurship, is the director of technology at Disrupt; he uses his minor in CS to his advantage, holding office hours for Finnovate and running workshops on topics in computing. Alnahdi added, “My knowledge in CS has come in handy for this role–I have used my experience in developing websites and setting up cloud servers to create the Disrupt website and maintain it.”
The Finnovate bootcamp wraped up its first session in November 2020. While it has been focused on innovation, Disrupt’s objective has been to connect students with professionals to allow them to produce a deliverable product. Topics have included design thinking in FinTech, programming with Python and SQL, preparing a business plan and understanding financial statements, and digital transformation in financial services. Students also had the opportunity to learn about new ideas in digital banking, blockchain, and artificial intelligence.
About the design of the bootcamp, club president Bennis explained that, because the bootcamp “bridges the gap between Khoury and DMSB students as well as other Northeastern colleges, teams were paired based on their majors in order to have teams with different skillsets.”
Update (4/21/21):
Since the original publication date, Disrupt’s leadership team has grown to over 20 students, and over 1,000 students currently engage with the club. The Finnovate bootcamp, mentioned above, had more than 100 students participate over two semesters.
Bennis is planning to launch a new initiative, FinTech Labs, which will be the incubator for Disrupt. Student entrepreneurs who are interested in FinTech can email Bennis to connect on ways to work together and gain assistance in growing their ventures.
Any student with a passion for FinTech should consider applying to the Finnovate bootcamp. About 100 students have participated so far, and Disrupt has awarded $10K in funding to ventures that were created during the first two bootcamps. Applications open at the end of August.
To learn more about Disrupt, click here.
Meet Disrupt, one of the newest student organizations at Northeastern. Capitalizing on the buzz around “FinTech”– the elevation of technology to advance financial services – Disrupt creates a community for students, alumni, and professionals who have a passion for this interdisciplinary sector.
One of the club’s core values is that technological innovation can productively disrupt traditional financial methods. Because programming, data science, and the digital transformation to financial services are central to FinTech, the sector and the club are a natural fit for Khoury students.
Case in point is Disrupt member Vasu Zalawadia (BS ’23), who has a combined major in CS and finance. His motivation for joining? “A unique aspect about technology and finance is that technology improves processes in nearly every sector – the combination can make a large impact on the way that individuals and companies alike go about handling money.”
Founded in 2019, Disrupt already has 750+ students subscribed to their newsletter, 50 students enrolled in the Bootcamp, and about 40 students consistently coming to meetings. Reported current Disrupt president Mohamed Bennis (BS ’22), combined major in mathematics and finance, “Disrupt was founded during the infancy of FinTech, when it was just breaking out.” He further explained that Northeastern’s commitment to financial technology education has been demonstrated in its wholehearted support of Disrupt and the establishment of a FinTech concentration in the D’Amore-McKim School of Business.
Bennis, inspired to pursue FinTech through his combined major, followed his curiosity to more methodical approaches to innovation, which led him to Khoury College and a minor in data science–where he learned Python from scratch.
Speculating on what he sees as opportunities at the intersection of tech and finance, Bennis said, “I believe such FinTech solutions will be integrated in our everyday life, such as digital payments with cashless transaction apps like Square.”
Disrupt’s executive board emphasizes peer learning, connecting, and growing. These knowledge spillovers could translate into experiential learning through other students and utilizing that knowledge in co-op positions. Bennis said, “It’s upon us to bring FinTech to the Northeastern ecosystem and turn this mentality into something that resonates with everyone.” Having a space at the university, now a virtual one due to the pandemic, Disrupt enables its members to tap into the resources of alumni and professionals as FinTech expands.
In addition to the club, students interested in FinTech have several options for courses offered at Northeastern. Bennis recommended Programming with Data (DS2000), saying it allowed him to pursue a project in any field with financial modeling as a focus. Another Khoury College course, Database Design (CS3200), allows students to understand the technological logistics behind what makes FinTech possible. A D’Amore-McKim course offering, Fintech and Financial Innovation (FINA2730), offers a fundamental educational experience that directly ties to FinTech.
For students who come to FinTech from a computer science angle, there’s a strong desire for side projects they can engage in to expand their portfolio and skillset. Disrupt encourages members to take the first step by hosting Python and MATLAB bootcamps. The club’s executive board is running an eight-week-long bootcamp, called Finnovate, that focuses on FinTech innovation—the students are challenged to create a solution or come up with an idea for financial services.
Salem Alnahdi (BS ’22), a dual major in finance and entrepreneurship, is the director of technology at Disrupt; he uses his minor in CS to his advantage, holding office hours for Finnovate and running workshops on topics in computing. Alnahdi added, “My knowledge in CS has come in handy for this role–I have used my experience in developing websites and setting up cloud servers to create the Disrupt website and maintain it.”
The Finnovate bootcamp wraped up its first session in November 2020. While it has been focused on innovation, Disrupt’s objective has been to connect students with professionals to allow them to produce a deliverable product. Topics have included design thinking in FinTech, programming with Python and SQL, preparing a business plan and understanding financial statements, and digital transformation in financial services. Students also had the opportunity to learn about new ideas in digital banking, blockchain, and artificial intelligence.
About the design of the bootcamp, club president Bennis explained that, because the bootcamp “bridges the gap between Khoury and DMSB students as well as other Northeastern colleges, teams were paired based on their majors in order to have teams with different skillsets.”
Update (4/21/21):
Since the original publication date, Disrupt’s leadership team has grown to over 20 students, and over 1,000 students currently engage with the club. The Finnovate bootcamp, mentioned above, had more than 100 students participate over two semesters.
Bennis is planning to launch a new initiative, FinTech Labs, which will be the incubator for Disrupt. Student entrepreneurs who are interested in FinTech can email Bennis to connect on ways to work together and gain assistance in growing their ventures.
Any student with a passion for FinTech should consider applying to the Finnovate bootcamp. About 100 students have participated so far, and Disrupt has awarded $10K in funding to ventures that were created during the first two bootcamps. Applications open at the end of August.
To learn more about Disrupt, click here.
Meet Disrupt, one of the newest student organizations at Northeastern. Capitalizing on the buzz around “FinTech”– the elevation of technology to advance financial services – Disrupt creates a community for students, alumni, and professionals who have a passion for this interdisciplinary sector.
One of the club’s core values is that technological innovation can productively disrupt traditional financial methods. Because programming, data science, and the digital transformation to financial services are central to FinTech, the sector and the club are a natural fit for Khoury students.
Case in point is Disrupt member Vasu Zalawadia (BS ’23), who has a combined major in CS and finance. His motivation for joining? “A unique aspect about technology and finance is that technology improves processes in nearly every sector – the combination can make a large impact on the way that individuals and companies alike go about handling money.”
Founded in 2019, Disrupt already has 750+ students subscribed to their newsletter, 50 students enrolled in the Bootcamp, and about 40 students consistently coming to meetings. Reported current Disrupt president Mohamed Bennis (BS ’22), combined major in mathematics and finance, “Disrupt was founded during the infancy of FinTech, when it was just breaking out.” He further explained that Northeastern’s commitment to financial technology education has been demonstrated in its wholehearted support of Disrupt and the establishment of a FinTech concentration in the D’Amore-McKim School of Business.
Bennis, inspired to pursue FinTech through his combined major, followed his curiosity to more methodical approaches to innovation, which led him to Khoury College and a minor in data science–where he learned Python from scratch.
Speculating on what he sees as opportunities at the intersection of tech and finance, Bennis said, “I believe such FinTech solutions will be integrated in our everyday life, such as digital payments with cashless transaction apps like Square.”
Disrupt’s executive board emphasizes peer learning, connecting, and growing. These knowledge spillovers could translate into experiential learning through other students and utilizing that knowledge in co-op positions. Bennis said, “It’s upon us to bring FinTech to the Northeastern ecosystem and turn this mentality into something that resonates with everyone.” Having a space at the university, now a virtual one due to the pandemic, Disrupt enables its members to tap into the resources of alumni and professionals as FinTech expands.
In addition to the club, students interested in FinTech have several options for courses offered at Northeastern. Bennis recommended Programming with Data (DS2000), saying it allowed him to pursue a project in any field with financial modeling as a focus. Another Khoury College course, Database Design (CS3200), allows students to understand the technological logistics behind what makes FinTech possible. A D’Amore-McKim course offering, Fintech and Financial Innovation (FINA2730), offers a fundamental educational experience that directly ties to FinTech.
For students who come to FinTech from a computer science angle, there’s a strong desire for side projects they can engage in to expand their portfolio and skillset. Disrupt encourages members to take the first step by hosting Python and MATLAB bootcamps. The club’s executive board is running an eight-week-long bootcamp, called Finnovate, that focuses on FinTech innovation—the students are challenged to create a solution or come up with an idea for financial services.
Salem Alnahdi (BS ’22), a dual major in finance and entrepreneurship, is the director of technology at Disrupt; he uses his minor in CS to his advantage, holding office hours for Finnovate and running workshops on topics in computing. Alnahdi added, “My knowledge in CS has come in handy for this role–I have used my experience in developing websites and setting up cloud servers to create the Disrupt website and maintain it.”
The Finnovate bootcamp wraped up its first session in November 2020. While it has been focused on innovation, Disrupt’s objective has been to connect students with professionals to allow them to produce a deliverable product. Topics have included design thinking in FinTech, programming with Python and SQL, preparing a business plan and understanding financial statements, and digital transformation in financial services. Students also had the opportunity to learn about new ideas in digital banking, blockchain, and artificial intelligence.
About the design of the bootcamp, club president Bennis explained that, because the bootcamp “bridges the gap between Khoury and DMSB students as well as other Northeastern colleges, teams were paired based on their majors in order to have teams with different skillsets.”
Update (4/21/21):
Since the original publication date, Disrupt’s leadership team has grown to over 20 students, and over 1,000 students currently engage with the club. The Finnovate bootcamp, mentioned above, had more than 100 students participate over two semesters.
Bennis is planning to launch a new initiative, FinTech Labs, which will be the incubator for Disrupt. Student entrepreneurs who are interested in FinTech can email Bennis to connect on ways to work together and gain assistance in growing their ventures.
Any student with a passion for FinTech should consider applying to the Finnovate bootcamp. About 100 students have participated so far, and Disrupt has awarded $10K in funding to ventures that were created during the first two bootcamps. Applications open at the end of August.
To learn more about Disrupt, click here.