2017 SNVC Finalist Wins $5,000 in Fintech Challenge

On January 25, benefits platform Jetson Benefits earned second place and $5,000 in the finals of the numo FinTech Challenge, a University of Chicago innovation competition that aims to generate new ideas in the field of financial technology.  

Supported by fintech incubator numo, as well as the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the pitch competition culminated with finals presentations from eight student teams.  

Jetson Benefits, which was a finalist in the 2017 John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC), took home second place in the Fintech Challenge. Vest Blockchain earned first place ($10,000 prize), and Seedling earned third place ($1,000).  

Jetson Benefits is a platform for independent workers to research, purchase, and manage benefits packages. “We believe the nature of work is changing,” according to the venture’s website. “Benefits should be tied to an individual worker, not an employer. Access to a personalized safety net will enable financial stability and economic mobility for all American workers."  

The team is made up of Booth students Mouleena Khan, Abbey O’Malley, and Sreekirthi Vadlamuri.  

Less than a year ago, Jetson Benefits competed in the SNVC, which is run by Booth’s Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation and the Polsky Center. The SNVC is the social impact track of the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC), the university’s business launch program.  

The SNVC is the cornerstone of the Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, which provides resources and programming to University of Chicago students, alumni, and faculty interested in launching social impact or environmental startups. The Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program was named in honor of UChicago Trustee and Chicago Booth alumnus John Edwardson, ’72, retired chairman and CEO of CDW.