Blackbullion CEO Vivi Friedgut talks finserve and diversity

What exactly is Blackbullion? Can you describe the function/core concepts/purpose?

Blackbullion is the financial wellness platform that equips young people with money skills for life and improves access to funds. We do this by combining digital financial learning with fintech-based fund applications and payment systems, delivered through our proprietary SaaS-based subscription platform.

We start with financial education, helping young people develop important money skills. Our financial education program covers over 80 financial topics from budgeting tips and building an emergency fund to investing and understanding cryptocurrency.

Driving financial inclusion is a major priority for Blackbullion. We prioritize this through our Funds Management System – a digitized financial support function that delivers secure, fast payments to students in seconds.

Because we have deeply integrated the platform into student support departments, we are able to offer easier, faster and stress-free distribution of funds, while freeing up teams to proactively support students. In 2021, our FMS saved the equivalent of 850 working days for employees.

Today, 1.2 million students can access Blackbullion’s platform, saving an average of £360 per year with improved financial education.

Earlier this year we acquired The Scholarship Hub, the UK’s leading scholarship funding tool. By integrating the university’s funding resources with our own platform, we can create a more integrated seamless student experience.

How does it differ in the market?

A key way we differentiate ourselves in the market is through the Blackbullion customer community. It is a community of over 50 universities, colleges and institutions driven by customer events, webinars, exchange of best practices. We bring an open spirit of learning and sharing, with a collective mission to change the future of financial well-being for young people. We have our customers who really share best practices and ideas and work together – I’m so proud of that.

Partnerships have also been key to driving our vision of access to financial well-being for all young people. We have recently partnered with Unite Students, the leading provider of student accommodation in the UK, meaning all student residents now have access to Blackbullion’s platform and can benefit from our full range of financial education resources.

And earlier this year we launched Blackbullion Futures, a partnership with the Bank of England and Pearson, the world’s leading learning company. The free online learning program gives 16-8 year olds the skills, knowledge and confidence to make the right decision for their financial future. No wonder I’m a little tired…

What would be your advice to young women today who are keen to pursue a career in fintech?

Get to know the company culture first. Make sure you can see the values ​​reflected in behavior. Check the team, mission and vision – whether you can see psychological security and an environment where you can grow and develop. And of course, make sure the compensation is right – don’t underestimate your value. Can you see yourself modeling in the industry? We have a female founder and our CMO and Chief of Staff are both working mothers, working at the highest level. I’m sure that’s why right now we’re seeing developer application ratios of 2:1 women to men. We now face a different diversity challenge than most, in that we are looking to recruit more male employees, which is unheard of in technology.