FINALIST from Japan

Japan

UrFund aims to revolutionize Japan’s $13 trillion personal finance market, where half the wealth languishes in zero-interest savings amid rising inflation and inequality. Our vision is an inclusive platform empowering individuals. We prioritize accessibility and transparency, leveraging technology. Accessibility involves simplifying complex financial products via concise, high-quality videos, fostering better understanding for informed decision-making. Transparency drives us as an unbiased third-party, steering users toward personalized fund discoveries. Through AI algorithms, user profiles and histories refine our recommendations. Our mission is to equip everyone with tailored financial solutions, revolutionizing how Japan approaches finance for a more informed and empowered society.

Armed with a dual major in Financial Engineering and Economics from Columbia University, my career journey began at Goldman Sachs in 2009 as an Equity Investment Research Analyst. Spending five impactful years studying Asian companies, I transitioned to Fidelity Management & Research in Boston, honing my skills as a Small Cap Investment Analyst. Diving into global investments broadened my vision, enabling me to assess Japanese companies through a global lens. My tenure at Amundi as a Portfolio Manager overseeing two equity funds spanned four years, unveiling the challenges in Japan’s asset management industry. Motivated by this insight, I founded UrFund, driven to innovate and address these industry challenges head-on.