HerFund

As college students, we realized we are expected to make major financial decisions without being taught how investing actually works. Concepts like ETFs, diversification, risk, and compound growth can feel intimidating, especially for young women entering traditionally male-dominated financial spaces. We wanted to make learning about money feel more approachable and practical.

HerFund combines bite-sized financial lessons with a risk-free investing simulator. Users learn concepts like stocks, ETFs, diversification, and risk, then immediately practice them using simulated money. The platform also includes portfolio feedback, market scenarios, a compound-growth calculator, a finance dictionary, streaks, quests, achievements, and our boba mascot, Penny.

We designed HerFund around a simple loop: learn, practice, understand. We created beginner-friendly lessons and connected them to investing missions where users could apply what they just learned. We also used a warm café-inspired design and light gamification to make finance feel less intimidating.

One of our biggest challenges was simplifying financial concepts without losing important details. We also wanted to make the app engaging without making investing feel like gambling or encouraging users to chase returns.

We are most proud of connecting education directly to practice. Instead of just reading about an ETF or diversification, users can immediately apply the concept in a simulated portfolio. We are also proud of creating an experience that feels fun and welcoming without being childish.

We learned that financial literacy is not just about having more information. People also need confidence and opportunities to practice. Clear explanations, hands-on learning, and immediate feedback can make intimidating topics much easier to understand.

Next, we want to add more learning paths, market scenarios, personalized portfolio insights, and community challenges. Our goal is for HerFund to become the practice space people use before making their first real investment.

Built With

• codex