Purrfolio

Cheddar, the mascot of Purrfolio
Screenshot of the game
Screenshot of the game; Cheddar changes expressions and gives advice based on the user's choices

Inspiration

Investing is one of the most powerful tools for building long-term wealth, yet it remains inaccessible and intimidating for many beginners. This fear is amplified during periods of market volatility, where uncertainty often leads to hesitation or poor financial decisions. We recognized that market downturns are not just moments of risk, but also opportunities for learning. Our goal was to transform that uncertainty into an engaging, low-risk environment where users can build confidence and develop real financial intuition.

What it does

Purrfolio is a gamified financial education platform that helps users build confidence in investing through interactive simulation. Instead of telling users what to invest in, Purrfolio teaches them how to think.

Users are placed in a simulated market scenario, including periods of volatility, and are given a virtual balance to make decisions such as buying, selling, or holding assets. The platform provides real-time, beginner-friendly feedback to explain the reasoning behind each outcome, helping users understand concepts like risk management, long-term strategy, and emotional decision-making.

By combining gameplay with guided insights, Purrfolio turns financial learning into an engaging and repeatable experience.

How we built it

We developed Purrfolio as a responsive web application using React and Vite to enable rapid development and iteration. The simulation engine was implemented on the frontend using JavaScript, with curated mock data to replicate realistic market behaviors. We also used ChatGPT to make the base code of the application.

We focused heavily on user experience, designing an intuitive interface that simplifies complex financial concepts. To increase engagement and memorability, we incorporated a cat-themed design system, using visual feedback and personality-driven elements to guide users through their decisions.

Challenges we ran into

One of our main challenges was balancing realism with simplicity. Financial markets are complex, and translating that into an experience that is both accurate and beginner-friendly required careful design decisions.

We also faced time constraints in prioritizing which features would deliver the most value. Rather than overbuilding, we focused on a strong core simulation and clear feedback system. Ensuring that users learn why a decision matters, rather than just seeing outcomes, was a key design challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of creating an experience that goes beyond passive learning by allowing users to actively engage with financial decision-making.

Purrfolio successfully combines:

gamification to drive engagement
simulation to provide hands-on experience
guided feedback to build understanding

We also built a cohesive and approachable user experience within a limited timeframe, making financial education feel less intimidating and more accessible.

What we learned

Through this project, we learned how to translate a complex real-world problem into a focused and buildable solution. We gained experience with modern web development tools such as React and Vite, and improved our ability to design with the user in mind.

Most importantly, we learned that impactful solutions are not defined by complexity, but by clarity, usability, and the value they provide to users.

What's next for Purrfolio

Moving forward, we plan to expand Purrfolio into a more personalized financial assistant.

Future improvements include:

personalized recommendations based on user goals and risk tolerance
integration of AI API or LLM to generate guided feedback for users
adaptive learning paths that evolve with user progress
enhanced gamification features such as achievements, streaks, and progress tracking

Our long-term vision is to make financial literacy engaging, accessible, and scalable, empowering users to make smarter financial decisions with confidence.