Zonke

Zonke connects all your credit cards in one dashboard. Our Autopilot tells you exactly which card to pay first to protect your credit score. Less stress, better credit, one login.

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Inspiration

Zonke started at my kitchen table, not in a boardroom.
I watched a close family member struggle with constant payment reminders and scattered card logins. She worked hard, but she couldn’t maintain a good credit score because she never knew which bill to pay first. The stress came from too many apps, not from lack of effort. I built Zonke so no one has to choose between “keeping up” and actually understanding their money. One login. Clear priorities. An AI that protects your credit instead of just tracking it.

What it does

Zonke combines all your smart cards into one secure dashboard. Instead of logging into 5 different banking apps, you see all balances, due dates, and minimums in one place.
The built-in AI pilot analyzes your cards, interest rates, and cash flow, then tells you exactly which balance to pay first to maintain a strong credit score and reduce interest. It prioritizes financial health over “loudest due date.”

How I built it

  1. Frontend: Next.js + Tailwind for the dashboard and login UI, deployed on Vercel
  2. Auth: Secure login system so users only authenticate once for Zonke, not for every card
  3. AI Logic: Custom algorithm that ranks payments by impact on credit utilization, interest cost, and due date
  4. Data: Aggregates smart card info into a single view to eliminate app-switching

Challenges I ran into

  1. Secure aggregation: Connecting multiple card sources without storing sensitive credentials was tricky. I had to design the flow so users feel safe and in control.
  2. Prioritization logic: The AI isn’t just “pay highest interest first.” It has to balance credit utilization %, due date urgency, and available cash. Getting that ranking right took a lot of testing.
  3. User trust: People are nervous about money apps. Designing a simple, clean UI that feels trustworthy was harder than writing the code.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

  1. Turning a personal problem into a working product that actually solves it
  2. The Autopilot makes smart, human decisions — it doesn’t just show data, it gives you an action
  3. Getting the “one login” flow working. Users open Zonke and instantly see what matters, no digging
  4. Building something my family member can now use to feel less anxious about bills

What I learned

  1. Finance is emotional: Good UX for money apps means reducing anxiety, not adding charts
  2. Credit scores are about behavior, not just math: The most helpful feature is telling people “pay THIS one first”
  3. Start with one real user: Building for my family member kept the product focused and human
  4. Security > features: Users will forgive missing features, but never insecure auth

What's next for Zonke

  1. Smarter Autopilot: Add spending predictions + “payday planning” so the pilot warns you before you’re short
  2. More integrations: Support for loans, BNPL, and utility bills, not just smart cards
  3. Credit education: Built-in tips that explain why the AI chose that card, so users learn as they go
  4. Mobile app: Take the single-dashboard experience off the browser and into users’ pockets

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