APU Students Excelled in National-Level FinTech Challenge
Kuala Lumpur, 25 June 2018: Technology revolution is taking place within all industries, including the banking and financial sector. With the significant introduction of revolutionary Financial Technologies (FinTech), SAS Malaysia, in collaboration with the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) embraces and excites students and academics in the FinTech ecosystem through the recently-concluded SAS FinTech Challenge 2017-2018.
The challenge commenced since October 2017, where 82 concept papers were submitted and among them, 20 papers were shortlisted as semi-finalist projects. Among them was a submission from team SOMEROLA from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), which comprised Elisha Yeo, Muhammad Akbar Husnoo, Sailalith Sarupuri, Seetaram Chandrashekhar, Tan Kok Sheng and Yashna Sayjadah.
After a series of workshops and hands-on trainings conducted by SAS Malaysia, the team took themselves to the stage of the National Grand Finals, in which they eventually stood out among the 5 Finalists and emerged as Champions of the FinTech Challenge. They walked away with a cash prize of RM50,000.
Representatives from Maybank Berhad, CIMB Bank Berhad, Hong Leong Bank Berhad and Public Bank Berhad were among the judging panel at the Grand Finals.
Team SOMEROLA was mentored by Dr Kadhar Nowshath and Prof Dr Ir Vinesh Thiruchelvam from the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology (FCET), APU. They proposed the concept of Social Media Retailer Online Loan Application, which aims to simplify loan applications for social media entrepreneurs.
Team SOMEROLA with their academic mentor, Dr. Kadhar Nowshath (center).
As Champions of SAS Malaysia FinTech Challenge 2018, Team SOMEROLA walked away with a cash prize of RM50,000. Center: Prof Dr Ir Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Dean, Faculty of Computing, Engineering & Technology (FCET), APU