1. We're live in The Gambia!!
The first four students to qualify for loans through Jump Finance have received their funds and are enrolled for the spring semester at the University of The Gambia!
All four students passed our application process, from a screening on the Jump app through detailed assessments, interviews, and reference checks. This is a major milestone—proof that our business model works and a rigorous test of our technology. Most importantly, we are achieving our mission of supporting dedicated students achieve their educational goals.
We’ll introduce individual students here and via email over the next few months. If you want to get updates every couple of months straight to your inbox, get in touch!
2. UT Austin's LIFT Fellows help map Jump Finance's future
From left: Sarang, John William, Alexis, Timia, and Benaz.
This past fall, Jump Finance was chosen as one of the inaugural group of companies in the University of Texas Longhorn Impact Fellowship (LIFT) Program, part of UT’s McCombs School of Business Social Innovation Initiative. Throughout the fall semester, we worked with three amazing graduate and undergraduate Fellows who conducted a consulting project for us that included market sizing, investment analysis, and qualitative research with potential customers in new markets.
A huge thanks to the Fellows: Sarang Murthy, Timia Bethea, and Alexis Angelo! Read more about the experience in Sarang’s great Medium piece on the opportunities and challenges facing businesses that invest in human capital.
3. More Milestones
📈 We raised funds from Hill Country Pitch Day and other sources.
🏛 We officially incorporated Jump Finance in The Gambia and opened our bank account.
🌍 During winter break from his Ph.D., Samba (on the left in the photo at the top of this post) visited family back in The Gambia, meeting Jump Finance students (right) and helping finalize logistics for our loan program with the University of The Gambia.
4. (Some) plans for 2020
We're excited to keep building on the momentum of the last few months to vet more qualified student borrowers, grow as a business, and improve our technology. We’re setting big goals for 2020—including finalizing our banking partnership and raising $50,000 to fund our next 25 borrowers!
Thanks for reading, and for your support. Together, we’re financing the future.
