"I joined Stern’s MSFT program with an entrepreneurial vision, and with NYU’s support, my capstone project evolved into FinOptima Solutions - turning an idea into a real fintech startup”
Why did you choose NYU Stern’s MS in Fintech program?
Coming from a background in investment banking and corporate finance, I was always fascinated by the intersection of finance and technology. However, it wasn’t enough to just observe fintech’s transformation - I wanted to be part of the disruption. NYU Stern’s MSFT program provided the perfect bridge between finance, technology, and entrepreneurship, equipping me with the tools to build something groundbreaking rather than just analyze the market from the sidelines.
What attracted me most to the program was its innovation-driven curriculum and its emphasis on applying classroom learnings to real-world business challenges. From the very beginning, I knew that this experience would not just be about acquiring knowledge - it would be about creating something tangible, scalable, and impactful.
What were your favorite classes and why?
Without a doubt, my favorite classes were "Platform Strategy in Fintech", "Fintech Startup Case Studies", and "Unicorns in Fintech."
- Platform Strategy in Fintech helped me understand how network effects, ecosystem building, and API integration shape fintech success. This was pivotal for FinOptima Solutions, as we are building a consortium-based fraud prevention model, which thrives on collaborative intelligence and seamless financial integrations.
- Fintech Startup Case Studies provided a real-world lens into how fintech startups navigate regulatory challenges, scaling hurdles, and investor dynamics. Studying how companies like Plaid, Revolut, and Wise structured their growth and funding strategy gave me invaluable insights for positioning FinOptima Solutions in the market.
- Unicorns in Fintech focused on valuation dynamics, market positioning, and investment trends, equipping me with the ability to assess FinOptima’s long-term scalability and potential investor fit. Understanding Lending Club’s trajectory, as discussed in our coursework, was particularly useful for avoiding common pitfalls in fintech lending models.
These courses didn’t just expand my knowledge—they directly impacted the way I build and scale my startup.
Who would you recommend this program to?
I would highly recommend the MSFT program to:
- Aspiring fintech founders - If you want to build, test, and launch a fintech startup, this program provides an ecosystem of experts, investors, and resources to accelerate your venture.
- Finance professionals looking to pivot into fintech - If you're in banking, private equity, or VC, MSFT gives you a deep technical foundation in fintech while sharpening your ability to analyze emerging financial technologies.
- VCs & investors - Understanding fintech valuation, regulatory frameworks, and AI-driven financial models is critical for investing in the next wave of fintech innovation.
The program is not just academic - it’s a launchpad for fintech leaders and disruptors.
How has learning from your peers in the cohort shaped your MSFT experience?
The cohort experience has been one of the most invaluable aspects of the program. The diversity of backgrounds - from ex-bankers and hedge fund managers to blockchain pioneers and startup founders - has significantly expanded my perspective.
- Discussions with peers working in regtech, AI-driven finance, and embedded payments have helped refine FinOptima’s fraud detection approach.
- The exchange of ideas has created cross-functional collaborations; I’ve worked on projects with cybersecurity experts, data scientists, and fintech strategists to enhance FinOptima’s product roadmap.
- The cohort’s global reach has provided a firsthand view of fintech trends in different markets, from Latin America’s digital banking revolution to Asia’s embedded finance boom.
Stern’s MSFT program is not just about faculty-led learning - it’s been about peer-driven innovation.
How has the MSFT program transformed your career?
Stern’s MSFT program has been a game-changer for me. It has been more than an academic experience - it has been a real-world fintech accelerator for me. I entered the program as a finance professional with an entrepreneurial vision, and left it as the founder of a venture-backed fintech startup solving one of the industry’s biggest challenges.
For anyone looking to build, invest in, or scale fintech innovations, this program provides the knowledge, network, and execution strategy to make it happen.
How did your capstone project evolve into a full-fledged startup?
The turning point in my fintech journey came when my capstone project, FinOptima Solutions, was selected as one of the top ideas out of 30+ proposals in our cohort. My vision was clear: to tackle synthetic identity fraud, one of the fastest-growing threats in financial services. Smaller banks and credit unions - those most vulnerable and lacking dedicated R&D teams - needed a scalable, consortium-based solution to fight fraud collaboratively rather than in isolation.
FinOptima Solutions is not just another ID verification tool - we are integrating ID prints, audio/voice biometrics, and behavioral analytics to create a multi-layered fraud detection system. With the rise of AI-driven voice mimicry, traditional verification methods are no longer sufficient. We address this by incorporating deepfake audio recognition, which is as uniquely identifiable as an iris scan or fingerprint, providing an unparalleled layer of security.
Once my idea was selected, I built a cross-disciplinary team of AI engineers, computer scientists, data experts, and fraud specialists. Together, we refined the concept, conducted extensive customer discovery, and laid the foundation for what would soon become a real-world fintech company.
Recognizing FinOptima’s potential, I applied to NYU Stern’s eLab Accelerator, a highly competitive program, and was thrilled to be accepted. This was a game-changer - eLab provided us with invaluable mentorship, investor access, and structured guidance on scaling a fintech startup. Through eLab, we fine-tuned our business model, validated market demand, and developed our early-stage product roadmap, leveraging exclusive resources and industry perks that accelerated our growth.
What started as an academic project quickly became a startup poised to disrupt financial security.
What role did NYU Stern play in supporting your startup journey?
The support from NYU Stern has been unparalleled. After our success at eLab, we were invited to join Future Labs, where we gained deeper technical mentorship and access to cutting-edge AI and cybersecurity resources. The program enabled us to accelerate our MVP development while connecting with fintech industry leaders who provided crucial insights.
At every stage, Stern pushed me to think bigger. The program gave me not only the technical skills but also the entrepreneurial mindset to bring FinOptima Solutions to life. Whether it was through faculty mentorship, the robust fintech and VC network, or the hands-on nature of the coursework, every experience helped turn what started as a capstone project into a real company.
What three words describe your Stern experience?
Transformative. Entrepreneurial. Empowering.
My journey at NYU Stern’s MSFT program didn’t just teach me fintech - it helped me build the future of fintech. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities, mentorship, and network that have enabled FinOptima Solutions to take off, and I look forward to making a lasting impact in the industry.