Nhi Nguyen (UNIS Hanoi, Class of 2015) will never forget the profound impact of her Grade 10 service-learning trip to Tam Hiep Pediatric Hospital. Witnessing children battling cancer and the financial burdens faced by their families deeply affected her.
Determined to make a difference, Nhi embarked on a project to raise funds to help. Her efforts had a significant impact, allowing for the construction of a playroom for the young patients. The playroom provided a much-needed space for the children to find moments of joy and respite from their pain.
"I couldn't cure cancer," Nhi reflects, "but I could help bring a little happiness to these children."
11 Years Later: Combining Passion with Expertise
Fast forward 11 years, and Nhi has found the perfect blend of her technology and investment background with her desire to give back. Leveraging her knowledge gained at the University of New South Wales, where she studied Commerce and Information Systems and her experience as a Senior Fixed Income and Derivatives Specialist at Bloomberg, Nhi launched MaiMoney (maimoney.com) in March 2024. The process of setting up an investment platform was not without difficulties, with numerous challenges in securing funding and navigating regulatory requirements. Nhi drew on the resilience and problem-solving skills she had developed first as a student at UNIS Hanoi.
Entrepreneurship With a Social Conscience
Her fintech app is designed to allow investors to make sustainable investments. Inspired by her experiences at UNIS Hanoi, Nhi aims to select investment opportunities that are both financially rewarding and environmentally friendly. The platform’s first offering allows users to invest in clean energy. "Why not turn waste into clean energy?" Nhi enthuses. "It benefits both farmers and the environment."
Looking Ahead: A Future of Impact
Nhi envisions expanding her app’s investment categories to give users increasingly diverse and impactful choices. Her ultimate goal is to create significant positive changes across multiple sectors by emphasising sustainability and community impact.
Nhi Nguyen's journey from a service-learning trip to becoming a fintech entrepreneur showcases the transformative power of education and action. Her story highlights how early experiences have the potential to spark lifelong passions and drive sustainable change.