Soulmates Ventures’ Post

We didn’t start UniMoney with one idea. We started with 38. As two uni students, we wanted to solve something for international students. So we used the IDEATE framework — and came up with 38 different ideas. 👉Meal prep for international students. 👉Housing marketplaces. 👉Event apps. You name it. Every week we tested, scored, and scrapped. Lean Canvas. RICE. Problem interviews. Most ideas didn’t survive a week. But one problem kept coming back. Money. Loans. Financial stress. No matter how many times we pivoted, students always said the same thing: “The loan process sucks.” “Banks take too long.” That’s when UniMoney was born. We ditched everything else and doubled down on fixing this one pain. Today, we’re building a platform to make education loans simple, transparent, and fast. Praditha Narayan Entrepreneurship Portfolio @ Monash University

🎓💼 How do you create a new market where none existed before? Three @INSEAD alumni did just that with Prodigy Finance. They solved a long-ignored problem—helping international students get loans to pursue advanced degrees. By thinking beyond traditional banking, they connected students with investors, creating a new market without disrupting the finance industry. Want to know what nondisruptive creation is and how Prodigy Finance helped over 40,000 students? 🎓 How did Prodigy Finance create a new market for international student loans? Learn how three INSEAD alumni solved a major problem using nondisruptive creation, helping international students finance their education. 💡 Get the case study: https://lnkd.in/gqEFTSSN 💭 What is nondisruptive creation?: https://lnkd.in/gC7s2KUK 📘 Read Beyond Disruption book: https://amzn.to/3YMxZOr 📥 Subscribe to our newsletter for more business insights! https://lnkd.in/gRKHmxre 📽️ Watch the full case study here: https://lnkd.in/gpKC_kJ7 🔥 Want more insights on business innovation? Follow now! #Fintech #ProdigyFinance #BlueOceanStrategy #StudentLoans #INSEAD #NondisruptiveCreation #Finance #Education #MarketCreation #BusinessInnovation #Entrepreneurship

Why Student Housing Is Becoming an Education Power Play In July 2025, Forum Asset Management invested C$1.7B into a student housing REIT. This isn’t just real estate — it’s the future of higher education infrastructure. Student housing is no longer a “side business” — it’s becoming a core part of education investment strategy. Why? Because student experience and retention are directly tied to where they live. Key drivers: ➡️ Global mobility: More students studying abroad = higher demand for quality housing ➡️ Experience economy: Amenities, community spaces, and safety are competitive advantages ➡️ Diversified income: Housing generates steady revenue even if enrolment fluctuates For institutional investors, student housing offers: ✅ Inflation-hedged returns ✅ Low correlation to traditional assets ✅ Social impact through improved student wellbeing The strategic angle: Owning the physical ecosystem around learning gives investors influence over the entire student journey, not just classroom delivery. In the next wave of education deals, we may see more capital flow to the “edges” of education — infrastructure, wellbeing, and student services — because they quietly drive enrolment and retention. #EducationInvestment #StudentHousing #FutureOfSchools #CapitalAndPurpose #EduDeals

Unite Group is set to become a £10bn student accommodation giant following its agreement to acquire Empiric Student Property for £723m. Already the UK’s largest developer, owner and manager of purpose-built student accommodation, Unite operates mainly in the first-year undergraduate market. By contrast, Empiric which trades under the Hello Student brand and provides housing for returning students across 23 UK cities. Unite currently manages around 68,000 student beds, while Empiric holds 7,700. Once the deal is completed, Unite will control a combined portfolio of 75,000 beds, with the business valued at approximately £10.5bn. Under the terms of the agreement, Empiric shareholders will retain a 10% stake in the enlarged group, with Unite shareholders holding the remaining 90%. The deal values Empiric’s shares at 94.2 pence, excluding dividends. #StudentAccommodation #London #StudentHousing #Approved #PropertyInvestment #RealEstate #MergersAndAcquisitions https://lnkd.in/eifz_REz

Why wait to equip the next generation with essential life skills? Should financial literacy be a core subject, starting as early as kindergarten? Exploring the idea of integrating entrepreneurship and financial acumen into education from a young age. It's about empowering individuals to understand finance, navigate debt wisely, and seize opportunities in any profession. The reflection highlights the importance of tailoring content to different age groups, using engaging methods like games to reach even the youngest learners. It all comes down to stakeholders, policies, and cultural or religious viewpoints. How can we bridge the gap and empower individuals to reach their financial potential? Would love to hear your thoughts on this. #FinancialLiteracy #Entrepreneurship #EducationReform #PolicyAdvocacy #FutureSkills

Driving job and economic growth takes a whole community. The Rochester Business Journal recently highlighted the many programs and colleges fueling Rochester’s economy, including the work of NextCorps and Luminate Accelerator. “On the startup side of things, from 2018 to 2024, NextCorps helped raise 773 million for startups, 531 startups have been served over those years, and 962 jobs have been created,” said Mike Kennerknecht, the University of Rochester’s economic development coordinator and assistant director of state relations. “Since 2018, [Luminate] has invested $18.8M in over seventy startups.” Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gnQaYeCZ

My challenge is continuing! 🌲 Day 4 – Family Economy Challenge Why College Students Should Explore Entrepreneurship (Even If They’re Studying Something Else) I’ll be the first to say it: I personally loved college. The classes, the community, the late-night conversations—I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. But here’s the truth… 👉 It wasn’t college alone that prepared me for the real world. It was my entrepreneurial pursuit—starting my own publication during that time—that made all the difference. That single step outside the classroom: *gave me real-world skills no textbook could teach, *opened doors to opportunities I could never have imagined, *and eventually set the entire trajectory of my future. Looking back, I can say without hesitation: entrepreneurship alongside college was the game-changer. Here’s why I believe every student—even those happily studying something else—should explore entrepreneurship during their college years: 1. Entrepreneurship applies classroom knowledge in real time. It’s one thing to learn about marketing, communication, or design. It’s another to use those skills in a business context where the stakes are real. 2. It builds confidence and creativity. College can sometimes keep you in “theory mode.” Starting even the smallest business teaches you how to solve problems, take risks, and think outside the box. 3. It provides income (instead of just expenses). While tuition and textbooks drain the bank, entrepreneurship offers students the chance to earn while they learn—sometimes in ways that outlast the degree. 4. It develops real-world, transferable skills. Time management. Networking. Branding. Customer service. These are skills that employers value, and skills that carry over into every area of life. 5. It creates options. For some, entrepreneurship becomes the career. For others, it’s a powerful supplement to their chosen field. Either way, it’s freedom and flexibility. When I started my publication, I had no idea it would open the doors it did. But it’s because of that step that I found a job, built credibility, and discovered a calling I couldn’t have mapped out in advance. That’s why we believe so strongly in the Family Economy model. It’s not about rejecting college—it’s about complementing it. It’s about giving our kids and young adults opportunities to create, experiment, and launch while they’re still learning. Because sometimes the most important lessons don’t happen in a classroom—they happen when you take your first entrepreneurial step. ✨ One bear. One brick. One step at a time—that’s how we prepare the next generation. 💬 Question for You: If your child is in (or headed to) college, how could entrepreneurship strengthen what they’re studying?

For universities and educational institutions, how surplus funds are managed is part of a much bigger story. Funds invested wisely, create room to do more of what matters -           fund an additional scholarship -           extend a research program -           upgrade a learning space -           hire another educator or support staff member.   These are behind-the-scenes wins and they can change the trajectory of a student’s life. That’s why we built #YieldHub - to give university finance teams a clearer, simpler way to manage term deposits.  From tracking maturities and comparing competitive #interest rates to ensuring every investment in stays within policy, it’s designed to support effective #portfolio management and reduce the admin load and burden of identifying the best #interest rates. #UniversityFinance #HigherEducationLeadership #TreasuryManagement #TermDeposits #Stewardship #EducationFunding #FinanceForImpact #ResearchSupport #StudentSuccess

📌 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝘅-𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Recently, a friend called me asking about the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) for his daughter. Like many parents, he wanted to secure his child’s future and assumed SSY was the best option. Here’s how our conversation went – and why it might help many parents to plan for their children’s education. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥 1: 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙂𝙤𝙖𝙡 SSY is a great scheme. It offers: ✅ Government-backed safety ✅ Fixed interest (~8% currently) ✅ Tax benefits under 80C But when I asked my friend what his real purpose was, he said: “I want to build a corpus for my daughter’s higher education after 15 years.” This shifted the discussion from “Which product to choose?” to “How do we achieve the education goal?” 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥 2: 𝙀𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙨 Today, a good professional degree – Engineering, MBA, or Medicine – costs around ₹20–25 lakhs. With education inflation at 10–12% per year, in 15 years, that could easily touch ₹80 lakhs – ₹1 crore. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥 3: 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙊𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 I showed him a simple calculation for ₹10,000/month invested over 15 years: SSY (8% fixed return) → ₹34 lakhs Equity SIP (12% CAGR, market-linked) → ₹47–48 lakhs SSY is safe, but it simply cannot keep up with education inflation. Equity SIP, on the other hand, offers growth that can bridge the funding gap. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥 4: 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙩 𝙁𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 He was hesitant: “But markets are down right now.” This is a very common concern. My response was simple: ✔️ Markets are volatile in the short term, but that doesn’t matter for a 15-year goal. ✔️ Over the last 30 years, despite multiple crashes, the Sensex grew from 1,000 → 75,000+. ✔️ Disciplined long-term investors have always been rewarded. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥 5: 𝘼 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙮 Since he still wanted some safety, I suggested a hybrid plan: 70% Equity SIP → Growth, inflation-beating returns 30% SSY→ Safety + tax benefits This way, he could enjoy the best of both worlds – higher growth with peace of mind. 𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 Don’t confuse tax-saving with goal-based planning. They serve different purposes. Always account for education inflation, not just today’s costs. For long-term goals (10–15+ years) → SIPs in equity mutual funds are the best wealth-creation tool. A balanced approach (Equity + Debt) works best for most families. Every parent dreams of giving their child the best education. With the right planning today, that dream can be achieved without financial stress tomorrow. Also, every family’s situation is unique. SSY has its merits for those seeking safety and tax benefits. But for long-term goals like higher education, combining growth + safety usually works best.