New AI Driven Platform From Bristol Graduates Seeks to Build Long Term Financial Habits Through Behavioural Design

Supharat, Yihsuan, Zirui and Sofia enjoying time together on their journey to developing their app
Image credit: Vero Financial

(IN BRIEF) Four University of Bristol graduates have obtained £40,000 in funding to launch Vero Financial, an AI-powered app designed to help young people develop healthier financial habits through gamified challenges, real-time guidance, and rewards. Originating as a student project, the platform addresses growing financial pressures among Gen Z by focusing on behaviour change rather than simple expense tracking. Early pilot testing showed reduced financial stress and improved confidence among participants, and the team is now preparing the app for its official release while expanding its social-impact ambitions.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRISTOL, 23-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — University of Bristol graduates have secured £40,000 in external funding to bring an AI-driven financial wellbeing app to market, aiming to help young people build stronger money-management habits amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

The platform, called Vero Financial, was conceived by Supharat Tantanarungsee, Yihsuan Liao, Zirui Shang, and Sofia Sukach during their studies and evolved from a coursework idea into a dissertation project and, ultimately, a social venture. Designed specifically with Gen Z users in mind, the free app uses artificial intelligence, behavioural prompts, and gamified challenges to encourage smarter spending and saving decisions in real time.

The international founding team—originally from Thailand, Taiwan, China, and Ukraine—received backing through the ImpactU Pathfinder Awards. The funding is being used to refine the technology as the app undergoes testing ahead of its planned launch on the App Store.

The concept was shaped by research highlighting that many students rarely monitor their finances proactively, often only realizing the consequences after overspending. The founders identified links between financial stress and wider issues such as mental health strain, academic difficulties, and increased risk of dropping out or accumulating long-term debt.

Unlike traditional banking tools that focus on tracking past transactions, Vero Financial is designed to influence behaviour before financial mistakes occur. The app delivers personalised AI-based challenges, integrates gamification elements, and offers tangible rewards to help users form consistent, positive habits around money management.

Participants who meet savings targets or demonstrate disciplined financial behaviour earn digital tokens that can be redeemed for discounts from local partners. The founders emphasize that the rewards are intended to reinforce meaningful progress rather than function as standard promotional offers.

Before building the full application, the team piloted their approach with 18 students over three weeks using low-cost incentives to simulate the reward system. The trial showed encouraging outcomes, with a majority of participants reporting reduced financial stress and greater confidence in managing their finances.

The project also reflects personal motivations within the team. Sofia Sukach has spoken about her ambition to apply what she learned to create social impact, including plans to bring similar initiatives to Ukraine in the future.

Faculty members at the University of Bristol have highlighted the group’s progress from an early-stage idea to a venture addressing real-world challenges, noting the determination required to develop the project with limited resources and networks.

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SOURCE: University of Bristol