Blackbullion

Blackbullion operates as a financial technology and educational platform focused on improving the financial well-being of young people, particularly university students. The company was founded in 2014 by Vivi Friedgut, a former wealth manager who identified a significant gap in financial literacy among the general population. Her personal mission was influenced by her family's financial history, which instilled in her the importance of financial knowledge from a young age. Friedgut initially started by giving in-person lectures at university campuses before transitioning to a scalable digital solution.

The firm's business model is primarily a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription, where it partners with higher education institutions. These institutions pay a subscription fee, which in turn grants their students free access to Blackbullion's entire suite of tools. The company has established partnerships with over 75 universities, colleges, and businesses across the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, providing access to more than 1.2 million students. This model ensures the platform remains free of charge for its student users.

Blackbullion's ecosystem consists of several key products. The core offering is its financial education platform, which provides courses and resources on over 80 topics, from budgeting and saving to understanding credit and investing. A significant component is the Funds Management System (FMS), an end-to-end digital solution that allows universities to manage and distribute financial support like hardship funds, scholarships, and bursaries more efficiently. This system streamlines the application process for students and has facilitated the distribution of over £25 million in funds. The platform also features the UK's largest hub for scholarships and grants and a personal finance app that helps students manage their money and track spending by connecting their bank accounts via Open Banking.

Keywords: financial wellbeing, student finance, edtech, fintech, financial literacy, funds management, higher education SaaS, student support, scholarship hub, bursary management, student budgeting app, financial capability, Vivi Friedgut, university partnerships, student funding, digital education, money management, financial inclusion, wealth management, student aid