FinovateFall 2026 / Young Early Starters
Presenter Profile:
How they describe themselves: Young Early Starters (YES) is an ed-tech and fintech app closing the financial literacy gap for children aged 8-18. Kids invest in real stocks and ETFs and genuinely own their portfolio strategy, learning through a science-backed curriculum and a fun journey guided by an AI fox. Every trade needs a parent’s approval, so children gain hands-on experience within clear guardrails, and a 20-year head start on building wealth.
How they describe their product/innovation: YES is the first platform to give children aged 8-18 real, parent-approved stock investing wrapped in a science-backed learning game design. Our demo shows the full loop: a child completes module to unlock investing abilities, submits an investment proposal, and a parent approves the trade, and each real share becomes a building in the world they grow.
Product distribution strategy: Direct to Consumer (B2C)
Credit Union/Community Bank Fit: Credit unions and community banks.
Contacts:
Bus. Dev. & Press: Monica Marpole-Bird (Head of Growth & Marketing), [email protected], +447918318668
Website: youngearlystarters.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/young-early-starters
HQ: Leuven, Belgium
Founded: April 2026
Raising Capital: Seed
Presenter: Monica Marpole-Bird, Head of Growth & Marketing, Young Early Starters
- Key Executives
Bart Vanhaeren (CEO & Co-Founder), Monica Marpole-Bird (Head of Growth & Marketing)