SC’s FIKRA EXCEL Hosts Hackathon Programme to Expand Islamic Fintech Talent Pipeline

Open for global applications, win total cash prize of RM37,500

MEDIA RELEASE

Kuala Lumpur, 27 February 2024

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), in collaboration with the Computer Science Student Society of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), will host the Varsity Hackathon (VHACK) from 27 February to 20 April 2024.

VHACK¹ seeks to grow the fintech talent pipeline, stimulate students’ creativity and critical thinking, and develop digital skills among students and young professionals particularly in the Islamic fintech space.

The SC’s FIKRA Excel initiative, one of the key components of FIKRA ACE², aims to foster talent development & innovation in the Islamic capital market and Islamic fintech through collaborations with higher learning institutions.

The 2024 edition of VHACK will be conducted in a hybrid format. Participants comprising teams of one to four members will attend virtual workshops led by industry experts. The final pitching day will be held at USM on 20 April, where a panel of judges will choose the winners.

Local and international undergraduates, especially young fintech enthusiasts, are encouraged to register starting today until 17 March 2024 at https://vhackusm.com/register.

For more information about FIKRA ACE - Excel and VHACK, please visit https://www.sc.com.my/fikra-ace/excel. For inquiries, please write in to [email protected].

SECURITIES COMMISSION MALAYSIA

¹VHACK is an existing programme organised by the Computer Science Student Society of Universiti Sains Malaysia. VHACK 2024 is held in collaboration with SC’s FIKRA ACE - Excel.
²FIKRA was launched in 2021 as part of the SC’s initiative to enhance the ICM ecosystem. In continuation, the SC is now organizing FIKRA ACE, a three-year initiative to facilitate the development of Islamic fintech through a structured approach. The initiative will identify companies with fintech solutions to nurture, grow, and connect with the ICM ecosystem in various segments. FIKRA ACE also aims to support the Islamic fintech space via capacity building and talent pipeline development for the industry. FIKRA ACE comprises of three components, namely FIKRA ACE - Accelerator, FIKRA ACE - Circle and FIKRA ACE - Excel.