HELMo IT Students Present Innovative Projects to Industry Leaders

Fintech Belgium was a part of the jury for this amazing event celebrating innovation and collaboration!

On January 10th, final-year IT students from HELMo unveiled their innovative projects as part of their entrepreneurship course. Held at the EVS Broadcast Equipment premises, the event brought together students, professors, and an esteemed jury of industry leaders and Fintech Belgium was represented by our CEO, David Jacob as a jury member.

12 Projects Judged

Among the projects presented was Sportingo, an application developed by seven students. Inspired by Duolingo, Sportingo aims to revolutionize fitness with daily challenges, friend leaderboards, and AI-powered movement analysis. Loan, a team member, explained, “Our AI coach personalizes workouts and ensures proper form, like verifying back alignment during a squat.”

For these students, the event marked the culmination of months of effort. Marwane, another member, shared, “Initially, we had a completely different idea, but now we have something truly viable. Presenting in front of such a jury is a proud moment for us.”

A Diverse Jury

Each team had 12 minutes to pitch their ideas to a jury comprising leaders from prominent companies in Liège. Members like Adrianne Buttiens, General Manager of Tea Tower, focused on sales strategies, while Sébastien Jacques, Business Banker at Belfius, evaluated the projects’ innovation and financial feasibility.

This rigorous evaluation process, complemented by expert feedback, gave students invaluable insights beyond the academic realm.

Learning Beyond Coding

While the students demonstrated technical expertise, they were also trained in communication, marketing, and pitching – essential skills for entrepreneurship. Mariano Sanfilippo, a HELMo instructor, noted, “Soft skills are vital. Students started with brainstorming innovative ideas, followed by sessions on market research, marketing, and pitching. This final presentation is the culmination of all those efforts.”

A Collaborative Effort

The event was made possible through partnerships with EVS, Trasis, IBGraf, Wallonie Entreprendre, and HELMo. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration in fostering innovation and preparing the next generation for success.

FinTech Belgium applauds such initiatives that nurture creativity and industry readiness.