Fisk University Team Wins $40K in Experian Finance Challenge

In a remarkable display of creativity and financial insight, the student team from Fisk University won the top prize at the 2026 #IYKYK Pitch Competition. They earned a $40,000 scholarship for their innovative financial wellness plan.

The global data and analytics company Experian, in collaboration with the nonprofit HomeFree-USA, hosted the annual competition. They invited college teams to come up with bold strategies to support Experian’s Big Financial Friend (BFF) campaign. This campaign aims to make credit and money management more accessible, engaging, and relevant to young adults.

This year’s event took place at Experian’s North America headquarters in Costa Mesa, California. Finalists came from various Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions. Fisk’s team, known as Team F2, distinguished themselves with their unique idea called “FinCheck.”

Our premise was simple: make financial health as relatable and engaging as everyday trends,” said Hannah Daniel, biology and business administration major and captain of Team F2. “We came into this competition and said we’re going to put our best foot forward … this is just beyond words.”

FinCheck draws inspiration from the viral “fit check” trend on social media, where users share outfit reveals or personal moments.

The team’s concept transforms this idea into a financial check-in, encouraging Gen-Z participants to post short videos about their financial management tips. The goal is to make conversations about finances feel shareable.

Alongside the social media campaign, Team F2’s proposal includes on-campus and influencer activities that highlight essential financial tools. These include credit score simulations, managing subscriptions, and safe credit locking practices. This approach aims to connect information with real-world financial behaviors among young adults.

The win marks the second consecutive year that Fisk University has secured the grand prize at this competition. It showcases the institution’s focus on applying academic learning to real-world scenarios and community leadership.

“We were inspired to see how these scholars lean into the learning and proactively share their knowledge as BFFs for their peers and communities,” said Raudy Perez, Senior Director of External Inclusion and Belonging Partnerships at Experian North America. “Our goal is to modernize and normalize the conversation around money and credit in a culturally relevant way, and these students are leading that future.”

The #IYKYK Pitch Competition is the main challenge of Experian’s Credit Academy. It is powered by the B.A.L.L. for Life initiative. This program is part of a broader commitment to financial literacy education.

So far, it has expanded to over 300 students from 22 institutions this year. Finalist teams from Alabama State University and Grambling State University received $10,000 each for their presentations.

For Fisk University, this win highlights student talent. It also emphasizes the increasing focus on financial empowerment within campus communities across the country.