FinTech Society: Quant Ventures Vice President

Hello, I'm Tony, and I'm running for VP of FinTech's Quant Ventures division! As this year's first-year representative in the research division, I developed my interest in quantitative trading and the application of NLP in trading through the FTR. I'm excited to continue my learning journey alongside everyone!

Educational Opportunities
To address time constraints and other commitments, we will create an online depository with handpicked content for members to learn at their own pace. Additionally, we will offer recorded seminars and workshops that are added to our library, and our team of mentors will be available on demand to answer questions.

Networking opportunities 
Collaborating with Client Relations, we plan to invite seasoned quant traders to speaker panel events, providing members with firsthand experience and insights into the quantitative trading industry. We'll also organize trips to industry events and quant firm headquarters to fully immerse ourselves in the atmosphere.

Diversify the competitions
The best way to become a quant is to have hands-on experience and compete against other members in a friendly spirit. Thus, we will host algo trading competitions and hackathons so members will be able to showcase their skills and gain practical experience in a supportive and friendly environment.

I thank you for your time, and I hope with your support, we can create more quants and improve the FinTech society!
 

Hi! I’m Rishi, the current VP of Quant Ventures, and I am hoping to run again! I was initially drawn towards quantitative investing and algorithmic trading after completing a case study on the use of Blockchain technology in trading. As the Technology Correspondent for the FinTech Review, I was able to explore this interest further by writing an article on algorithmic trading and its impact on financial markets.

As such, I hope to share my interest in quantitative trading with students from all disciplines, not only mathematical backgrounds, through the following ideas:

Workshops – the best way to learn about quantitative trading is through practical experience! My focus will be working closely with Client Relations to encourage companies to fund trading simulations and weekly workshops that will allow students to learn how to build their own trading models.

Competitions – trading competitions will promote a fun way for students to apply the skills they have gained from these workshops, as well as meet students with similar interests.

Panels and speakers – quantitative trading is an increasingly popular career path! As such, I will work closely with Client Relations to source key quant traders that can give deeper insight into what their job entails, the interesting models they use, and their career path. This will give students a chance to network and ask any questions.

I look forward to developing a wider student-run Quant Venture Space as VP!

After returning to the UK following my gap year, I noticed the rise of challenger banks like Monzo and Revolut and became intrigued. As a long-time user of direct bank transfers, I was eager to learn more about these new alternatives to traditional banks. Eventually, I joined UCL’s Fintech Society as both a correspondent and FYR, and this experience challenged my long-held career goals. Writing articles on Fintech topics for the FTR and collaborating with students of diverse disciplines helped me realize the true complexity and multidimensionality of Computer Science. This opened up a world of new possibilities and led me to the extraordinary field of quantitative investment.

What draws me to quantitative investment is the fact that its true capabilities are still being discovered. I am excited about the potential of employing Machine Learning techniques to develop a strategy that can make even more accurate predictions than humans and automate time-sensitive tasks. I have no doubt that becoming Vice President of Quant Ventures of the Fintech Society at UCL will be a major stepping-stone towards this goal. Through leading the society, I also wish to influence fellow enthusiasts to join me on this collective journey through the evolution of the financial world.