Young innovators develop AI solutions for digital finance at Monash AI Challenge Cup 2026
The champions, first-runner up, second-runner up and the most popular award and most creative video awards winners of the competition.
Two secondary school students from Kuen Cheng High School have emerged champions of the Monash AI Challenge Cup 2026 with an AI-powered platform designed to help young people build financial literacy and make more informed financial decisions.
Team Zero to One, comprising Yong Ee Jen and Yap Zheng Xian, won the competition with SwapQuest, a platform that uses familiar social media-style swiping mechanics to present users with financial scenarios and assess their decision-making habits. The team received RM5,000 in prize money and scholarships valued at RM30,000 per student.
A flagship initiative of the School of Information Technology at Monash University Malaysia, the third edition of the Monash AI Challenge Cup brought together secondary school students from across Malaysia to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can be applied to real-world challenges and contribute to meaningful social and economic impact.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Associate Professor Vishnu Monn Baskaran, Deputy Head of School (Education), School of Information Technology at Monash University Malaysia, encouraged participants to view AI as an opportunity to enhance their capabilities and create positive change.
Associate Professor Vishnu Monn Baskaran provided his remarks during the opening ceremony.
This year’s theme, “AI for the Future of Digital Finance,” challenged participants to develop solutions under one of two tracks: Finance Meets the Feed, which explored how AI could transform social media into smarter and more engaging financial experiences; and Smart Finance for Creators, which focused on helping content creators manage their finances, grow their businesses and make informed decisions.
The competition received 19 team registrations from eight secondary schools across Penang, Johor, Sabah, Kedah, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Following a preliminary evaluation, the 10 highest-scoring teams were invited to Monash University Malaysia to present their prototypes to a panel of industry judges.
“At the Monash AI Challenge Cup, every idea has the potential to shape a smarter, more inclusive future,” said Dr Jessie Leong Shu Min, Organising Lead and Coordinator of the Monash AI Challenge Cup.
Throughout the competition, participants were supported by current and alumni from the School of Information Technology, who mentored the teams as they developed and refined their ideas and prototypes.
Champion team Zero to One was mentored by Lim Qiao En, a Bachelor of Computer Science in Data Science graduate, while first runner-up Titan Ledger was mentored by Chen Ming Yang, also a Bachelor of Computer Science in Data Science graduate. Second runner-up Money H’AI’st was mentored by Kyler Tan, a Bachelor of Computer Science graduate, while Team SKBois Elite, which received the Most Popular Award and Most Creative Video Award, was mentored by current Bachelor of Computer Science student Tee Zhi Hong.
Team Zero to One, the 2026 champions of the Monash AI Challenge Cup.
The champion team’s SwapQuest platform adapts familiar social media interactions to help users reflect on their financial decision-making. Based on their responses to different financial scenarios, users receive a personalised financial profile and complete targeted quests designed to address areas such as impulse control, financial discipline and risk tolerance. The platform also incorporates a social element, allowing users to learn through interactions with friends.
First runner-up Titan Ledger from MAZ International School developed GoStock AI, a concept designed to help young e-commerce sellers reduce losses caused by short-lived online trends and unsold inventory.
Second runner-up Money H’AI’st, also from MAZ International School, developed VideoVantage AI, which uses AI-driven insights to help content creators identify emerging trends, analyse videos, generate captions and identify gaps in existing content.
Meanwhile, Team SKBois Elite from SMK Subang Utama received both the Most Popular Award and the Most Creative Video Award.
Final Competition results
- Champions: Zero to One, Kuen Cheng High School – SwapQuest
- Yong Ee Jen and Yap Zheng Xian
- RM5,000 and scholarships valued at RM30,000 per student
- First runner-up: Titan Ledger, MAZ International School – GoStock AI
- Bhumanyu Chhabra
- RM3,000
- Second runner-up: Money H’AI’st, MAZ International School – VideoVantage AI
- Ardhra Sreejith, Aiman Babla and Shreeyansh Krishna Shrestha
- RM1,000
- Most Popular Award: Team SKBois Elite, SMK Subang Utama
- Tiong Khai Qi, Ryan Wong Xiao Heng and Mithvesh A/L P. Subramaniam
- RM500
- Most Creative Video Award: Team SKBois Elite, SMK Subang Utama
- Tiong Khai Qi, Ryan Wong Xiao Heng and Mithvesh A/L P. Subramaniam
- RM500
A group photo of the attendees and participants of the competition.
Through initiatives such as the Monash AI Challenge Cup, the School of Information Technology at Monash University Malaysia continues to provide young people with the opportunities to explore emerging technologies, develop practical problem-solving skills and consider how AI can be applied to challenges facing society and the digital economy.