Two Decades of Financial Innovation
From a small Toronto startup to Canada's leading fintech education platform, our story spans twenty years of helping people master financial technology and build sustainable careers in finance.
The Beginning
When Rashid Kelley and Marcus Thorne met at a fintech conference in Toronto, they shared a frustration that would eventually reshape financial education in Canada. Both had struggled to find practical, hands-on training that actually prepared people for real fintech careers.
- Started with weekend workshops in a rented classroom
- First cohort of 12 students learning Excel and basic financial modeling
- Word-of-mouth referrals drove early growth
- Focus on practical skills over theoretical concepts
Digital Transformation
The financial crisis changed everything. Banks were investing heavily in technology, and there was suddenly massive demand for people who understood both finance and tech. We pivoted from basic workshops to comprehensive programs covering Python, R, and blockchain fundamentals.
- Launched our first online learning platform
- Partnerships with three major Canadian banks
- Over 500 graduates placed in fintech roles
- Introduced our signature "Finance Meets Code" curriculum
The Remote Revolution
COVID accelerated digital adoption across financial services by about five years. We rebuilt our entire platform from scratch, creating immersive virtual labs where students could practice with real trading APIs and financial datasets. The pandemic forced innovation that we're still benefiting from today.
- 100% remote learning infrastructure built in six months
- Virtual reality trading simulators introduced
- Alumni network expanded to over 2,000 professionals
- Launched specialized AI and machine learning tracks
Looking Forward
The finance industry keeps evolving, and honestly, that's what makes this work exciting. Our students today are learning about quantum computing applications in risk management and decentralized finance protocols that didn't exist when we started. By 2026, we're planning to launch our first degree-partnership program with universities across Canada.
Rashid Kelley
Co-Founder & CTO
Marcus Thorne
Co-Founder & CEO