Many young people are taught the importance of saving money. Far fewer are taught how financial markets work, how investments are evaluated, or how technology is increasingly shaping financial decision-making.
For brothers Arwan and Abraz Siddiqui, that gap in financial education became the inspiration for an ambitious project that combined investing, artificial intelligence, software development, and financial literacy.
Representing Mensa Youth at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, the brothers developed StoxIQ, a platform designed to help users better understand investing while gaining hands-on experience analyzing financial markets.
Their project earned them the title of 2026 Grade 5/6 Division Winners, recognizing both the sophistication of the platform and their ability to communicate complex financial concepts in an accessible and engaging way.
Designed as both an investment analysis platform and an educational tool, StoxIQ helps users evaluate stocks by analyzing multiple market factors and generating buy, sell, or hold recommendations. At the same time, the platform provides a paper trading simulator that allows users to learn about investing using virtual funds before risking real money.
During their presentation, Abraz explained that one of the challenges facing retail investors is the sheer number of factors that can influence stock prices.
"Retail investors often struggle to decide which stock to buy, hold, or sell due to a number of interconnected factors," he explained. "Analyzing each company can be difficult and time consuming."
Their solution was to build a platform capable of continuously analyzing key market indicators.
StoxIQ evaluates sentiment, trend, market risk, and volatility. Those factors are processed through a weighted equation that updates regularly to generate recommendations for investors. The system also adjusts its weighting models over time by comparing different approaches against historical market data and measuring which combinations would have produced the strongest results.
What particularly distinguished the project was that the brothers were not simply describing a theoretical idea. They demonstrated a functioning platform during the competition, showcasing the dashboard, simulator, analytics tools, and performance tracking features they had already developed.
The platform includes a paper trading simulator that allows users to practice investing with virtual funds while comparing their results against major market benchmarks. It also includes tools that help users analyze market conditions, monitor portfolio performance, and explore different investment strategies in a risk-free environment.
As Arwan explained during the presentation, "StoxIQ is not just a financial investment tool but also a financial education tool."
The sophistication of the project drew significant praise from the judging panel.
Entrepreneur Luke Vesz described the presentation as "absolutely a great presentation" and told the brothers, "I could tell both of you are already so advanced with your financial knowledge."
He also praised the fact that they had developed working software, commenting, "You guys created a working software. That's really, really impressive."
Judge Mia Torr was similarly impressed by the depth of research and preparation behind the project.
"I was really impressed to see how well you were able to articulate what it does and how much research you've put into it," she said during the question period.
During the discussion, judges repeatedly returned to the fact that StoxIQ was more than an idea. The brothers had already built and tested a working platform, refined their algorithms, and developed additional features based on real-world results. Their ability to explain concepts such as market sentiment, volatility, risk management, software subscriptions, and financial forecasting demonstrated a level of understanding that stood out throughout the competition.
Judge Yivgeni Matoussov was particularly interested in the testing process used to refine the system. Arwan explained that they had conducted testing over a one-month period, using results from real market conditions to improve the platform and develop additional features, including risk management tools designed to help protect users during periods of market volatility.
Collectively, the judges recognized not only the strength of the concept itself, but also the brothers' ability to combine technical development, financial knowledge, and entrepreneurial thinking into a practical solution with real-world applications.
While the technology behind StoxIQ impressed the judges, the brothers viewed the challenge as valuable for another reason as well.
"We had already built StoxIQ before NYEC, but the challenge gave us an opportunity to pitch our product to an impressive panel of judges and receive valuable feedback," they shared. "We also enjoyed meeting other student entrepreneurs."
Their comments reflect one of the goals of the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge: creating opportunities for young innovators to test ideas, refine their thinking, and learn from experienced business leaders and fellow participants.
Beyond the technology itself, the judges also recognized the project's strong business foundations.
The brothers presented a scalable software-as-a-service model featuring both free and premium subscription tiers, along with specialized plans for educators and school districts. Their strategy combined accessibility for individual users with broader opportunities to support financial education programs.
When asked what advice they would offer other students interested in developing their own ideas, the brothers emphasized the importance of curiosity, resilience, and collaboration.
"Choose a problem that genuinely interests you and don't be afraid to make mistakes," they said. "Also, share your idea with relevant people and be open to feedback."
That mindset was evident throughout their presentation. Rather than stopping at the initial concept, they continually refined the platform through testing, research, and ongoing development.
The project also reflects a broader mission that extends beyond the software itself.
The brothers explained that StoxIQ originally began as a passion project intended to help their teacher, Mrs. Kimberly Savage Paulson, analyze stocks and investments more effectively. As the project evolved, they began thinking about a larger challenge.
"In our class, we are fortunate to have many opportunities to learn about finance and investing," they explained. "However, we have noticed that financial literacy is restricted to basics in many classrooms."
Their long-term goal is ambitious but straightforward.
"Our long-term goal is to help more students learn advanced financial literacy at an early age so they are better prepared to make important financial decisions throughout their lives."
That vision helped distinguish StoxIQ from a typical investment tool. While the platform is designed to assist investors, it is equally focused on helping young people build the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate an increasingly complex financial world.
Their success in the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge reflects not only technical ability, but also curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to tackle complex real-world problems. Through StoxIQ, they demonstrated how young innovators can use technology not only to analyze information, but also to empower others with knowledge.
As the 2026 Grade 5/6 Division Winners, Arwan and Abraz Siddiqui showed that entrepreneurship is not limited by age. With enough curiosity and determination, even complex subjects such as investing and financial markets can become opportunities for innovation, learning, and meaningful impact.