Inspiration
RoundUp for Impact (RuFi) was born from a simple idea: that anyone, regardless of background, should have the opportunity to make a difference and grow their wealth, even through small, everyday actions. By rounding up daily purchases to the nearest dollar, RuFi empowers users to turn spare change into impactful contributions—whether toward causes they care about or investments for their future. Prioritizing privacy and accessibility, RuFi makes responsible investing and charitable giving effortless and secure, showing that financial empowerment and positive change are possible for everyone, one purchase at a time.
What it does
Automated Onboarding: Once users register, RuFi’s onboarding process is fully automated, with progress visible through log entries to simplify setup. Voice-Enabled Onboarding: Available on both web and mobile, RuFi’s voice-activated onboarding process ensures users can set up their accounts easily, without needing to navigate complex menus. Real-Time Financial Insights: Users can access up-to-date financial trends, news, and stock insights via chat or voice commands, helping them make informed decisions effortlessly. Flexible Algorithmic Trading: Integrated in DAIN, RuFi’s algorithmic trading options democratize complex financial strategies, enabling anyone to invest confidently. Users can also easily integrate custom trading algorithms, adding flexibility and personalization to their investment experience. Multilingual Voice Support: RuFi removes language barriers with voice support in multiple languages, making it accessible to a global audience. Privacy-First Design: Built on the Anyone Protocol, RuFi ensures privacy and security in every interaction, encrypting communication and protecting user data to provide a safe, anonymous experience. Comprehensive Website: RuFi has a dedicated website where users can access information, register, and explore all available features. Through these features, RoundUp for Impact combines simplicity, privacy, inclusivity, and accessibility, empowering users to make a difference while building financial security.
How we built it
Our project combines advanced technology to ensure privacy, accessibility, and real-time data handling for secure financial interactions. We built the entire application on Next.js, with a SingleStore database to handle all data, including transactions, stock information, and real-time updates every five minutes enabling transaction data population in the database by securely pulling information from bank transactions, customized for each user's tie-up with their bank. To handle user preferences, personal details, and other confidential information, we encrypted all sensitive data before storing it in dedicated tables, ensuring that privacy and security remain uncompromised.
The DAIN platform is central to our system, empowering a fully voice-enabled, accessible experience from onboarding to trading. DAIN’s chatbot interface connects with the Polygon API, giving users real-time access to stock prices, news, historical graphs, and more. We integrated trading algorithms into this chatbot interface, also allowing the incorporation of new trading strategies through DAIN. Using the Anyone Protocol, all requests to financial institutions are securely routed, preventing interception and maintaining data privacy. Additionally, we implemented Butterfly as a voice-enabled onboarding tool that communicates directly with our database, making the user registration process intuitive and accessible through voice commands. This approach has resulted in a robust, user-friendly application that prioritizes privacy, accessibility, and seamless interaction.
Challenges we ran into
One challenge we encountered was the lack of access to the Butterfly API, which limited our ability to integrate voice accessibility directly within the website itself. This presented a barrier, as we initially aimed to provide users with seamless, on-site voice interactions for tasks like registration and navigation. To work around this, we focused on utilizing other aspects of DAIN and the Anyone Protocol for secure, voice-enabled requests and data handling, but the absence of direct Butterfly API access restricted us from achieving a fully integrated voice experience within the web interface.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
"RoundUp for Impact" is designed to make financial empowerment accessible to everyone, transforming small everyday purchases into impactful investments and charitable contributions. By rounding up transactions to the nearest dollar, users can support causes close to their hearts or grow their financial portfolio without large commitments. This user-centric approach opens new doors for people from all backgrounds to participate in both social good and financial growth, making "RoundUp for Impact" a simple yet powerful tool for anyone seeking to make a difference with every purchase.
Privacy is at the core of "RoundUp for Impact," ensuring users can confidently contribute without compromising their data. With the Anyone Protocol, all financial and personal data remains fully encrypted and anonymous, safeguarding every transaction and user interaction. From tracking spending to making charitable donations or investment decisions, users can rest assured that their information is protected. This strong focus on privacy ensures that "RoundUp for Impact" provides a secure, trustworthy environment, combining accessibility with robust data protection in every feature.
What we learned
Building "RoundUp for Impact" taught us how impactful accessible design can be. By turning small, manageable amounts of spare change into charitable donations or investments, we realized how powerful financial tools can be when they’re available to everyone, regardless of their financial background. This approach reinforced the idea that accessibility drives empowerment, enabling people from all walks of life to participate in both personal growth and social good. We learned that even small, accessible changes can yield meaningful impact and allow individuals to engage in causes they care about.
We also gained valuable insights into balancing privacy and functionality. Using the Anyone Protocol to ensure complete data encryption and anonymity, we learned how to prioritize security without compromising ease of use. This experience emphasized the importance of building adaptable, future-ready technology—designing a platform that not only protects users but can also evolve to incorporate new financial tools and trading algorithms. By aligning privacy, accessibility, and adaptability, we created a platform where personal growth and social impact come together seamlessly, driven by secure, user-focused design.
What's next for RuFi
Looking ahead, we’re excited to integrate voice-activated features into RuFi, making it even more intuitive and accessible. Voice integration will allow users to manage donations, check investment updates, and adjust their settings simply by speaking commands. This addition aims to make RuFi a hands-free experience, empowering users to engage with their finances and charitable contributions more easily and efficiently.
We’re also expanding RuFi’s financial toolkit by incorporating new trading algorithms and real-time market insights, giving users greater flexibility and control over their investments. Additionally, we're enhancing the social impact side with features like community-driven donations and real-time impact tracking. By combining voice interactivity, powerful financial tools, and diverse charitable options, RuFi is set to become a comprehensive, user-friendly platform for both financial empowerment and social good.
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