Squirrel Education

Recognising International Women’s Day through the lens of Financial Literacy. ?? Sallie Krawcheck

It's nearly time to crown the Financial Literacy Champions for 2025! Good luck to all the schools involved. We look forward to seeing your final Pitch on Wednesday.

In an era where students juggle demanding academic schedules, extracurricular commitments, and social responsibilities, it is rare to find young individuals who truly go above and beyond. However, four exceptional students from Nord Anglia School Abu Dhabi have defied expectations, demonstrating resilience, initiative, and an unwavering commitment to success in the Financial Literacy Champions program. The Squirrel/Ma'an Financial Literacy Champions program is designed to give students hands-on experience in developing business ideas while managing the phases of prototyping, assessing risks, and refining concepts. Students are challenged to design a concept that will teach others about financial literacy, equipping them with the skills needed to bring an idea from inception to execution. These four students embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm, actively engaging in discussions, weighing the pros and cons of various strategies, and refining their ideas with remarkable maturity. Rather than passively absorbing information, they took control of their learning—listening intently, seeking feedback, and pushing themselves to excel. What set them apart was their willingness to go the extra mile. Despite their already hectic academic workload, they carved out additional time to fine-tune their prototype, ensuring it meets high standards. Their dedication did not stop at planning—they implemented their model with precision and delivered outstanding results. Their ability to balance school pressures while committing to the program showcased not just their passion but also their exceptional time management and problem-solving skills. It was refreshing to see teenagers embrace challenges head-on, rather than waiting for someone else to guide them or complete the work for them. They demonstrated a proactive mindset, showing respect for the program and the mentors supporting them. This attitude is exactly what students today need to succeed—not just in financial literacy but in life. Success is not about waiting for opportunities but about taking initiative, pushing forward despite obstacles, and maintaining a sense of accountability. These students are a testament to what can be achieved with the right mindset. Their journey through the Financial Literacy Champions program serves as an inspiring example of how resilience, confidence, and a willingness to learn can set individuals apart. In a world where many wait for guidance, these students proved that true success comes to those who take action. I would like to wish them all the best on the final-pitch day at BSAK Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, the 12th of March. GO TEAM NORD ANGLIA! The Authority of Social Contribution - Ma'an Nord Anglia Education Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi Ben Bolger Cecil Cheng Florin Brinzan Squirrel Education

Wow- what an incredible week! I don’t even know where to start! It was an absolute honour to be selected by Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) as part of this year’s S3 Cohort, giving us the opportunity to build, innovate, and grow our mission with the incredible support of the Sharjah ecosystem. Our in-person collaboration kicked off last week, where Cecil Cheng and I had the chance to exhibit at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival- and what a festival it was! ?? This year was the biggest and best yet, packed with activations, panel discussions, startups, partners, and just an insane amount of energy. We were also incredibly fortunate to pitch in the festival’s competition, where we were shocked (but so proud!) to pick up 1st place in the EdTech vertical. With so many amazing startups in the running, this was a huge honour! The momentum didn’t stop there. We spent the rest of the week on a government and corporate roadshow, meeting with different entities and sharing our story. At every institution we visited, the first question we heard was “How can we help?”-which was not just exciting but genuinely refreshing. We were also lucky enough to experience a cultural visit of Sharjah, giving us a much deeper appreciation of the emirate’s rich history and its significance to this beautiful country. Finally, we wrapped up the week with a leadership day facilitated by Clare Stafford Taylaur, giving us a much-needed pause from the fast-paced nature of running a startup to reflect on our leadership values and personal growth. Massive thank yous all around! ?? To the Sheraa team- Abeer AlAmeeri, Tarun Krishna, Hessa, and everyone who made this week unforgettable. The programme content was next level, the hospitality was unreal, and the support was second to none. You guys rock! ?? To the other startups in the S3 Cohort- your ideas are literally changing the world. Thank you for all the collaboration, suggestions, and shared energy. Keep pushing forward! ??? To the Squirrel Education team- it takes a huge amount of work to show up well at events like this while still delivering for our schools and students. This was a massive milestone on our journey- let’s use it to drive us forward to what’s next! Im already counting down to S3 Demo Day later this year- let’s do it all over again! ???? Matt OBryan Cecil Cheng Florin Brinzan Michael Haddin Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) BEEAH Group Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology | ????? ??????? ???????????? ???????? Microsoft American University of Sharjah MAJRA Sharjah Private Education Authority

With 35+ years of teaching experience between us, my wife and I have seen firsthand the power of simple, meaningful conversations in shaping young minds. ???? Talking about money doesn’t have to be hard—it just takes a few minutes and a willingness to start. Let’s empower the next generation with financial literacy! ???? #Education #FinancialLiteracy #Teachers”

Delighted to share we have been selected for the latest cohort of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) S3 programme! We are very grateful to Abeer AlAmeeri , Tarun Krishna and the whole team for this opportunity! We’re really looking forward to dive into this journey, connect with some awesome startups and founders, and fully immerse ourselves in the thriving Sharjah startup ecosystem. Stay tuned for updates as we share what we learn along the way! ??? Let’s go, Squirrel Education! Matt OBryan Cecil Cheng Michael Haddin

We’re thrilled to announce the 20 outstanding startups joining the latest cohort of Sharjah Startup Studio (S3)! From EdTech to Sustainability, Creative Industries to Advanced Manufacturing, these founders are ready to scale their businesses and make a lasting impact. Stay tuned as they begin this transformative six-month journey with S3 – where growth begins, and success stories are made. Welcome to the S3 family. #S3 #Startup #Entrepreneurship #Accelerator #Scaleup - ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? 20 ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????. ?? ??????????? ????????? ??? ?????????? ??? ???????? ????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????. ??????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? – ??? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ??????. ????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????.

?? Happy Friday, People! ?? Finishing off such a positive week for Squirrel Education by doing one of the things I love most- working with the incredible students and staff in our schools. ?? Great to launch with another GEMS Education cohort this morning! ?? #FinancialLiteracyMatters

?? We’re beyond proud and honoured to have won Best Free Education Product at the GESS Dubai Awards last night! After personally only spending two years in the education space, being recognised by such an experienced panel of lifelong educators is incredibly meaningful. Education is the foundation for fixing the financial challenges so many face, and having our work endorsed by such respected judges makes this moment all the more special. Thank you GESS Dubai Another huge thank you to all of our schools who have been essential to our growth, and to everyone who has supported us along the way- your advice, your time you give us, your introductions, and even your constructive feedback. Every bit helps us create something more valuable for students. Massive well done to the whole Squirrel Education team. Let’s keep pushing forward to reach even greater heights! ?? #financialliteracymatters Matt OBryan Cecil Cheng Michael Haddin ?? Thanks Mark Ryan (NPQML) for the ??

Really lovely to get this feedback from Jon Hughes- especially since he has a unique perspective, having used our platform in both the international private school system here in the UAE and the public state school system in the UK. At Squirrel Education, our mission is simple: to ensure students all over the world leave school ready to live fulfilled, independent lives, with money making sense to them. ???? If you’re a school wanting to support your students with financial literacy and think our ???????? ???????????????? could help, send me a DM or fire me an email to [email protected] ?? #FinancialLiteracyMatters #FutureReady #SupportingSchools Matt OBryan Cecil Cheng Michael Haddin