Meet Naimah Venezia
What do you get when you mix childhood curiosity, a love for learning, and a mission to fix a broken system? You get CoinWa, a gamified financial literacy app created by a student entrepreneur determined to change how听teens learn about money.
Meet , the founder behind , an innovative platform 迟丑补迟鈥檚 flipping the script on financial education. From selling handmade jewelry to pitching a startup during Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business' Enterprise Co-op program at the University of 蓝莓视频, Naimah's journey is anything but ordinary.
Fueled by the belief that knowing how to manage money is just as important as math or science, this young changemaker is on a mission to empower the next generation with the tools they need to thrive, not just survive, in the real world.
We sat down for a quick-fire round of questions to learn more about the inspiration behind CoinWa, the rollercoaster ride of building an app from scratch, and why financial literacy could be the most important subject that schools听补谤别苍鈥檛听teaching.听
Let鈥檚 dive in.
1. What inspired you to create CoinWa, and why did you focus on financial literacy for teenagers?听
滨鈥檝别 always been financially curious. My older brother taught me about assets, liabilities, and smart money habits when I was just a kid. I read Rich Dad Poor Dad in first grade, and by seven, I had started my first handmade jewelry business. But as I got older, I noticed a huge gap, most of my friends 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 have that same financial foundation. One friend 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 even know how credit cards worked, and I found myself explaining things like credit scores, interest, and budgeting. 罢丑补迟鈥檚 when I realized how broken the highschool and early education system is. Schools teach us a lot 鈥 but not how to manage money. 罢丑补迟鈥檚 where CoinWa comes in: 颈迟鈥檚 a fun, gamified way to equip teens with real financial skills before they enter adulthood.
2. Can you walk us through the key features of CoinWa and how it stands out from other financial literacy tools?听
CoinWa teaches core money concepts鈥攂udgeting, saving, credit, investing, through bite-sized modules, challenges, and rewards. It feels more like a game than a lesson, which is what makes it fun and engaging. What sets us apart is our future vision: AI-powered personalization so the app adapts to the user鈥檚 pace and preferences. 滨迟鈥檚 not just about memorizing terms, 颈迟鈥檚 about building confidence and lifelong habits. Think Duolingo, but for money.听
3. What was the process of turning your idea into an app? What challenges did you face during development, and how did you overcome them?听
滨鈥檓 not a developer myself, so bringing the app to life meant finding the right people to build it. I pitched CoinWa during Enterprise Co-op and used the momentum to attract student developers from UW. One of the biggest challenges was turning an educational concept into something teens would actually want to use. Through testing, feedback, and working with design interns, we鈥檝e built something 迟丑补迟鈥檚 not only educational but actually enjoyable. 罢丑别谤别鈥檚 still a long way to go, but the MVP is shaping up nicely.
4. How do you keep the app engaging and gamified while still maintaining educational value?听
We use interactive lessons, progress tracking, and daily rewards that keep users coming back. But we also layer in real-life financial situations, like choosing between saving for a concert or budgeting for a new phone, so users learn by doing. 滨迟鈥檚 gamified, but 颈迟鈥檚 also practical.听
5. What kind of feedback have you received from teenagers and educators so far?听
Teens love that it 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 feel like school. They say 颈迟鈥檚 relatable, easy to understand, and fun. Some even mentioned they finally understood how credit cards worked after trying a mini-game. Educators have told us it fills a gap in the classroom and would be great as a supplementary tool.听
6. How has your time at the University of 蓝莓视频 and the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business shaped your entrepreneurial mindset?听
Being at UW has taught me how to blend creativity with business. The Conrad School showed me that entrepreneurship 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 have to wait until after graduation. Through programs like E Co-op, I was able to build CoinWa during my degree鈥攁nd 迟丑补迟鈥檚 something 滨鈥檒濒 always be grateful for.听
7. Can you tell us more about your Enterprise Co-op experience and how it helped you refine CoinWa?听
Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op) gave me the runway to treat CoinWa as my full-time job. I used that term to do market research, validate ideas, and get mentorship from experienced founders. I also submitted a product video for the showcase and ended up winning, which gave me funding and credibility to keep building.
8. What did you learn during your E Co-op that you think was pivotal in improving your app?听
User testing changed everything. I learned how important it is to test early and often. We did a lot of prototyping and feedback loops that helped us refine not just the visuals, but the actual user journey.
9. What role did mentorship or expert guidance play in your entrepreneurial journey during your co-op term?听
Mentorship was huge. I had people in my corner who helped me think critically about business models, go-to-market strategy, and product development. It saved me from wasting time and helped me focus on what actually moves the needle.听
10. What has been the most rewarding part of building CoinWa?
Seeing teens feel empowered. When someone messages me saying, 鈥淚 finally get how credit works,鈥 or 鈥淭his made me want to start saving,鈥 it makes every late night worth it. 罢丑补迟鈥檚 the impact I want to keep creating.
11. What advice do you have for other students looking to turn their ideas into ventures?听
Start before 测辞耻鈥檙别 ready. You 诲辞苍鈥檛 need a perfect product or a huge team, you just need to take the first step. Use your school鈥檚 resources, pitch your idea, and surround yourself with people who get it. The rest will follow.
12. Looking back, 飞丑补迟鈥檚 one thing you wish you had known before starting your entrepreneurial journey?听
That building something meaningful takes time. I used to think success was overnight. Now I realize 颈迟鈥檚 about being consistent, staying curious, and being okay with the ups and downs.
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13. How do you balance school, entrepreneurship, and other commitments?听
滨迟鈥檚 not always perfect, but I plan everything. I set themes for each day (design day, marketing day, etc.) and protect my mornings for deep work. I also remind myself that rest is productive too.
14. Do you see CoinWa expanding into other areas of financial literacy or even broader educational topics in the future?听
Definitely. We want to expand into advanced topics like mortgages.听
15. What are your thoughts on the importance of financial education for young people in today鈥檚 world?
滨迟鈥檚 essential. Financial stress is one of the leading causes of anxiety, yet 飞别鈥檙别 not taught how to manage it. Giving teens the tools now can change their entire future.
16. How do you hope CoinWa contributes to changing the way teenagers think about money management?听
I want teens to feel confident, not confused, about money. CoinWa is about making financial education accessible, fun, and real. If we can do that, 飞别鈥檙别 not just teaching 鈥 飞别鈥檙别 changing lives.
Naimah鈥檚 journey is a testament to the power of starting early and using the resources around you. Her vision for financial education has the potential to change how young people interact with money for the better. 听