Hipond Takes Home Prize Money in 2024 Heartland Challenge

Hipond, a venture co-founded by MS in Innovation & Management alumni Xaio Zhou, MSIM ‘23, and Zhongyi Zhao, MSIM ‘23, recently competed in the 2024 Heartland Challenge hosted by the University of Arkansas. The team won prize money from UA Master's in Finance in the Investor Roundtable session as part of the competition.

Hipond was co-founded as an Innovation Sprint by Zhou and Zhao during their time in the MS in Innovation & Management program (MSIM), and they were later joined by fellow MSIM alum Yulia (Yiran) Niu, MSIM ‘23. Hipond is a dedicated online community designed for international students in the United States, aiming to improve their social connections and solve life challenges faced during their time abroad.

“Thanks to [the Heartland Challenge], we seized the opportunity to showcase our products, gain valuable insights from panels of experienced judges, and engage with other talented semifinalists,” shared the Hipond team. “This experience inspired us to enhance our services and improve our products for our clients in the future.”

Join us in congratulating the Hipond team on LinkedIn, where you can also learn more about their experience at the 2024 Heartland Challenge.

Learn more about the MS in Innovation & Management here.