FinMango × Kent State University

2027 interest open

Tear down the barriers.

High school students build real solutions to the systemic forces that keep communities from financial stability. $20,000+ in prizes.

$20K+

In prizes

Tracks to compete in

Years running strong

Get notified for 2027 See the 2026 event

The problem

Financial health isn't about knowing more. It's about facing fewer walls.

The barriers are systemic: transportation that costs more than the job pays, rent that eats 60% of a paycheck, medical debt from a single ER visit. These aren't problems you budget your way out of. They're problems you have to build your way through.

53%

of Americans living paycheck to paycheck

36%

of US households carry medical debt

50%

of renter households are cost-burdened by housing

$33.63

hourly wage needed to afford a modest 2BR rental

Students solving real problems at Kent State

How it works

Three steps. No fluff.

Pick a barrier

Choose a track: transportation, housing, healthcare, financial literacy, or bring your own. Research why it exists and who it hurts most.

Build a solution

Policy proposal, app prototype, community tool, financial literacy campaign. Use AI tools. Prototype fast. Make it real.

Present and compete

Demo Day for oral presentations. Innovation Gallery for posters. Knowledge Track for financial literacy. Everyone who applies competes.

Innovation tracks

Pick your fight.

Choose one challenge. Research it. Solve it.

Transportation

Car costs, insurance, and transit gaps blocking stable employment.

Housing Affordability

Rent burden, deposits, and credit barriers to stable housing.

Healthcare Access

Medical debt and high costs devastating young adults.

Literacy & Investment

Limited financial education preventing generational wealth.

Open Track

Any financial barrier. Childcare, food insecurity, student debt, or your own idea.

March 20, 2026

The day in pictures.

Barrier Breakers 2026 at Kent State University. Students showed up, showed out, and broke through.

23 photos from the event

Prepare to win

Resources & scoring.

Event schedule Teacher one-pager Class flyer Judging rubric

How projects are scored

100 pts total · Each criterion 1-5

Problem

25 pts

Solution

25 pts

Presentation

25 pts

Impact

25 pts

Rewards Sponsored by Valmark Financial Group

$20,000+

In cash prizes, scholarships, and school grants.

Demo Day

Top team per track. 5-min pitch + 2-min Q&A. Cash + scholarships + school grants.

1st Place$7,500($4k cash + $2.5k scholarship + $1k school)

2nd Place$4,650($2.5k cash + $1.5k scholarship + $650 school)

3rd Place$2,750($1.25k cash + $1k scholarship + $500 school)

4th Place$1,850($750 cash + $750 scholarship + $350 school)

5th Place$1,250($500 cash + $500 scholarship + $250 school)

Cash & scholarships split among team members. Scholarships require attending KSU & selecting ACCBE major/minor. School grants go directly to the school.