Marketing graduate to AI fintech founder: Meet Vipashyana Srivastava

Posted on: 21 July 2025 in Where are they now?

Meet Vipashyana Srivastava, a University of Liverpool Management School graduate who turned her MSc in Marketing into a springboard for entrepreneurship. Now the co-founder of Scholar Saver, an AI fintech startup tackling student financial stress, she shares how her time at Liverpool shaped her global mindset, sharpened her strategic thinking, and sparked a mission-driven business.

What made you choose the University of Liverpool Management School for your master's degree in marketing? 

After years navigating the business and media landscape, I wanted the ability to think strategically on a global scale while staying grounded in real-world application. The Marketing programme's top-30 global ranking caught my attention for all the right reasons. This wasn't going to be another theoretical deep dive into dusty textbooks. Instead, the curriculum promised something I desperately needed: the ability to bridge complex marketing frameworks with tangible business challenges. Every module was designed to mirror the problems I'd face in my entrepreneurial future. 

But beyond academics, I was drawn to Liverpool's vibrant creative ecosystem. The city pulses with innovation, diversity, and an infectious community spirit that I knew would fuel both my personal growth and professional ambitions. Looking back, Liverpool didn't just educate me; it became the catalyst for everything I'm building today. 

What aspects of your course did you enjoy the most? 

Live business case studies became my favourite part of the entire experience. There's an energy that comes from tackling real company challenges alongside teammates from across the globe. Those intense brainstorming sessions, the high-stakes presentations, the pressure to deliver actionable solutions, it was like a masterclass in startup life before I even knew I'd be launching my venture. 

Perhaps most importantly, the collaborative learning environment made every challenge feel conquerable. Collaborating with passionate peers and supportive faculty created an atmosphere where we weren't just absorbing information, we were actively co-creating solutions, challenging each other's perspectives, and building the kind of network that extends far beyond graduation. The experience taught me that the best marketing strategies emerge when diverse minds come together to solve complex problems. That lesson continues to drive how I approach every business challenge today. 

As an international student, how did you find the city of Liverpool and its culture? 

Liverpool exceeded every expectation I had. I arrived knowing the iconic touchstones, The Beatles, Liverpool FC, the historic waterfront, but experiencing the city firsthand revealed something far more profound. The people make all the difference. From day one, I was struck by how naturally conversations flowed. Your morning coffee becomes a chat with the barista about weekend plans. A simple bus journey turns into friendly banter with fellow passengers. This wasn't performative politeness, it was authentic Liverpool hospitality that made adapting to life as an international student feel effortless. 

What truly captivated me was how Liverpool celebrates individuality within community. There's no pressure to conform or blend in. Instead, the city thrives on the diversity that international students bring. Whether you're exploring the independent coffee shops in the Baltic Triangle, catching emerging artists at grassroots venues, or simply walking through the city centre, you feel the creative energy that comes from people being authentically themselves. 

Can you share the inspiration behind co-founding Scholar Saver? 

Scholar Saver emerged from a painful reality I couldn't ignore. Despite being naturally driven and independent, I watched brilliant classmates around me struggle silently with financial pressures. These students were juggling multiple jobs, sacrificing sleep, and compromising their academic potential just to survive financially. The breakthrough moment came when I asked myself “what if we could make financial wellness as engaging and accessible as language learning?” Just as Duolingo gamified education, what if we could transform how students think about and manage money? The goal wasn't just to create another budgeting app; it was to build something that would fundamentally change students' relationship with their finances. 

Partnering with Ashish Sandhu (Marketing, 2023), was crucial because he shared this mission-driven mindset. We weren't interested in building a product for the sake of it. We wanted to create something that would give students back their most precious resources: time, energy, and confidence. Scholar Saver became our way of saying to struggling students everywhere: "We see you, we understand your challenges, and we're building something to make this journey genuinely easier." 

Scholar Saver has gained great recognition. What do you think contributed to this success? 

We’re not just another fintech startup, we’re tackling a global crisis affecting millions of students: financial stress leading to dropout. The statistics are staggering, and from day one, we believed that even helping a fraction of those students could make a real, lasting impact. 

User-centric development has been at the heart of everything we do. Our early beta testers didn’t just try the product; they helped shape it. We spent countless hours listening, learning, and iterating based on real feedback. That meant we weren’t building features we thought students needed but creating solutions they told us they did. 

Strategic support also played a key role. The mentors we met through Startupbootcamp, Europe’s leading accelerator, as recognized by the Financial Times, pushed us to refine our go-to-market strategy, sharpen our value proposition, and stay laser-focused on meaningful impact rather than chasing superficial milestones. 

But above all, we showed up consistently. Whether it was pitching, user feedback sessions, competitions, or networking, we kept showing up. Even when it was uncomfortable or uncertain, we stayed committed to putting our mission and our work out there. That consistency paid off. The awards and recognition, like winning two North West UK Startup Awards and being selected for the GBEA AI Entrepreneur of the Year shortlist, have been humbling. Especially for me personally. When I first came here, I didn’t know a single soul. So, being recognised in the UK Startup Awards feels like more than just validation; it feels like proof we’re on the right path. 

What have been the biggest challenges in launching and growing your own business and how did you overcome them? 

Building Scholar Saver has embodied what I call "beautiful chaos", the exhilarating yet overwhelming reality of creating something from nothing. Every day brings new challenges, and there's no comprehensive playbook to guide you through the complexity. 

In the early stages, I found myself simultaneously developing the product, conducting user interviews, managing day-to-day operations, and trying to maintain the energy and clarity needed to lead effectively. Some days felt like breakthrough moments where everything clicked, while others left me feeling like I was starting from square one. The emotional rollercoaster is real and learning to navigate those highs and lows became crucial for sustainable growth. 

Funding challenges presented another significant obstacle, particularly as a young international founder. There's an undeniable reality that you sometimes need to prove your credibility more extensively than others might. The rejections stung initially, but we learned to reframe every "no" as valuable feedback rather than personal defeat. This mindset shift helped us ask better questions, refine our pitch, and approach subsequent opportunities with greater strategic thinking. 

Where do you envision Scholar Saver in the next five years? 

Our vision for Scholar Saver is to become the global standard for student financial wellbeing. We're building toward a world where no student drops out of university simply because of financial pressure, a future that feels both necessary and achievable. In five years, I see Scholar Saver seamlessly integrated into university ecosystems worldwide. We'll be embedded into institutional support systems, helping universities proactively identify and assist students before financial stress becomes overwhelming. This integration will transform how educational institutions approach student retention and success. 

Most importantly, we're committed to maintaining the fun factor. Learning about money doesn't have to be boring or overwhelming. As we scale, preserving that engaging, gamified approach will be essential to reaching students who might otherwise avoid financial planning altogether. 

What skills or knowledge from your time studying at the University of Liverpool have been most valuable in your entrepreneurial journey? 

1. Strategic thinking and critical analysis became the foundation of our decision-making process. The course taught me to deconstruct complex challenges, examine them from multiple perspectives, and support decisions with solid data. This analytical framework has been essential when testing product-market fit, developing pricing strategies, and evaluating marketing campaign effectiveness. It's the difference between making gut decisions and making informed strategic choices.
2. Whether pitching to investors or explaining our product to users, I learned to create compelling narratives that connect both emotionally and logically. This ability came from both the course content and the experience of presenting ideas to diverse audiences with varying perspectives. In the startup world, your ability to communicate your vision clearly can make or break your success.
3. The collaborative and diverse environment at Liverpool fundamentally shaped my leadership approach. Working with classmates from different cultural backgrounds and professional experiences taught me to listen more effectively, communicate with greater clarity, and create space for different viewpoints. These skills have been essential when building our team and establishing our brand identity.  

What advice would you give to graduates who are considering launching their own startup? 

Start before you're ready. This might be the most important lesson I can share. Waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect version of your idea will only delay the growth that comes from actually building something real. You'll learn more in one month of active development than in a year of theoretical planning. The market will teach you things no business plan can anticipate. 

Fall in love with the problem, not your solution. Your first idea will probably change, and that's not just okay, it's necessary. The key is staying connected to the core problem you're solving while remaining flexible about how you solve it. Keep talking to people and keep testing assumptions. This is the only way to build something people genuinely need rather than something you think they should want. 

Surround yourself with other builders. Having even one or two people who understand the unique ups and downs of startup life can make an enormous difference. These relationships provide practical advice, emotional support, and the kind of honest feedback that friends and family might be too polite to give.  

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice before starting your business, what would it be? 

Don't try to do everything alone. There's a tempting belief that managing everything yourself is faster or more efficient, but real growth happens when you bring others into the journey early. Whether it's co-founders, interns, or mentors, having a team to bounce ideas off and share both wins and failures with changes everything about the experience. Collaboration doesn't slow you down, it accelerates you in directions you never would have discovered solo. 

A huge thank you to Vipashyana for sharing her career journey with us. Feeling inspired to share your own story or get involved? There are plenty of ways to stay connected: 

Connect with the University: Join your Alumni Group on LinkedIn 

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