While taking a personal finance class at Washington University, Helen Telahun said she realized that financial literacy education often isn’t tailored individually to how people save and spend their money.
That spawned the creation of Article 26, a startup founded by Telahun that’s focused on providing personal finance support for users. The app uses what Telahun described as an artificial intelligence-enabled mentor, called “Barry the Budgeter” to help users with money management and financial literacy in a personalized way. Telahun said the Article 26 plans to operate with a business-to-business model, selling to universities, employers and government agencies. The company is working through beta testing of its app.
Telahun said the company's name is inspired by Article 26 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights that states everyone has a right to education.
Telahun, 21, is majoring in computer science and economics, as well as entrepreneurship, at Washington University. She grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before enrolling at Washington University. Moving forward as an entrepreneur, Telahun said she hopes to be an example for other minority founders.
"Through any venture I do, my hope is to be an example for other Black women and Black girls. Especially growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that was not a role model I had. My hope is to be that role model for people," she said.
Did you always envision becoming an entrepreneur? From a young age, I enjoyed learning how things and processes work, while my mom enjoyed my presentations, ranging from minor improvements to a complete upheaval of said things and processes. The wonder and ideation stages continue to be my love and strong suit in the creation process. So, an entrepreneur? Yes. A tech entrepreneur? That threw even me for a loop, but it turned into a thrilling roller coaster.
What's your proudest accomplishment? It isn't a single moment in time but rather the accumulation of many wins and setbacks that make up where I am today and the possibilities I've created for my future. Growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as a Black girl to a single immigrant mother of four, the odds started incredibly stacked against me. If I had to pick one thing, it'd be the mental and emotional growth that has and continues to occur through overcoming those odds. I cherish and nurture my growth; it has aided me tremendously in my founder role and motivates me to get to the next moment.
Where do you see yourself and your career in five years? I plan to run Article 26 for another 5-7 years, with the goal that it is the go-to financial education platform in at least universities and government programs across the U.S. The goal is to be at the point where we have become a strong competitor and leader in the financial technology/education space with long-term strategic development and initiatives to maintain this. Only then would I consider taking a slight step back to pursue my real estate passions and ventures.
What can St. Louis do to engage more young entrepreneurs like yourself? Some of the biggest struggles we faced occurred during early-stage development when trying to come to our proof of concept and begin development on our minimum viable product. While we had a strong idea, the full development of said idea was a big hurdle we had to overcome. Speaking with other startups and aspiring founders, I've realized this is not uncommon. Strong support for early-stage startups could provide the resources needed to bring ideas further, help potential founders refine their ideas, and better understand how to create successful ventures. Best of all, it may encourage people who are holding back because they may need clarification about the next steps out of the woodwork.
What's the biggest advantage of being a young entrepreneur in St. Louis? As a college student, starting a company has been a unique experience. I have been able to connect with a plethora of other student entrepreneurs, including those outside of WashU. These connections are vital for me; having others like myself in the same boat makes these significant undertakings much less daunting. The hub of entrepreneurship that St. Louis is, mixed with the tiny bit of nostalgic hometown feel, allows me to see people I know personally popping up and doing incredible things on a big scale. The motivation, connection, and support I feel in St. Louis have yet to be matched by another city.
Who are your biggest mentors? First is my mother, from whom I get all my resilience, motivation, and honesty. She is my sounding board who doesn't let me sweat the little stuff, keeping me grounded and responsible. Second, my childhood mentor and second mom, Shaylee Healy. Over the last decade, Shaylee has continued loving, supporting, and guiding me unconditionally, greatly aiding my personal growth. I am so grateful to have both women by my side at every step of my journey.
