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Kredit Academy and partners to bring financial literacy initiative to Miami

Nancy Dahlberg
Nancy Dahlberg
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By Nancy Dahlberg

Headed by entrepreneur Evan Leaphart, Kredit Academy is on a mission to make financial education accessible, engaging and practical for all ages. To that end, the Miami-based startup is announcing today a new community initiative and product for South Floridians.

 Through a partnership with financial services company Edward Jones, the Miami nonprofit organization Tech Knowledge, and Dade County Federal Credit Union, this community initiative will provide free access to Kredit Academy’s financial literacy app called Kredit Quest, which provides its users with real-world financial tools and lessons. Participants will also be eligible for a savings account match for accounts opened at DCFCU.

“This is more than an app — it’s a movement toward financial freedom for Miami-Dade County,” says Ted Lucas, founder of Tech Knowledge. “Our goal is to equip every participant with not just knowledge, but the tools to take action, grow their savings, and build a more secure financial future.”

This initiative represents the shared commitment to closing the wealth gap and providing equitable financial education opportunities, says Leaphart, founder and CEO of Kredit Academy. “While we intend to roll out this offering beyond the region, we felt that Miami is a great launching pad and serves as a healthy diverse demographic to offer financial education.”

For Leaphart, bringing the initiative to Miami is also a homecoming gift of sorts. This longtime Miami resident spent 2024 in Buffalo, NY, as part of the city’s 43North innovation acceleration program. Kredit Academy was one of five teams chosen to participate in the year-long program that also came with a $1 million award. “Starting over in Buffalo, you’re effectively starting on a good foot because it’s a strong badge of honor to win and you are celebrated. People want to be able to do business with you,” Leaphart says, in an interview with Refresh Miami.

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“The program really helped us refine and reset on a business model that allows us to scale faster and generate greater revenues per client. Also the restructuring of Kredit Academy as the company with products underneath it – Kiddie Kredit, Kredit Quest, etc. – really came to fruition after a deep one-to-two month marketing exercise with the 43North team,” says Leaphart.

He also now knows why snowbirds are snowbirds, but the experience was fruitful, and Kredit Academy will continue to have an office there.  “One thing I learned from Buffalo is that if you focus on building a people culture first over revenue you can really outlast challenging economic times. Buffalo is called the city of Good Neighbors and I think the environment there has allowed me to reset a bit and focus on what’s most important,” Leaphart says.

It was also in Buffalo where the idea for this community initiative was hatched, and Kredit Academy is also launching similar efforts with community partners in other cities including Chicago. Leaphart and the team are also hoping to roll out a credit card product by the end of the year. For now, it’s all about getting the word out about their newest product, Kredit Quest.

“We are really excited about the launch of Kredit Quest, our all-ages financial education platform and follow up to Kiddie Kredit. While Kiddie Kredit will continue to be supported as a free app for families, we designed Kredit Quest as a tool for financial institutions to educate their existing and prospective audience,” adds Leaphart.

How does Kredit Quest work? As users learn, they earn points, and those points can be used to redeem rewards like gift cards from over 100 vendors, or options customized by the credit union or bank. For example, a user could use the reward points for reduced reduced APR on auto loan, or money towards closing costs on a mortgage.

Says Leaphart: “Because the learning leads to additional revenue opportunities for them, financial education no longer is just seen as a nice to have, but a need to have.”

YOU’RE INVITED: To learn more about Kredit Academy’s new community initiative in Miami, the community is encouraged to attend a special event on Wednesday, April 23, from 6 pm to 8 pm at Red Rooster in Miami’s Overtown. Local leaders, financial educators, and residents will gather to celebrate the program’s rollout, which seeks to break down barriers to financial empowerment and economic mobility for underserved communities in Miami-Dade County. The launch event will also feature remarks from community leaders, live app demonstrations, and on-site enrollment support.

READ MORE IN REFRESH MIAMI:

Nancy Dahlberg
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