LONDON, Feb. 18, 2026 /CNW/ — In an effort to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical financial skills, **Spendsafe** has announced a partnership with **UCL EdTech Labs**. This collaboration aims to integrate advanced impact measurement techniques with a financial literacy curriculum, utilizing age-appropriate artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver tangible results for young learners.
Spendsafe’s offering is a **Mastercard® Reloadable Prepaid Card**, accompanied by connected applications for parents and children. This platform aims to transform allowances, chores, and daily spending into hands-on learning experiences. By linking rewards to improvements in money management skills, the app ensures that families engage with a relevant curriculum that covers essential topics, including savings habits and compound interest. An in-app AI coach connects real transactions to educational lessons, while parents retain oversight of their children’s spending activities, including what, when, and where they make purchases.
The role of UCL EdTech Labs in this partnership is critical, providing evaluation, ethics oversight, and learning governance. This added layer equips Spendsafe with a robust curriculum, evidence of its efficacy, and the credibility necessary for acceptance by families, schools, and policymakers alike. “Families want proof, not promises,” said **Vasanth Ratna**, CEO at Spendsafe. “Every tap should teach, and we should be able to show it. This partnership grounds our coaching in evidence and ethics so parents can trust the guardrails and kids can build real habits.”
**Houtan Froushan**, Programme Director at UCL EdTech Labs, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We help teams prove what works and scale it responsibly. With Spendsafe, learning happens in real life. It is vital to ensure the AI is transparent, the research rigorous, and the outcomes clear.”
The collaboration is anchored in a shared mission: to empower families with the skills to turn everyday transactions into significant learning moments, enabling them to take control of their financial futures. As technology continues to evolve rapidly and financial markets shift more swiftly than educational curricula can adapt, Spendsafe and UCL EdTech Labs are creating evidence-based experiences designed to keep young people ahead of the curve. This holistic approach aims to foster confidence, skills, and financial resilience, ultimately reducing the disparities that often hinder young learners.
About UCL EdTech Labs
UCL EdTech Labs, delivered by **Startup Labs Global** in alliance with **University College London**, accelerates innovators to co-design, validate, and scale evidence-led educational technologies. Learn more at ucledtechlabs.com.
About Spendsafe
Spendsafe is Canada’s first Mastercard®-backed financial education platform for youth aged 6 to 18. It combines a secure prepaid card, real-time AI coaching, and dynamic parent-child tools to foster lifelong money skills through everyday transactions. Learn more at www.spendsafe.com.
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