Chuka University has entered the global spotlight after one of its brightest students, John Tingoi, secured a coveted spot in the International Quant Championship (IQC) 2025 finals. Tingoi, a standout from the Faculty of Science and Technology, outperformed more than 9,000 participants in Kenya and nearly 80,000 worldwide to earn his place among the top 12 global finalists.
The IQC is a prestigious team-based quantitative finance competition that has been running since March 2025. It challenges participants to apply mathematics, coding, and statistics to solve problems in financial modeling, risk management, and market predictions. The competition serves as a gateway for rising talents to showcase their skills to banks, hedge funds, and financial institutions across the globe.
Chuka University’s administration hailed Tingoi’s win as a landmark achievement, praising him for raising the institution’s profile in science, technology, and innovation. “This landmark achievement cements the University’s reputation as we celebrate one of our brightest minds flying both the national and university flag globally,” the University said in a statement.
Tingoi will now travel to Singapore for the International Finals, scheduled for September 29–30, 2025, where he will represent Kenya on the global stage.
The competition comes with exciting rewards. While regional and national winners receive Ksh390,000 ($3,000), international winners walk away with up to Ksh2.6 million ($20,000). The first runners-up earn Ksh1.5 million ($12,000), while the second runners-up receive Ksh1 million ($8,000). Beyond monetary prizes, the championship also opens doors to career opportunities in global financial firms.
With Tingoi’s success, Chuka University continues to cement its position as a hub for nurturing world-class talent in STEM and quantitative finance, showcasing Kenya’s growing presence in the global innovation and finance space.
