Echo
A Micro Investment Wallet, with a Website
and a Chrome Extension
Time
September - December 2024
Activities
Client/ Internal Stand-ups, UX Research & Design, Brand Identity Design, Front End
Role
Project Lead
Tools
Figma, Miro
Background
Echo is a Chrome extension coupled with a website designed to make investing easy and approachable for everyone. By rounding up everyday e-commerce transactions to the nearest dollar or setting aside a small percentage of purchases, Echo allows users to build micro-investments effortlessly. It’s aimed at those new to finance, empowering them to make the most of their spending and grow wealth without stress.
01
The Problem
For many, investing feels intimidating—there’s no clear, approachable starting point. Often, people delay investing, missing out on the benefits of early financial growth. Echo breaks down these barriers by letting users invest effortlessly with every online purchase, transforming spare change into future opportunities.
We conducted user surveys, competitor analysis, and usability tests to uncover the main challenges users face when it comes to investing and saving. Some of our research questions were:
How can we make investing simpler and less intimidating for beginners?
What tools can naturally integrate saving and investing into daily life?
How can we build user trust in a micro-investment platform?
02
The Process
User Research
User research highlighted a common theme: investing feels daunting, especially for beginners who don’t know where to start. Many participants expressed a desire for a simple, integrated approach that fits naturally into their daily routines. The surveys revealed that most users found traditional platforms too complex, and often missed early opportunities to grow their finances. Echo addresses this by offering an easy, passive way to invest, making the process approachable and seamless. This insight drove the design—focusing on simplicity and accessibility—to empower users to start their investment journey without feeling overwhelmed.
Echo fits seamlessly into everyday shopping. Users browse and shop as usual, then see a simple prompt at checkout to round up purchases. Spare change is automatically saved, collecting in a virtual wallet. Over time, these small amounts grow, and once they reach a certain level, they’re invested. It’s an easy, natural way to build wealth without any extra effort.
Pitch Presentation
We focused on showing how the platform transforms everyday online shopping into effortless investing. We highlighted Echo’s seamless integration with e-commerce, enabling users to save and grow their wealth passively through small, automatic investments. Our presentation outlined a clear revenue model and a strong market potential, with a focus on young adults and first-time investors. We emphasized Echo’s unique position as a first-to-market solution, offering both convenience and simplicity. To drive growth, we presented a strategic roadmap detailing our plans for development, funding, and future expansion.
Echo is a Chrome extension and website, offering a simple, intuitive way for users to passively grow their investments. With features like smart round-ups, real-time savings visualization, and a dedicated micro-investment wallet, Echo turns everyday purchases into meaningful financial growth.
03
The Solution
Chrome Extension
The Chrome extension allows users to effortlessly save while shopping online.
Get Started Easily: Quick setup to add Echo to Chrome with a single click.
Round-Up Feature: Users can choose to round up their purchases or select a percentage for savings.
Passive Saving: Echo works in the background, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
echo.com
echo.com
Website
The companion website helps users manage their savings and investments:
User Account Overview: Displays account balance, savings threshold, and investment progress.
Third Party Integration: Users can directly link third-party investment accounts, allowing their saved funds to be transferred automatically once the threshold is reached.
Seamless Management: Users can easily adjust threshold amounts, transfer funds, and monitor growth.
Educational Resources: Echo also includes financial education tools to enhance investing knowledge.
Outcome
After presenting Echo’s high-fidelity designs to investors on pitch day, we received positive feedback for the platform’s ability to simplify investment experiences. The investors were particularly impressed by the focus on user behavior and design simplicity. As a result, we secured $1,500 in funding to further enhance Echo’s capabilities, including establishing a continuous feedback loop to ensure the platform evolves based on user needs.
04
Reflection
One of the most rewarding parts of this project was seeing how it resonated with users during the final presentation. We wanted Echo to be more than a tool—it had to be a starting point for people new to finance, a way to empower them to take control of their future. The client and users appreciated how the platform made investing simple and approachable. Building Echo was about breaking down the barriers to investing and helping users see that even small steps could lead to significant growth.
Echo
A Micro Investment Wallet, with
a Website and a Chrome Extension
Time
September - December 2024
Activities
Client/ Internal Stand-ups, UX Research & Design, Brand Identity Design, Front End
Role
Project Lead
Tools
Figma, Miro
Background
Echo is a Chrome extension coupled with a website designed to make investing easy and approachable for everyone. By rounding up everyday e-commerce transactions to the nearest dollar or setting aside a small percentage of purchases, Echo allows users to build micro-investments effortlessly. It’s aimed at those new to finance, empowering them to make the most of their spending and grow wealth without stress.
01
The Problem
For many, investing feels intimidating—there’s no clear, approachable starting point. Often, people delay investing, missing out on the benefits of early financial growth. Echo breaks down these barriers by letting users invest effortlessly with every online purchase, transforming spare change into future opportunities.
We conducted user surveys, competitor analysis, and usability tests to uncover the main challenges users face when it comes to investing and saving. Some of our research questions were:
How can we make investing simpler and less intimidating for beginners?
What tools can naturally integrate saving and investing into daily life?
How can we build user trust in a micro-investment platform?
02
The Process
User Research
User research highlighted a common theme: investing feels daunting, especially for beginners who don’t know where to start. Many participants expressed a desire for a simple, integrated approach that fits naturally into their daily routines. The surveys revealed that most users found traditional platforms too complex, and often missed early opportunities to grow their finances. Echo addresses this by offering an easy, passive way to invest, making the process approachable and seamless. This insight drove the design—focusing on simplicity and accessibility—to empower users to start their investment journey without feeling overwhelmed.
Echo fits seamlessly into everyday shopping. Users browse and shop as usual, then see a simple prompt at checkout to round up purchases. Spare change is automatically saved, collecting in a virtual wallet. Over time, these small amounts grow, and once they reach a certain level, they’re invested. It’s an easy, natural way to build wealth without any extra effort.
Pitch Presentation
We focused on showing how the platform transforms everyday online shopping into effortless investing. We highlighted Echo’s seamless integration with e-commerce, enabling users to save and grow their wealth passively through small, automatic investments. Our presentation outlined a clear revenue model and a strong market potential, with a focus on young adults and first-time investors. We emphasized Echo’s unique position as a first-to-market solution, offering both convenience and simplicity. To drive growth, we presented a strategic roadmap detailing our plans for development, funding, and future expansion.
Echo is a Chrome extension and website, offering a simple, intuitive way for users to passively grow their investments. With features like smart round-ups, real-time savings visualization, and a dedicated micro-investment wallet, Echo turns everyday purchases into meaningful financial growth.
03
The Solution
Chrome Extension
The Chrome extension allows users to effortlessly save while shopping online.
Get Started Easily: Quick setup to add Echo to Chrome with a single click.
Round-Up Feature: Users can choose to round up their purchases or select a percentage for savings.
Passive Saving: Echo works in the background, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
echo.com
echo.com
Website
The companion website helps users manage their savings and investments:
User Account Overview: Displays account balance, savings threshold, and investment progress.
Third Party Integration: Users can directly link third-party investment accounts, allowing their saved funds to be transferred automatically once the threshold is reached.
Seamless Management: Users can easily adjust threshold amounts, transfer funds, and monitor growth.
Educational Resources: Echo also includes financial education tools to enhance investing knowledge.
Outcome
After presenting Echo’s high-fidelity designs to investors on pitch day, we received positive feedback for the platform’s ability to simplify investment experiences. The investors were particularly impressed by the focus on user behavior and design simplicity. As a result, we secured $1,500 in funding to further enhance Echo’s capabilities, including establishing a continuous feedback loop to ensure the platform evolves based on user needs.
04
Reflection
One of the most rewarding parts of this project was seeing how it resonated with users during the final presentation. We wanted Echo to be more than a tool—it had to be a starting point for people new to finance, a way to empower them to take control of their future. The client and users appreciated how the platform made investing simple and approachable. Building Echo was about breaking down the barriers to investing and helping users see that even small steps could lead to significant growth.
Echo
A Micro Investment Wallet, with a Website
and a Chrome Extension
Time
September - December 2024
Activities
Client/ Internal Stand-ups, UX Research & Design, Brand Identity Design, Front End
Role
Project Lead
Tools
Figma, Miro
Background
Echo is a Chrome extension coupled with a website designed to make investing easy and approachable for everyone. By rounding up everyday e-commerce transactions to the nearest dollar or setting aside a small percentage of purchases, Echo allows users to build micro-investments effortlessly. It’s aimed at those new to finance, empowering them to make the most of their spending and grow wealth without stress.
01
The Problem
For many, investing feels intimidating—there’s no clear, approachable starting point. Often, people delay investing, missing out on the benefits of early financial growth. Echo breaks down these barriers by letting users invest effortlessly with every online purchase, transforming spare change into future opportunities.
We conducted user surveys, competitor analysis, and usability tests to uncover the main challenges users face when it comes to investing and saving. Some of our research questions were:
How can we make investing simpler and less intimidating for beginners?
What tools can naturally integrate saving and investing into daily life?
How can we build user trust in a micro-investment platform?
02
The Process
User Research
User research highlighted a common theme: investing feels daunting, especially for beginners who don’t know where to start. Many participants expressed a desire for a simple, integrated approach that fits naturally into their daily routines. The surveys revealed that most users found traditional platforms too complex, and often missed early opportunities to grow their finances. Echo addresses this by offering an easy, passive way to invest, making the process approachable and seamless. This insight drove the design—focusing on simplicity and accessibility—to empower users to start their investment journey without feeling overwhelmed.
Echo fits seamlessly into everyday shopping. Users browse and shop as usual, then see a simple prompt at checkout to round up purchases. Spare change is automatically saved, collecting in a virtual wallet. Over time, these small amounts grow, and once they reach a certain level, they’re invested. It’s an easy, natural way to build wealth without any extra effort.
Pitch Presentation
We focused on showing how the platform transforms everyday online shopping into effortless investing. We highlighted Echo’s seamless integration with e-commerce, enabling users to save and grow their wealth passively through small, automatic investments. Our presentation outlined a clear revenue model and a strong market potential, with a focus on young adults and first-time investors. We emphasized Echo’s unique position as a first-to-market solution, offering both convenience and simplicity. To drive growth, we presented a strategic roadmap detailing our plans for development, funding, and future expansion.
Echo is a Chrome extension and website, offering a simple, intuitive way for users to passively grow their investments. With features like smart round-ups, real-time savings visualization, and a dedicated micro-investment wallet, Echo turns everyday purchases into meaningful financial growth.
03
The Solution
Chrome Extension
The Chrome extension allows users to effortlessly save while shopping online.
Get Started Easily: Quick setup to add Echo to Chrome with a single click.
Round-Up Feature: Users can choose to round up their purchases or select a percentage for savings.
Passive Saving: Echo works in the background, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
echo.com
echo.com
Website
The companion website helps users manage their savings and investments:
User Account Overview: Displays account balance, savings threshold, and investment progress.
Third Party Integration: Users can directly link third-party investment accounts, allowing their saved funds to be transferred automatically once the threshold is reached.
Seamless Management: Users can easily adjust threshold amounts, transfer funds, and monitor growth.
Educational Resources: Echo also includes financial education tools to enhance investing knowledge.
Outcome
After presenting Echo’s high-fidelity designs to investors on pitch day, we received positive feedback for the platform’s ability to simplify investment experiences. The investors were particularly impressed by the focus on user behavior and design simplicity. As a result, we secured $1,500 in funding to further enhance Echo’s capabilities, including establishing a continuous feedback loop to ensure the platform evolves based on user needs.
04
Reflection
One of the most rewarding parts of this project was seeing how it resonated with users during the final presentation. We wanted Echo to be more than a tool—it had to be a starting point for people new to finance, a way to empower them to take control of their future. The client and users appreciated how the platform made investing simple and approachable. Building Echo was about breaking down the barriers to investing and helping users see that even small steps could lead to significant growth.
Echo
A Micro Investment Wallet, with a Website
and a Chrome Extension
Time
September - December 2024
Activities
Client/ Internal Stand-ups, UX Research & Design, Brand Identity Design, Front End
Role
Project Lead
Tools
Figma, Miro
Background
Echo is a Chrome extension coupled with a website designed to make investing easy and approachable for everyone. By rounding up everyday e-commerce transactions to the nearest dollar or setting aside a small percentage of purchases, Echo allows users to build micro-investments effortlessly. It’s aimed at those new to finance, empowering them to make the most of their spending and grow wealth without stress.
01
The Problem
For many, investing feels intimidating—there’s no clear, approachable starting point. Often, people delay investing, missing out on the benefits of early financial growth. Echo breaks down these barriers by letting users invest effortlessly with every online purchase, transforming spare change into future opportunities.
We conducted user surveys, competitor analysis, and usability tests to uncover the main challenges users face when it comes to investing and saving. Some of our research questions were:
How can we make investing simpler and less intimidating for beginners?
What tools can naturally integrate saving and investing into daily life?
How can we build user trust in a micro-investment platform?
02
The Process
User Research
User research highlighted a common theme: investing feels daunting, especially for beginners who don’t know where to start. Many participants expressed a desire for a simple, integrated approach that fits naturally into their daily routines. The surveys revealed that most users found traditional platforms too complex, and often missed early opportunities to grow their finances. Echo addresses this by offering an easy, passive way to invest, making the process approachable and seamless. This insight drove the design—focusing on simplicity and accessibility—to empower users to start their investment journey without feeling overwhelmed.
Echo fits seamlessly into everyday shopping. Users browse and shop as usual, then see a simple prompt at checkout to round up purchases. Spare change is automatically saved, collecting in a virtual wallet. Over time, these small amounts grow, and once they reach a certain level, they’re invested. It’s an easy, natural way to build wealth without any extra effort.
Pitch Presentation
We focused on showing how the platform transforms everyday online shopping into effortless investing. We highlighted Echo’s seamless integration with e-commerce, enabling users to save and grow their wealth passively through small, automatic investments. Our presentation outlined a clear revenue model and a strong market potential, with a focus on young adults and first-time investors. We emphasized Echo’s unique position as a first-to-market solution, offering both convenience and simplicity. To drive growth, we presented a strategic roadmap detailing our plans for development, funding, and future expansion.
Echo is a Chrome extension and website, offering a simple, intuitive way for users to passively grow their investments. With features like smart round-ups, real-time savings visualization, and a dedicated micro-investment wallet, Echo turns everyday purchases into meaningful financial growth.
03
The Solution
Chrome Extension
The Chrome extension allows users to effortlessly save while shopping online.
Get Started Easily: Quick setup to add Echo to Chrome with a single click.
Round-Up Feature: Users can choose to round up their purchases or select a percentage for savings.
Passive Saving: Echo works in the background, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
echo.com
echo.com
Website
The companion website helps users manage their savings and investments:
User Account Overview: Displays account balance, savings threshold, and investment progress.
Third Party Integration: Users can directly link third-party investment accounts, allowing their saved funds to be transferred automatically once the threshold is reached.
Seamless Management: Users can easily adjust threshold amounts, transfer funds, and monitor growth.
Educational Resources: Echo also includes financial education tools to enhance investing knowledge.
Outcome
After presenting Echo’s high-fidelity designs to investors on pitch day, we received positive feedback for the platform’s ability to simplify investment experiences. The investors were particularly impressed by the focus on user behavior and design simplicity. As a result, we secured $1,500 in funding to further enhance Echo’s capabilities, including establishing a continuous feedback loop to ensure the platform evolves based on user needs.
04
Reflection
One of the most rewarding parts of this project was seeing how it resonated with users during the final presentation. We wanted Echo to be more than a tool—it had to be a starting point for people new to finance, a way to empower them to take control of their future. The client and users appreciated how the platform made investing simple and approachable. Building Echo was about breaking down the barriers to investing and helping users see that even small steps could lead to significant growth.
Echo
A Micro Investment Wallet, with a Website
and a Chrome Extension
Time
September - December 2024
Activities
Client/ Internal Stand-ups, UX Research & Design, Brand Identity Design, Front End
Role
Project Lead
Tools
Figma, Miro
Background
Echo is a Chrome extension coupled with a website designed to make investing easy and approachable for everyone. By rounding up everyday e-commerce transactions to the nearest dollar or setting aside a small percentage of purchases, Echo allows users to build micro-investments effortlessly. It’s aimed at those new to finance, empowering them to make the most of their spending and grow wealth without stress.
01
The Problem
For many, investing feels intimidating—there’s no clear, approachable starting point. Often, people delay investing, missing out on the benefits of early financial growth. Echo breaks down these barriers by letting users invest effortlessly with every online purchase, transforming spare change into future opportunities.
We conducted user surveys, competitor analysis, and usability tests to uncover the main challenges users face when it comes to investing and saving. Some of our research questions were:
How can we make investing simpler and less intimidating for beginners?
What tools can naturally integrate saving and investing into daily life?
How can we build user trust in a micro-investment platform?
02
The Process
User Research
User research highlighted a common theme: investing feels daunting, especially for beginners who don’t know where to start. Many participants expressed a desire for a simple, integrated approach that fits naturally into their daily routines. The surveys revealed that most users found traditional platforms too complex, and often missed early opportunities to grow their finances. Echo addresses this by offering an easy, passive way to invest, making the process approachable and seamless. This insight drove the design—focusing on simplicity and accessibility—to empower users to start their investment journey without feeling overwhelmed.
Echo fits seamlessly into everyday shopping. Users browse and shop as usual, then see a simple prompt at checkout to round up purchases. Spare change is automatically saved, collecting in a virtual wallet. Over time, these small amounts grow, and once they reach a certain level, they’re invested. It’s an easy, natural way to build wealth without any extra effort.
Pitch Presentation
We focused on showing how the platform transforms everyday online shopping into effortless investing. We highlighted Echo’s seamless integration with e-commerce, enabling users to save and grow their wealth passively through small, automatic investments. Our presentation outlined a clear revenue model and a strong market potential, with a focus on young adults and first-time investors. We emphasized Echo’s unique position as a first-to-market solution, offering both convenience and simplicity. To drive growth, we presented a strategic roadmap detailing our plans for development, funding, and future expansion.
Echo is a Chrome extension and website, offering a simple, intuitive way for users to passively grow their investments. With features like smart round-ups, real-time savings visualization, and a dedicated micro-investment wallet, Echo turns everyday purchases into meaningful financial growth.
03
The Solution
Chrome Extension
The Chrome extension allows users to effortlessly save while shopping online.
Get Started Easily: Quick setup to add Echo to Chrome with a single click.
Round-Up Feature: Users can choose to round up their purchases or select a percentage for savings.
Passive Saving: Echo works in the background, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
echo.com
echo.com
Website
The companion website helps users manage their savings and investments:
User Account Overview: Displays account balance, savings threshold, and investment progress.
Third Party Integration: Users can directly link third-party investment accounts, allowing their saved funds to be transferred automatically once the threshold is reached.
Seamless Management: Users can easily adjust threshold amounts, transfer funds, and monitor growth.
Educational Resources: Echo also includes financial education tools to enhance investing knowledge.
Outcome
After presenting Echo’s high-fidelity designs to investors on pitch day, we received positive feedback for the platform’s ability to simplify investment experiences. The investors were particularly impressed by the focus on user behavior and design simplicity. As a result, we secured $1,500 in funding to further enhance Echo’s capabilities, including establishing a continuous feedback loop to ensure the platform evolves based on user needs.
04
Reflection
One of the most rewarding parts of this project was seeing how it resonated with users during the final presentation. We wanted Echo to be more than a tool—it had to be a starting point for people new to finance, a way to empower them to take control of their future. The client and users appreciated how the platform made investing simple and approachable. Building Echo was about breaking down the barriers to investing and helping users see that even small steps could lead to significant growth.