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Mobile payment app launched by 19-year old University of York student

Posted on 24 October 2019

An entrepreneurial student at the University of York has helped develop a mobile payment app which is attracting interest from retailers and investors.

Yoyo is a second year Management School student

KodyPay is a mobile payment application that allows users to pay for goods via their mobile phone, making it a quick and easy process. 

The app, launched by second year Management School student, Yoyo Chang, is being trialed at Nisa supermarkets on campus.

Partnerships

Yoyo, 19, says the platform will save shoppers time, money and ultimately reduce environmental impact by reducing the need for hardware.

The app has attracted interest from a food retailer and a technology company with discussions on-going about a potential partnership.

And Santander Universities has recognised KodyPay as one of the top 150 University start-ups and shortlisted the project for an entrepreneurship award.

Ahead of a full launch next year, Yoyo is now looking for fellow students to test KodyPay. KodyPay will be offering 2,000 students a small amount of money each to spend at Nisa supermarkets on campus.

Students will need to download the app using their York email address but they won’t be asked for any bank details.

Support

Yoyo said: “I came up with the idea while at sixth-form college and have developed it while at the University of York.

 “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help and support of a lot of people, including the Enterprise team here at York and staff at the University’s Office of Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni (OPPA) and Research and Enterprise.  They really have been fantastic and have helped me turn my dream into a reality.”

“The vision for KodyPay is about removing waste and complexity from the payment industry resulting in lower fees, reduced use of materials and a positive impact on the planet.”

Tom Coward, Enterprise Development Officer at the University of York, said: “This project is a really exciting student business idea that has been supported by the University.

“It provides a good opportunity for students to get some free shopping and demonstrates how the University's commercial team are adopting innovative new solutions. Yoyo has benefitted from a range of business support that is open to all students and recent graduates.”

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