Chuka University student John Tingoi beats 80,000 global competitors to reach Quant finals

John Tingoi, a student from Chuka University, has emerged victorious in the Kenya National Finals of the International Quant Championship (IQC) 2025, earning a place among the top 12 global finalists.

Tingoi, a final-year student in the Faculty of Science and Technology, outperformed more than 9,000 participants in Kenya and nearly 80,000 competitors worldwide in securing his slot. 

He will represent both Kenya and Chuka University at the IQC Global Finals scheduled for September 29–30, 2025, in Singapore.

“This landmark achievement cements Chuka University’s reputation in science, technology, and innovation,” the university said in a statement.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Tingoi is pursuing a degree in Applied Computer Science and works remotely as a WorldQuant Researcher, where he designs algorithmic models for financial markets. 

His academic interests span data science, quantitative analysis, and blockchain technology, with his final-year project focusing on a blockchain-based healthcare records management system.

The International Quant Championship, organized by WorldQuant BRAIN, is a premier competition designed to identify exceptional quantitative talent across the globe. 

It consists of three stages: National qualifiers, regional rounds, and the global finals, where university students compete by building predictive models known as “alphas” using historical financial data.

Submissions are evaluated based on originality, quality, risk diversification, and logic. At the finals, participants present live before a panel of judges drawn from senior WorldQuant executives.

This year’s championship attracted nearly 80,000 participants from more than 11,000 universities globally.

The prize pool totals about Ksh.13.2 million with the winning team set to receive about Ksh.2.6 million. Top performers may also be considered for internships, consulting, or full-time roles at WorldQuant.