Earlier this month, Baiduri Capital concluded the UBD Investment Challenge, recognising the top-performing student teams from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Universiti Teknologi Brunei following a structured, real-market investing competition designed to build practical financial capability.

The Challenge, launched at the end of last year, provided students with hands-on exposure to portfolio construction, asset allocation, and risk management using live market data via Baiduri Invest. Participants were evaluated on portfolio performance, investment discipline, and their ability to apply structured decision-making in dynamic market conditions.

Leading the cohort was Hedgefun, represented by Nur Zulfaa Insyiah binti Dzulkifli, Ahmad Mohsin bin Haji Abdul Manan and Moh Yee Lin, who emerged as champions and were awarded BND2,000 in recognition of their disciplined strategy and consistent performance.

Securing second place was Tripetani, comprising Muhammad Haziq Hafizuddin bin Haji Abdul Jaafar, Aziezul Safwan bin Awg Zakaria and Mohammad Hafeezul Waezz bin Rabu, who received BND1,000.

Rounding out the top three was Yellowrock, represented by Muhammad Darwisy bin Azman, Mohammad Wazeef Eddy Waze’en bin Ratno Eddy Sophian and Lim Yee Shean, who were awarded BND500.

Prizes were presented by Professor Dr. Haji Noor Azam bin Orang Kaya Maha Bijaya Haji Othman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UBD and Kamal bin Haji Muhammad, Chairperson, Brunei Darussalam Capital Market Association (BCMA).

The ceremony was officiated by Yang Mulia Dr Wardah Azimah Hj Sumardi, Dean of the School of Business and Economics, UBD. Also in attendance were Lim Kian Chiong, Head of Retail Banking at Baiduri Bank and Executive Director of Baiduri Capital and Brian Wong, General Manager of Baiduri Capital.

Reflecting on their win, Hedgefun said the experience reshaped how they approached investing, particularly in uncertain market conditions: “The most valuable lesson we learned was that process beats prediction. Markets are inherently unpredictable, so we focused on building a disciplined framework to guide our decisions. Staying consistent with our mandate and risk limits allowed us to navigate volatility more effectively.”

Their emphasis on structure and consistency was echoed by Tripetani, who highlighted how managing a live portfolio brought a new level of realism to their learning: “Managing a live portfolio reinforced that investing success depends more on discipline and structured reasoning than on predicting short-term market movements. It strengthened our appreciation for risk management and long-term thinking.”

For Yellowrock, the challenge went beyond performance metrics, shaping their broader perspective on financial decision-making: “Investing is more than generating returns; it requires discipline, emotional control and clarity of strategy. Competing in real market conditions gave us practical insight into timing, risk management and portfolio balance.”

Commenting on the broader significance of the programme, Brian Wong said the initiative reflects the Baiduri Capital’s continued focus on experiential financial education: “The UBD Investment Challenge bridges theory and practice by placing students in real market environments where discipline and structured decision-making matter. Initiatives like this strengthen financial literacy at an early stage and help cultivate the next generation of informed investors in Brunei.”

The UBD Investment Challenge forms part of Baiduri Capital’s broader effort to advance investment education and expand access to practical financial knowledge. Through continued collaboration with academic institutions, they aim to equip students with the analytical discipline and market awareness needed to navigate increasingly complex financial landscapes.

For more information on Baiduri Capital and Baiduri Invest, visit www.baiduri.com, or contact 226 8588 during office hours.