Michel Noumair co-founded a hedge fund while at university, bringing together students from across UK universities and securing institutional backing.
In 2021, Michel and his co-founders, all students, saw an opportunity to bring aspiring finance professionals together and turn their ambitious idea into reality. Michel explains:
"There’s so much talent among students, but I noticed how challenging it can be to access job opportunities in big banks because of how competitive the financial sector is.
"So, we thought, what if we bring all this talent together? Instead of each of us working alone, trading our own portfolios, and doing separate research, we could collaborate and work towards one common goal.”
From the beginning, their goal was to build a strong track record by trading successfully and developing investment strategies over two to three years, establishing the credibility needed to approach investors with confidence.
Despite early challenges, Michel and his team have expanded into the financial services sector, gaining Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulation and securing institutional funding for trading. Michel reflects on his journey:
"We had to fail a lot, and we had to learn from every experience. Every time we pitched, we had to figure out what we did wrong and improve.
“Investors were hesitant at first, but once we secured that first institutional funding last year, everything changed."
The team has since built relationships with major financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan and grown internationally.
"Now we’re a team of 12 people, working on short term strategies focused on derivatives, managing an eight-figure portfolio."
Gaining the skills and connections to succeed in finance
Michel has developed his financial knowledge by applying theory to real-world trading strategies and taking full advantage of the opportunities available at City St George’s.
"City St George’s finance programme doesn’t just focus on one aspect of finance, it gives you a full perspective. You can break into trading, risk management, sales, products or so many other areas. The connections I made here were really valuable. I was able to reach out to associate deans and directors, and they helped connect me with alumni and professionals."
His year abroad at Bocconi University in Italy broadened his academic perspective.
"One of my best experiences was my year abroad at Bocconi. It gave me insight into different teaching programmes around the world."
Michel also valued the support from professors at City St George’s, who helped him bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.
"I had a lot of great interactions with professors at City St George’s about taking theoretical concepts and applying them in practice. I could go to them and say, ‘I’m having an issue with this strategy or concept- what do you think?’ and they were always there to help."
Looking ahead to the future and sharing advice for students
Now in his final year, Michel plans to pursue a master’s degree while continuing to grow his work in global investment.
"The perfect scenario for me is working on my own company for my whole life."
For students looking to start something ambitious, Michel highlights the importance of taking action and learning from the experience:
"If you fail but learn from it, then it’s not really failing. It’s just a learning curve.”
"People often say you should work in a big bank for a few years before starting something of your own. I heard this a lot, but I thought, why wait? If you have ideas, put them to work, learn from others, and innovate."
"If you believe in what you’re doing and see it going somewhere, don’t let doubt from others hold you back."