Rati Kiria: Bringing Financial Education from Georgia to the Global Stage

Rati Kiria is a global finalist in the British Council's Study UK Alumni Awards 2026 Business and Innovation Award. Among applications received from over 120 countries, only 28 participants were selected for the global finals, with seven finalists in the Business and Innovation category. Kiria represents Georgia in this category and is the first Georgian global finalist in the award's history.

Kiria received his education in the United Kingdom at the University of Stirling, where he completed a master's degree program in Investment Analysis. His professional work is connected to financial markets, financial education, and the development of the investment ecosystem. He founded "Traders' Hub" — a platform aimed at increasing access to financial education and practical experience in Georgia.

We spoke with Rati Kiria about the significance of reaching the global finals of the Study UK Alumni Awards, the main challenges of financial education in Georgia, the idea behind creating "Traders' Hub," and his future plans.

1. Being named a global finalist in the British Council's Study UK Alumni Awards is significant international recognition. What does this achievement mean to you?

Being named a global finalist in the Study UK Alumni Awards is one of the most important international recognitions of my professional work. This award appreciates not only academic success, but also how a person applies the knowledge acquired in the United Kingdom to create real change in their own country.

Reaching 28 global finalists from candidates submitted from over 120 countries worldwide, and specifically the top seven in the Business and Innovation category, confirms that the work carried out to develop financial education and the investment ecosystem in Georgia has international significance as well.

I do not view this result as a purely personal achievement. This is the success of the entire team, our students, partners, and everyone who participated in the development of "Traders' Hub."

2. What does representing Georgia in such a prestigious international competition mean to you?

It is a special honor to be the first Georgian global finalist in the history of the Study UK Alumni Awards. Along with pride, this status carries great responsibility, as I represent not only my own work before an international audience, but also Georgia's potential and intellectual capacity.

I want to show the world through this platform that innovative educational models are being created in Georgia that are competitive at the international level. We can be not only consumers of systems created in other countries, but also exporters of our own knowledge, experience, and innovations into the global space.

I hope this result will show other young Georgians that it is possible to gain international recognition by starting professional work in Georgia.

3. How did your professional journey in the direction of financial markets begin, and what experience had the greatest influence on shaping your vision?

My interest in financial markets began with a desire to better understand how capital moves, how risk is priced, and what impact financial decisions have on people, businesses, and the economy as a whole.

An important stage in this direction was studying in the United Kingdom, in the Master's program in Investment Analysis at the University of Stirling. British education gave me not only deep theoretical knowledge, but also a way of thinking based on research, analysis, and practical decisions.

I also gained valuable experience in the Amplify Trading program and in the trading championship of British universities, where I made the top ten.

Subsequently, the practical experience I gained, particularly my victory at the international trading championship held in the United Arab Emirates in 2023, convinced me once again that long-term success in financial markets is not based on chance, but on knowledge, discipline, risk management, and emotional stability.

It was precisely the combination of education and real market experience that shaped my vision that financial education should be as practical and results-oriented as possible.

4. You founded "Traders' Hub." What problem did you identify in the market that you decided to solve with this platform?

The main problem in creating "Traders' Hub" was the lack of quality, structured, and practice-based financial education in the Georgian language.

Young people were interested in investing and trading, but often acquired knowledge from unofficial and unreliable sources.

Financial markets were often presented as a means of getting rich quickly, with insufficient attention paid to risk management, investment analysis, and responsible decision-making.

We decided to create an ecosystem that would take people from education to practical experience.

That is why "Traders' Hub" is not limited to just educational courses — we collaborate with universities and schools, create student-managed investment programs, conduct forums and championships, and provide young people with the opportunity to connect with professional communities.

Our goal is to transform interest in financial markets into knowledge, responsibility, and real professional opportunities.

5. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge in the field of financial education in Georgia today?

The biggest challenge is no longer just a lack of information. Today there is a lot of information, but it is difficult to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources.

Under the influence of social media, young people are often given the impression that trading is a fast and easy way to make money. As a result, they make financial decisions with insufficient knowledge and high risk.

A second important problem is the gap between theory and practice. A person may know financial terminology, but be unable to manage a budget, assess investment opportunities, or determine their own risk.

Financial education should begin at an early age and cover not only saving and personal budget management, but also critical thinking, investing, risk assessment, and financial security.

Our goal is precisely to create a system that transforms theoretical knowledge into real behavioral change.

6. What should we expect from you and "Traders' Hub" in the coming years?

In the coming years, our main goal is to scale the model of "Traders' Hub" developed in Georgia to an international level.

We are working on an AI-based multilingual educational platform that adapts financial education to a user's level of knowledge and goals. The platform will gradually be available in Georgian, English, and other international languages.

We are also planning to expand the model of practical investment laboratories in universities and schools, create international educational programs, and strengthen collaboration with foreign institutions.

Our long-term vision is for "Traders' Hub" to develop into an international ecosystem of financial education and technology that provides people with practical experience, professional connections, and real opportunities for development, along with knowledge.

This recognition from the British Council opens up new international partnerships and opportunities for us to achieve these goals. I want to turn an initiative that began in Georgia into a global educational product while continuing to improve the quality of financial education in our country.