Wajve becomes Owwn and launches social banking app

Owwn is currently still testing its financial app. The start-up does not see itself as a neobank for young adults, but as a social banking platform.

Last year, the founder of "Deine Studienfinanzierung", Bastian Krautwald, announced his intention to launch a new financial app on the market under the name "Wajve". The start-up has now changed its name to "Owwn" and is having the app tested by an exclusive group of customers in early access.

The idea behind the start-up combines a banking service for young adults with student finance and social features: customers can use Owwn to manage an account with a Visa debit card and make mobile payments, just like a typical bank, but also apply for a student loan from Kfw Bank. At the same time, they can create joint savings pools, anonymously compare their budget with friends and take part in challenges. Users can use Owwn alone or jointly. This makes it possible to keep a joint account and split bills automatically. Owwn cooperates with Solarisbank for financial services.

"Through "deineStudienfinanzierung", we understood that we had to offer Genz Z a digital infrastructure that combines student loans with a complete banking offering and other financial features - that's how the idea for wajve came about," explains Krautwald. "After more than a thousand user interviews, we learned that our banking offering provides the greatest added value for Gen Z representatives when it takes place in a social context." This ultimately led to the Owwn app, which added social features to Wajve's idea. The start-up also expanded its team for the launch of the app: Max Pflücke took over the position of VP Customers and Collette Wasielewski became Creative Director.