SurgeU is taking a leap of faith with its innovative approach to teaching trading and investing. The newly launched educational platform aims to equip Christian entrepreneurs and investors with the skills to navigate the complexities of financial markets.
Jeremy Nosek, chief strategy officer for SurgeU, shed light on its unique selling point. “We’re teaching people to fish, not just giving them fish,” Nosek explains. “We’re all about financial empowerment and teaching top-tier Wall Street-level skills to the average Main Street investors and showing them this is something they can do.”
The platform’s curriculum covers a wide range of financial topics, from stocks and options to futures and cryptocurrencies. But it’s not just about cramming information into students’ heads. SurgeU allows them to watch lectures on their own time and then participate in interactive practice labs with instructors.
“If you were learning to play basketball or golf or acquiring any other skill, watching YouTube videos and reading books is not going to get the job done,” Nosek emphasizes. “With SurgeU, students benefit from live education, practice labs, and tools.”
This hands-on approach seems to be resonating with students. According to Nosek, enrollment has nearly doubled since the launch of the new curriculum. “We’re seeing about 350 to 400 new students per week,” he reveals.
SurgeU’s Key Differentiators
One of the platform’s key differentiators is its faith-based approach. SurgeU incorporates Christian principles into its teaching, with regular “Kingdom Surge” sessions that include worship and inspirational messages from inspirational speakers and celebrities.
“We’re equipping people with tools to make an impact and because of that, we’re with them on the journey throughout,” Rob Collins, SurgeU’s chief marketing officer, emphasizes. “We’re in the business of equipping Christian investors with important life skills, not simply delivering education.”
This mission-driven approach extends to the platform’s view on competition. Nosek compares their outlook to that of Elon Musk and his Teslas. “This is more than a business to us. It’s a mission. And so it is funny, I love looking at Elon Musk, and when people talk to him about competition, he’s always rooting on the competition because for him getting electric cars out there, it’s not about: How does Tesla make the most money? It’s about: How do we work together to move gas-powered engines to electric overall.
“And I think that’s how we would think about empowering people financially. Yes, it’s a business for us, but we’re all for cheering everybody that’s doing that the right way.”
This cheerleader squad includes a student success team that stays in touch with learners throughout their journey. “We don’t just want to solve a problem,” Collins says. “We want to see them [be] successful.”
Sticking with students on their learning journey is a vital part of SurgeU’s mission.
“Mentorship is, I would almost say, everything,” SurgeU Vice President Steve Albin shares. “You don’t just take the class and you’re one and done and then you just go into the community. Our education, you’ll invest in a package that is a one-year duration or a two-year duration. We also have lifetime duration packages. And so that’s kind of upfront in our commitment to them for as long as you’re here, we’re here for you.”
Regarding the future of SurgeU itself, the team is bullish. With the financial education market growing and more people recognizing the need for financial literacy, they see plenty of room for expansion.
SurgeU is heavily focused on student feedback. “You have like-minded people that are learning the skill, but they’re doing it together and that there’s that faith-based aspect that joins it all,” Nosek says.
A SurgeU student from Reading, Pa., named Raymond R. expressed his gratitude for being involved with the program. “My experience with Life Surge and Trade Surge has been a life-changing experience,” he said. “We prayed together, we worshipped together, and God was glorified! My son and I are so excited to be a part of the family!”
Steve D. of Renton, Washington said he’s “pleased overall.” After logging two-and-a-half years at SurgeU, he said, “The instructors are excellent. I especially appreciate Kayla Albin, as her teaching approach works so well with how I learn … Her pace, communication, and expertise are fantastic. She gauges where the students are at in their understanding and does a good job of managing the variety of learning styles and paces. I am in Options Surge with Steve S., and think he is also quite good for similar reasons.”
