Case Study: sherloc

How sherloc collaborated with WBS to strengthen its product, talent pipeline and visibility

sherloc, a fast-growing fintech company specialising in real-time financial decision intelligence for SMEs, partnered with WBS to deliver a hackathon. The collaboration enhanced sherloc’s product development, expanded its talent pipeline, and elevated its profile among future business leaders.

Putting financial intelligence into practice

The hackathon placed students in charge of a fictional defence technology start-up facing a series of escalating disruptions, including supply chain instability, a cyber incident, rising energy costs, and the need for rapid strategic repositioning.

Using sherloc’s platform - a ‘financial brain’ that integrates data across finance, operations, HR and sales - participants developed and tested decisions in real time. This enabled them to adjust strategies and respond dynamically as new challenges emerged.

This created a learning environment that mirrored the interconnected challenges faced by modern organisations, while showcasing the flexibility and power of sherloc’s technology. MSc Business Analytics student Minji Kim commented: “It’s not an opportunity you get every day to really look at the numbers, see the forecasts, and really consider all the possibilities.”

Bob Lewis, co-founder and director of sherloc, said:

“It was good to get a large number of users who are new to our product to utilise it en masse – that teaches us many things about the different ways people use the technology.”

Karen Rudich, sherloc's CEO and fellow co-founder, said "Engaging with the next generation of incredible talent through the sherloc hackathon was a great way to showcase how the next generation of business leaders can succeed in this ‘new normal’.”

The impact

Product insight and development

The hackathon enabled sherloc to observe large-scale, real-time interaction with its platform. This provided valuable insight into how users interpret data, approach decision-making and navigate the system.

Talent identification

sherloc used the event as a recruitment pipeline, identifying students who demonstrated strong analytical thinking and adaptability. Three WBS students were awarded internships in recognition of their standout performances.

Brand visibility

The hackathon gave students the opportunity to interact directly with sherloc’s platform, creating a deeper and more memorable connection than conventional outreach. This immersive experience helped build recognition of sherloc as both an innovative technology provider and as an employer.

The collaboration between sherloc and WBS demonstrates how experiential learning partnerships can deliver meaningful value for both organisations and students.

You can find out more about the sherloc hackathon in our news story.

If you’re interested in exploring what a similar collaboration could look like, please get in touch with our CareersPlus & Employer Relations Team at EmployerRelations@wbs.ac.uk.