By Emily Enfinger | The Selma Times-Journal 

A Selma native has competed in an international business contest.

Healthcare TTU President Pearson Talbert competed on behalf of Healthcare TTU in the UBS Future of Finance Challenge and made it to global finals in Zurich, Switzerland.

Originally from Selma, Talbert graduated from Selma High School in 1990, where he played soccer and ran track. He later graduated from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in 1994 and then obtained his MBA at University of Alabama in Birmingham.

Talbert said that UBS hosted a call for applications on social media, which is how he heard about the challenge.

“And in reading what they were looking for in their four challenges, it looked like we would fit into two of their challenges,” Talbert said.

The UBS Future of Finance Challenge is a global innovation competition for start-ups and growing companies with ideas that could change how finance works and the way banks meet their client’s needs.

Winners share over $300,000 in cash prizes and supports as well as a $50,000 first place prize.

Healthcare TTU is a start-up company based out of Franklin, Tennessee that serves as a financial utility by “bringing transparency and cost reduction to healthcare finance,” according to healthcarettu.com.

Of upwards of 600 applicants, 60 were chosen to compete in regional finals in New York, Singapore, Zurich and London in November 2015. From there, three from each region were selected to go on to global finals in Zurich, Switzerland, on Dec. 10, 2015.

Talbert said they knew going in they would have a tough time because of how specialized their services and ideas are.

“We were told coming in that it would be a pretty long shot because we are so focused in healthcare, not only healthcare, but U.S. healthcare,” Talbert said.

Healthcare TTU did not win in global finals, but Talbert said he is more than thankful for the experience of making it that far.

“We were honored to compete and have a chance to visit and meet with the entire UBS leadership team,” Talbert said. “It was an amazing experience, absolutely amazing.”

For more information about Healthcare TTU, visit www.healthcarettu.com,

For more information about UBS Future of Finance Challenge, visit www.innovate.ubs.com.