Quona Capital

🚀 JUST LAUNCHED: The trailer for Quona Capital's new podcast, "The Trillion Dollar Opportunity," is available wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more. Please take a moment to follow/subscribe so you don't miss an episode of this season. New episodes are out each Monday starting October 21! Listen/watch here for a quick preview, and share with your networks! With Johan Bosini, Shannon Austin, Monica Brand Engel, Jonathan Whittle, ganesh rengaswamy, Pod People, Rachael King, Hannah Pedersen, Danielle Roth https://lnkd.in/e4EKVRBM

🌍💸 Calling all payments enthusiasts! If you, like me, geek out over payments innovation, you won’t want to miss the upcoming episode of Quona Capital’s podcast, The Trillion Dollar Opportunity, dropping this Monday. 🎧✨ It’s a fascinating conversation between Carlos Eduardo Brandt and Quona co-founder Jonathan Whittle about Brazil’s groundbreaking Central Bank innovation—Pix. This real-time payment system is processing over 5 BILLION transactions a month. 🤯 Game-changing doesn’t even begin to describe it! Haven’t caught the first few episodes yet? No problem. Each episode is a quick listen (10-13 minutes) but packed with insights that will get you thinking. 🚀 Listen smarter, not harder—catch up today, and don’t miss this Monday’s deep dive into Pix! #PaymentsInnovation #PodcastRecommendation #Fintech #RealTimePayments #Pix https://lnkd.in/guwyhuWP

🚀 NEW REPORT: Supercharging SMEs Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of our global economy, and #fintech innovations are propelling them into a new era of growth and efficiency. Mastercard's latest Signals report, "Supercharging SMEs," dives into how fintech is transforming the SME landscape. Some key takeaways: 💶 Enhanced Access to Capital: Fintech platforms are streamlining lending processes, enabling SMEs to secure funding more quickly and with greater flexibility. 📲 Digital Payment Solutions: Innovative payment technologies are simplifying transactions, reducing costs, and expanding market reach for small businesses. 📊 Data-Driven Decision Making: Advanced analytics tools are providing SMEs with actionable insights, helping them make informed decisions and optimize operations. 🤝 Improved Customer Engagement: Fintech solutions are enabling personalized customer experiences, fostering loyalty, and driving sales growth. 🖥 Operational Efficiency: Automation and digital tools are reducing administrative burdens, allowing SMEs to focus on core business activities. The integration of fintech into SME operations is not just a trend—it's a transformative movement that's reshaping the future of small business. Explore the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gjC_4Qnr With Michel Zaidler, Jonathan Whittle, Rafa de la Guia, Alejandro Isaac Safdie, Maria Jose Aguilar Belmont, Monica Brand Engel, ganesh rengaswamy, Shannon Austin, Kristin Sadler #Fintech #SMEs #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #BusinessGrowth

Great news today from our #LatAm portfolio company Solvento! Mexico City-based Solvento—which today announced its $12.5 million Series A led by Cometa—provides liquidity and financial solutions for Mexico's trucking and logistics industry. We've been wowed by Solvento's rapid achievement of product-market fit—and traditional financial players are taking notice, too. We wrote about Solvento back when we first invested, and could not be happier about where things are headed as they revolutionize the way that commercial trucking and logistics work. Read the original story here: https://lnkd.in/gB6Cjy3X With Jaime Tabachnik, Pedro Bosch, Guillermo Bosch, Jonathan Whittle, COMETA, Ironspring Ventures, Dynamo Ventures, Proeza Ventures, Zenda Capital, Endeavor, Adalberto Flores Ochoa, Tomas Bercovich, Rafa de la Guia, Michel Zaidler, Alejandro Isaac Safdie, Maria Jose Aguilar Belmont, Meagan Prins-McKinney, Monica Brand Engel, ganesh rengaswamy, Shannon Austin, Yasmine Shama, Jenna P., Kristin Sadler, Axios

Big news for Quona Capital! 🎉 Our Fund III just earned a Platinum rating in BlueMark’s Fund ID pilot—and we couldn’t be prouder. This recognition highlights how we go above and beyond in impact investing. Here’s where Fund III really shined: ✅ Impact Management: Scored 86% (vs. benchmark avg. 61%) ✅ Impact Reporting: Scored 76% (vs. benchmark avg. 36%) ✅ Impact Strategy: Scored 70% (vs. benchmark avg. 52%) ✅ Impact Governance: Scored 85% (vs. benchmark avg. 56%) These results reflect our mission to make financial services in emerging markets more inclusive for underserved people and MSMEs. Huge thanks to BlueMark for this honor and to everyone who’s been part of our journey so far. Want to dive deeper? Check out our blog post here: https://lnkd.in/eu-RsZd8 With Kristin Sadler, Monica Brand Engel, Jonathan Whittle, ganesh rengaswamy, Johan Bosini, Varun Malhotra, Rafa de la Guia, Shannon Austin, Yasmine Shama, Jenna P.

🌟 The Latest Edition of The Trillion Dollar Opportunity Newsletter is Here! 🌍💡 This week, we’re diving deep into Generative AI’s game-changing impact on FinTech in emerging markets. Our podcast episode— "This Is Not an AI-Generated Podcast About Emerging Markets"—covers how startups in emerging markets are using AI to bridge gaps, create hyper-personalized solutions, and drive financial inclusion in some of the fastest-growing economies. Some highlights: 🚀 AI’s Transformative Role in FinTech: Startups are redefining customer experiences, automating processes, and offering innovative products to underserved populations. 💡 Real-World Success Stories: Learn how companies like Klar (Mexico), SUKHIBA (Africa), and Onsurity (India) are leveraging AI to create best-in-class solutions. ⚡ Challenges & Opportunities: From data privacy concerns to local market fit, discover the hurdles and strategies driving innovation in emerging markets. 🎧 Listen Now: Check out the newsletter and then tune into the episode to hear why AI shows such promise for emerging markets. Available on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio! 📬 Don’t miss this edition—hit subscribe for weekly insights into emerging market trends, tech breakthroughs, and actionable strategies. 💬 What’s your take on how AI is shaping financial services globally? Share your thoughts in the comments! #AI #FinTech #EmergingMarkets #GenerativeAI #Innovation #Newsletter

Quona is hiring as our platform expands! We are a fantastic place for performance-with-purpose talent looking to leverage their investment skills to help catalyze inclusive growth globally. Please see job description below and check out www.quona.com/careers for others. Feel free to reach out to me directly with queries or recommendations!

What a week at Singapore FinTech Festival! 🚀 Quona Capital was thrilled to take part in not one but two incredible events last week, focused on unlocking the potential of fintech for financial inclusion and growth across #SoutheastAsia and beyond. Here's a recap: 📈 Southeast Asia’s Fintech Opportunity: Unlocking Financial Inclusion 📅 Date: Monday, Nov 4 🎤 Format: Panel + Networking (50+ attendees) 🛠️ Organized by: Quona Capital and Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) We brought together LPs and impact investors for an insightful evening dedicated to fintech’s role in bridging Southeast Asia’s financial inclusion gap. The event began with CIIP sharing findings from their research, revealing both the challenges and powerful success stories where fintech has made meaningful strides in financial access. The highlight? A dynamic panel moderated by ganesh rengaswamy, featuring Cindy Kua (Sunday), Ankur Mehrotra (JULO), Yesh Gunewardena (Head of Lending at Grab), and Sundeep Bhalla (Growsari - GM of Saripay). These fintech leaders shared how they leverage impact and customer-centric strategies to drive growth, creating real-world change in the region. Next up was... 🌐 Global Fintech Happy Hour with Quona Capital & PayPal Ventures 📅 Date: Wednesday, Nov 6 🎉 Format: Panel + Networking (150+ attendees!) Later in the week, Quona and PayPal Ventures brought together the Southeast Asian fintech ecosystem for a high-energy networking event with 150+ RSVPs! We kicked things off with a brief panel featuring Ashish Aggarwal (PayPal Ventures), Varun Malhotra (Quona), Prashanth Ranganathan (Zinc), and Chayan Hazra (Mintoak). The discussion focused on building successful fintechs in India and SEA, followed by vibrant networking sessions where connections were made and ideas flowed. A huge thank you to our friends at CIIP and PayPal Ventures for co-hosting these impactful events with us. We’re excited about what’s next for fintech in Southeast Asia and beyond. 💥 #SingaporeFinTechFestival #FinancialInclusion #Fintech #ImpactInvesting #QuonaCapital #SoutheastAsia

🚀 New Episode Alert! AI Meets Fintech in The Trillion Dollar Opportunity 🚀 Our latest podcast episode dives into one of the hottest topics in tech: AI in emerging markets fintech! Join us as we explore how AI is reshaping financial services and unlocking unprecedented opportunities for financial inclusion. In this episode, we discuss: 🤖 AI-driven innovations that are transforming access to financial services across emerging markets 🌍 Real-world applications of AI in markets like Africa/MENA, India & Southeast Asia, and Latin America 📈 The incredible potential of AI to drive scalable solutions and reach underserved communities AI is more than a buzzword—it’s a powerful tool for creating impact at scale. If you’re curious about how AI is paving the way for the future of inclusive finance, this episode is a must-listen! 🎧 Tune in now to The Trillion Dollar Opportunity and discover how AI is making financial services smarter, more accessible, and truly transformative. Find it on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen: https://lnkd.in/e4EKVRBM With Monica Brand Engel, Michel Zaidler, Stefan Moller, Klar, Onsurity, Kulin Shah, Yogesh Agarwal, SUKHIBA, Ananth Gudipati, Shannon Austin, Johan Bosini #AI #Fintech #EmergingMarkets #FinancialInclusion #TheTrillionDollarOpportunity #QuonaCapital

FUNDING /// Rajeev Ranjan and I are so proud to announce that Equal Identity has raised $10M in Series A Funding, led by Prosus Ventures (Ashutosh Sharma & Apoorve Goyal), Tomales Bay Capital (Iqbaljit Kahlon) and myself, at a $80M post-money valuation! 🚀🚀🚀 I am so grateful that some of the best institutions believe in our vision to empower Indians including DST Global (Saurabh Gupta & Arihant Pamecha), Quona Capital (Varun Malhotra), Valiant Capital Management (Rishi Dixit & Chris hansen), Gruhas (Nikhil Kamath & Abhijeet Pai), WeWork India (Karan Virwani) & Blume Ventures (Karthik B. Reddy & Sarita Raichura)! I am so fortunate to have some of the best angels in India support us including Kunal Shah (CRED), Parth Jindal (JSW), Karan Adani (Adani Group), Kunal Bahl (Titan Capital), Binny Bansal (xto10x), Ravi Kumar (Upstox), Kavitha Subramanian (Upstox), Rohit Bansal (Titan Capital), Ravish Naresh (Khatabook), Harsh Jain (Dream11), Karan Sharma (Avendus), Galina Chifina (RTP), D S Brar (Aragen), Ranu Vohra (Avendus), Shashin Shah (Think) & More amazing leaders! We joins hands with KP Atluri & OneMoney AA to enter into a strategic partnership that reinforces our vision for a secure, consent-driven data-sharing ecosystem in India. Equal & One Money are jointly one of India's largest data sharing companies and we are just starting out. We’re excited to build a future where every Indian and business can confidently take control of their data. #Fintech #Equal #Funding #DataSharing #Innovation