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

We, at Quona Capital hit our 10th year mark - that's more than how long an average marriage lasts! So, hopefully we are doing something right. The culmination of the decade of Quona truly came together at our annual LP meeting last month in a location that was quite emblematic of creativity - the (former) diamond exchange of Amsterdam. The annual meeting is for celebration, networking and also reflections of the year gone by - this year, it was reflections of a decade! 1.   We have come a long way - 5 portfolio companies to 75; 1 office + 1 satellite to offices in 9 countries 2.   Fintech has had a wild ride - up, down, and on it’s way up again (check out F Prime Index) 3.   VC backed fintechs grew 3.5x in Emerging Markets; (~550 in 2015 to 1900 in 2023); received USD 90 bn fintech funding in last 8 years 4.   …but there are still 1.4 bn unbanked (and additional 2+ billion underbanked); though mobile penetration is at 85%, cash usage continues to be high (60%). So, we have our work cut out for the next decade of driving financial resilience 5. Digitisation is making open finance and fintech catalytic to economic growth. Financial innovation is embedded across core sectors of the economy including Logistics, Supply chain, Mobility, Education, Healthcare, Commerce, Foodtech, and Climate.  6. Rewriting of global financial infrastructure is coming to life (UPI in India + PIX in Brazil have reached annualised throughput of USD $8-9 trillion in less than a decade) What’s ahead 1.   Positive demographic trends in emerging markets; improved standard of living leading to more demand for digitisation and formal financial services 2.   Emerging markets Fintech revenues: currently at USD 20-30bn to 100-135bn (2028); Emerging / New themes - Verticalized embedded finance, Open data & Architecture, Fintech software and Full stack solutions; several of these could be fuelled by AI 3.   As Digital public infrastructure (DPI) matures, it will create unique market specific opportunities across markets including India, Brazil, Singapore etc 4.   Increasingly large outcomes will come out of EMs; This is already driving public market momentum and consolidation through meaningful M&As in some markets With Jonathan Whittle Monica Brand Engel Varun Malhotra David Mathewson Rafa de la Guia Johan Bosini Shannon Austin Jenna P. Yasmine Shama Kristin Sadler Maryna Higgins, CPA and the entire Quona Capital

Just back from FII in Riyadh with Quona Capital (3rd time in KSA this year!), and the excitement on the ground is incredibly contagious. Seeing KSA positioned as a core part of MENA expansion strategies — and even as a launchpad to global markets — is powerful. The city is evolving fast, with regulators creating real space for companies to scale effectively, reach underserved consumers, and drive meaningful impact. It was also great to see Monica Brand Engel on stage during Endeavor's day at FII, alongside General Atlantic and Valor Capital Group, where the discussion highlighted how collaboration with forward-thinking regulators is essential for innovation and growth. The warmth and hospitality were above and beyond (and fully appreciate the love Saudis have for their Egyptian neighbors - it's mutual! 😍), and so is the momentum in the VC ecosystem. Looking forward to what’s next as Saudi continues building bridges across MENA and beyond.

🚀 New Episode Alert! 🚀 Episode 3 of The Trillion Dollar Opportunity is now live! This week, we tackle something essential to every investor: assumptions. What happens when our assumptions about emerging markets create blind spots that hide real opportunities? In "The Thing About Assumptions," three of Quona Capital's investors from #India, #Africa, and #LatinAmerica share insights that reveal the truth behind these often-misleading perspectives. Is Africa’s banking sector really disorganized? Is innovation only booming in developed markets like the U.S. or U.K.? Are regions like Latin America too fragmented for growth? 🌍 Hear real stories that challenge these assumptions and showcase the untapped potential in markets where innovation is reshaping financial inclusion. Tune in to uncover surprising perspectives on global markets and opportunities you might be overlooking. 🎧 Listen here or find The Trillion Dollar Opportunity on your favorite podcast platform—Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio and other platforms. https://lnkd.in/eu_eretj #PodcastLaunch #EmergingMarkets #Fintech #Investment #GlobalMarkets #QuonaCapital #TheTrillionDollarOpportunity With Disha Soni, Alejandro Isaac Safdie, Johan Bosini, Shannon Austin, Monica Brand Engel, Jonathan Whittle, ganesh rengaswamy, Yasmine Shama

Our newsletter-based-on-our-podcast, The Trillion Dollar Opportunity, is out now! Check it out for highlights from this week's podcast episode, "Global + Local: Quona's Approach to Emerging Markets." With Quona Capital co-founders Monica Brand Engel, Jonathan Whittle, ganesh rengaswamy, and co-hosts Johan Bosini and Shannon Austin.

We're so delighted to share our investment in CXC, led by the amazing team of Eduardo Etchegaray Cerón, Marvin A. Palavicini Arce, and María Teresa González Bedoya! The team recently closed its $32.6 million Series A led by our friends at KASZEK alongside Quona Capital, Mercado Libre, Daedalus Ventures, Saison Capital, and Actyus! Private #credit in #LatAm will never be the same, and we can't wait to see all the innovation ahead in this space. Stay tuned for more about this investment! With Jonathan Whittle, Rafa de la Guia, Michel Zaidler, Alejandro Isaac Safdie, Maria Jose Aguilar Belmont, Monica Brand Engel, ganesh rengaswamy, Shannon Austin, Yasmine Shama, Jenna P., Kristin Sadler #fintech #venturecapital

We're delighted to share our investment in Zinc alongside Nexus Venture Partners (who led the round), as well as EDBI Pte Ltd, Global Ventures and Saison Capital. With Zinc, more Indian families will be able to invest in overseas education for their children, which can increase economic mobility for generations to come. #fintech #edutech With ganesh rengaswamy, Varun Malhotra, Satvik B., Disha Soni, Taka Yamada, Monica Brand Engel, Jonathan Whittle, Yasmine Shama, Shannon Austin

🎙️ New Episode Alert! 🎙️ We're thrilled to announce the latest episode of The Trillion Dollar Opportunity podcast from Quona Capital! The new episode, "Global and Local: Quona’s Approach to Emerging Markets," explores the unique opportunities and challenges in the world of emerging market fintech with firm co-founders Monica Brand Engel, Jonathan Whittle, and ganesh rengaswamy alongside co-hosts Shannon Austin and Johan Bosini. In this episode, we discuss: 🌍 The dual importance of local knowledge and global expertise in navigating emerging markets 📈 How Quona’s approach is shaping financial inclusion and access across the globe 🤝 Stories from our portfolio that showcase the potential for impact-driven growth Whether you're interested in #fintech, global investing, or social impact, this conversation is packed with insights on creating opportunities that benefit both underserved communities and investors alike. Tune in now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen and join the conversation about the trillion-dollar opportunities in emerging markets! https://lnkd.in/e4EKVRBM

Don't miss Monica Brand Engel and Michel Zaidler talking about #AI in #EmergingMarkets at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's AI event in NYC on Saturday!

It's out: The Trillion Dollar Opportunity is here! This micro-newsletter will offer a quick take on each week's 10-minute podcast. Bite-sized morsels for your eyes about the ones our podcast delivers to your ears!