“At Quona Capital, we believe in the power of technology-enabled financial services to radically improve access and quality of financial services to the underbanked. ”
— Monica Brand Engel
Today, I’m speaking with Monica Brand Engel, a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Quona Capital, an impact pioneer with a specialized focus on financial inclusion in emerging and frontier markets.
Quona’s mission is to generate impact and returns by investing in micro, small, and medium-sized businesses across South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
The company is dedicated to transforming lives in underserved and underbanked communities through fintech solutions that bridge the gap between emerging markets and advanced financial infrastructures. It offers a range of accessible financial products tailored to meet the unique needs of consumers in these markets, including digital payments, tailored lending platforms, accessible insurance products, and comprehensive neo-banking services.
Monica’s journey into impact investing is deeply influenced by her multicultural upbringing and extensive experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors. She began her career in financial services, driven by a deep commitment to economic empowerment and financial inclusion, which eventually led her to co-found Quona Capital.
Before founding Quona, Monica was a Vice President at ACCION International, a leading global microfinance organization promoting commercial approaches to alleviate poverty. There, she led global innovation initiatives to expand access to financial services in underserved regions, including launching a highly influential fintech fund focused on transformative technology in microfinance.
Quona Capital is strategically focused on deeply understanding the nuances of investing in emerging markets so that it can support entrepreneurs with both local insight and global expertise.
However, it has not only made a significant impact on financial inclusion but has also proven that these ventures can generate strong financial returns. Under Monica’s leadership, Quona has grown to manage $760 million in assets, with a team that speaks 21 languages and operates across major hubs like Mexico City, Bengaluru, Jakarta, and Cape Town.
Join me today as I speak with Monica about her remarkable background and how Quona Capital creates opportunities for millions of people in regions often overlooked by traditional financial service providers.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Connect with Monica: LinkedIn, X
- Quona on LinkedIn
- Quona on X
- Quona on Medium
- Quona website
- Michael Chu on LinkedIn
- ‘The Innovator’s Dilemma’ by Clayton M. Christensen
SHOW NOTES:
[00:00] Monica’s background and early career in financial services
[19:23] Education and the calling to work internationally
[27:39] Career in ACCION International and shifting focus to fintech
[38:19] The birth of Quona Capital
[52:54] Quona’s mission and key strategies
[59:26] The meaning of financial inclusion
[01:03:41] What makes a company investable for Quona
[01:11:37] Three key measures of impact
[01:20:58] Aligning impact results with portfolio financial returns
[01:36:05] Evaluating and managing key risks in emerging markets
[01:44:35] Key lessons for impact investing success
MORE MONICA BRAND ENGEL QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW:
“Financial inclusion means bringing quality financial services to those who haven’t had access to them before. Another way to think about it is bringing those on the margins into the mainstream. ”
— Monica Brand Engel
“Ability to pay – meaning your monthly income – matters, but a much stronger determinant of most credit scores is actually your character. ”
— Monica Brand Engel
