In our season finale, two treasury management CEOs share what keeps them going when building gets hard. John Santillan of Octa discusses building in public and why authenticity beats pretending to have all the answers. David Hanna of Finmo explains why surrounding yourself with people who challenge your thinking is essential for making better decisions.

Two founders are using AI to solve finance problems that keep CFOs up at night. David Hanna, co-founder and CEO of Finmo, discusses replacing the daily ritual of downloading 20+ bank statements with real-time global cash visibility. John Santillan, co-founder and CEO of Octa, talks about using AI to cut payment delays from 120 days to 30 days, unlocking billions in working capital. Discover how these startups are dragging business finance out of the spreadsheet and into the modern age. More on Finmo at: https://finmo.net/ and more on Octa is at: https://weareocta.com/

Linda Yu, Growth Partner at Quona Capital and formerly at SoftBank and Warburg Pincus, shares her journey to becoming an investor deploying billions in global investments. She believes that embedded finance has evolved from a FinTech niche to become the backbone of global commerce. Linda also shares her advice for startup founders pitching venture capitalists.

How did the coffee you drink get to your local cafe? Or the flour that went into your breakfast pastry? Or the latest electronic gadget delivered to your doorstep? Well, you can thank a trucker. Truckers are the unsung heroes of the global economy, and this is especially true in Mexico where 75 percent of freight moves by road. Maria Jose Aguilar Belmont, Investment Analyst for Quona based in Mexico City, joins Shannon as a special guest host to share two stories about how embedded finance is integral to supporting the global supply chain, including trucking. Santiago Molina, the CEO and Founder of Finkargo, talks about embedding lending in their international trade platform that facilitates the growth of Latin American importers. And Jaime Tabachnik, CEO of Solvento, is on the show to talk about how his company provides working capital and much, much more to truckers in Latin America.  Show Notes:  Finkargo 2025 Impact Report The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

How can entrepreneurs in Africa navigate today's challenging fundraising environment? Hosts Shannon and Johan, joined by Adrienne Henderson from Quona Capital, share essential insights for founders building FinTech companies in emerging markets. We’ll touch on why asset-light business models matter more than ever and the critical importance of choosing long-term investor partners.  The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

In 2023, India accounted for nearly 25% of all global IPOs with 340 public offerings, while the entire Middle East and Africa combined had just 50 IPOs. What created this massive gap, and how can Africa bridge it? Join hosts Shannon and Johan as they explore India's remarkable transformation from a nascent market to home of the world's most sophisticated digital financial infrastructure. With guest Adrienne Henderson, Senior Associate at Quona Capital, they break down the three foundational pillars of India's success: Aadhaar (universal digital identity), UPI (unified payments interface), and open banking APIs. The conversation examines Africa's unique challenges—54 countries, 40+ central banks, and thousands of languages—while highlighting promising innovations like M-Pesa in Kenya and South Africa's new rapid payments program.  The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

What does it really take to disrupt traditional insurance markets in emerging economies? In this special minisode of The Trillion Dollar Opportunity, hosts Johan and Shannon share valuable entrepreneurial insights from two founders who are creating entirely new categories in Asia’s InsurTech industry. This is essential wisdom for founders creating new categories in emerging markets. Kulin Shah, co-founder and COO of Onsurity, which provides health coverage to India's 63 million micro, small, and medium-sized employers, emphasizes building startups to solve problems rather than chasing valuations. Cindy Kua from Sunday shares two key pieces of advice: first, recognize the challenges of fundraising and build a team to help navigate capital markets; second, remain committed to your vision while being flexible about the journey to achieve it. The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

Forget everything you thought you knew about insurance—it's not just paperwork and policies, it's a financial lifeline keeping millions from falling into poverty. In this episode of The Trillion Dollar Opportunity, co-hosts Johan Bosini and Shannon Austin explore how insurance has become the critical second phase of financial inclusion in emerging markets. When 330 million people in India lack health insurance and coverage rates remain low across much of Southeast Asia, innovative InsurTech companies are stepping in where traditional models have failed. Kulin Shah is the co-founder and COO of Onsurity, which is bringing affordable health benefits to India's 63 million small businesses. Cindy Kua is the co-founder and CEO of Sunday, who's reimagining insurance across Southeast Asia with a digital-first approach to healthcare, automotive, and gadget protection. These entrepreneurs are not just preventing financial catastrophe when disaster strikes but enabling economic resilience and opportunity for millions. The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

In Brazil, high interest rates and revolving credit lines can trap borrowers. So how can borrowers break free of these toxic cycles? This week, hosts Shannon Austin and Johan Bosini explore how high-interest rate loans can trap borrowers, and cultural reluctance toward long-term loans. Fabio Zveibil, VP of Auto and Home Secured Lending at Creditas, joins the show again to talk about how better lending products and financial education can revolutionize credit access in Brazil, potentially multiplying available credit by up to 20 times.  The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

Brazil is one of the most expensive countries to access credit. Credit cards can have 400 percent interest rates. Even business owners face loans with 20 percent interest rates. This week on the Trillion Dollar Opportunity, hosts Shannon Austin and Johan Bosini explore what happens when good credit is hard to come by, and one FinTech that has changed the credit access landscape for the better. We talk to Creditas CEO Sergio Furio, COO Anne Williams, and VP Fabio Zveibil about how Creditas is providing affordable, asset-backed loans to Brazilians.  The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

Five billion transactions are made each month with Pix, Brazil’s real time payment system, which was launched by the Central Bank of Brazil in 2020. Today Pix reaches more than 90 percent of the adult population and settles more transactions than any other financial instrument including debit, credit, and prepaid cards.  This week on the podcast, we pick up with Part 2 of Quona co-founder Jonathan Whittle’s fireside chat with Carlos Eduardo Brandt, a Senior Advisor at the Central Bank of Brazil. He leads the design and implementation of Pix and he shares how financial inclusion was a big part of rolling out what has become a widely popular and successful real-time payment system.  The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

Brazil has one of the most successful real-time payment systems in the world. This week on the podcast, we share a fireside chat with the man who leads the design and implementation of the real-time payment system Pix. Carlos Eduardo Brandt is the Senior Advisor at the Central Bank of Brazil. Quona Co-founder Jonathan Whittle took the stage with Carlos at Quona’s recent annual meeting to discuss how the Central Bank of Brazil implemented this real-time payment system to the tune of 5 billion transactions per month. Today Pix reaches more than 90 percent of the adult population and settles more transactions than any other financial instrument including debit, credit, or prepaid cards. The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

Where are the opportunities for artificial intelligence to transform FinTech startups in emerging markets? And how are startups already taking advantage of what AI has to offer? This week, Quona co-founder Monica Brand Engel and Senior Investment Associate Michel Zaidler join the podcast to share insights on how generative AI is transforming the FinTech startup ecosystem in emerging markets, including some great use cases from companies like Klar in Mexico, SUKHIBA in Africa, and Onsurity in India. Referenced in this Episode: White Paper: “Generative AI and Financial Services in Emerging Markets,” is available here: https://www.flipsnack.com/QuonaCapital/generative-ai-and-financial-services-in-emerging-markets/full-view.html The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

Information is crucial to any investor. But what happens when assumptions hide the truth about market opportunities? This week on The Trillion Dollar Opportunity, Quona investors based in India, Africa, and Latin America join us to share some assumptions about their markets and the blind spots such assumptions may lead to for investors. Is banking in Africa really disorganized? Is innovation really only happening in developed markets like the US and the UK, instead of places like India? Is Latin America too fragmented for innovation to spread? The opportunities growing in these markets may surprise you.  Mentioned in this episode: “Misperception of Risk in Emerging Markets” by Symbiotics The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

Where are the opportunities in emerging markets? This week, Quona’s three founders, Monica Brand Engel, Jonathan Whittle, and Ganesh Rengaswamy, share the specific regions where Quona focuses —India and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and MENA. But why these regions? And how do the opportunities in these markets differ or overlap? These markets are closely connected, often borrowing innovations and lessons that accelerate progress across borders. Drawing from a decade of investing in these areas, we’ll share key insights about what sets these markets apart and the lessons we’ve learned about harnessing their massive potential.  The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

How did Quona Capital come to identify and pursue the trillion-dollar opportunity in emerging markets? This week, hosts Shannon Austin and Johan Bosini delve into Quona's journey from its roots in Accion's pioneering microfinance investments—including a significant windfall from a standout company—to becoming independent venture investors with a bold vision. Quona’s three founders, Monica Brand Engel, Jonathan Whittle, and Ganesh Rengaswamy, share how the focus on financial technology is the key to unlocking growth in vast, untapped populations of underbanked and unbanked consumers. We'll also explore how rapid digital adoption has enabled emerging markets to leapfrog traditional tech development, achieving levels of innovation and uptake that often surpass those in developed economies. Join us as we unpack the who, what, and why behind Quona's mission to capitalize on this unprecedented market opportunity.  Check out Quona’s Excellent EU Road Trip playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0hQ2pr3msvolAJGkMY4hss?si=5c7c7de4cef94459 The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see https://quona.com/legal/

The world as we know it is changing. As the global economy continues to grow and expand, investors will be missing out on opportunities if they hold a blind spot to emerging markets. That’s what we call the Trillion Dollar Opportunity. This podcast from Quona, hosted by Shannon Austin and Johan Bosini, will share insights from investors and founders who are localized experts in emerging markets. Listen every Monday so you can understand how to unlock the growth of The Trillion Dollar Opportunity.