Quipu Secures US$300K Bridge Round Led by Impacta VC to Expand Financial Inclusion

Quipu has secured fresh capital to accelerate its mission of expanding access to credit for underserved microbusinesses in Latin America. The Colombian fintech closed a US$300,000 bridge round led by Impacta VC, reinforcing the growing momentum behind impact-driven fintech infrastructure in the region.

Impacta VC Leads US$300,000 Bridge Round in Quipu

Chilean venture capital fund Impacta VC led a US$300,000 bridge investment in Quipu, a Colombia-based fintech focused on democratizing credit access for microbusinesses traditionally excluded from the financial system.

The round also included participation from Decelera, Vertical Partners, Corteza Capital, and Comfama. With this deal, Quipu becomes the thirteenth company in Impacta VC’s portfolio.

The transaction represents a relevant milestone for the Latin American fintech ecosystem, particularly at a time when access to credit for informal SMEs and independent workers remains one of the region’s most persistent structural challenges.

What Quipu Does — And Why It Matters

Quipu develops alternative credit scoring solutions powered by artificial intelligence, specifically designed for microbusinesses that lack formal credit histories.

Instead of relying on traditional bureau data, the company analyzes alternative datasets to generate accurate credit profiles for informal entrepreneurs, self-employed workers, and small merchants. Its core product is an integrable API that enables banks, digital wallets, cooperatives, and fintechs to assess the creditworthiness of customers who were previously “invisible” to the financial system.

This B2B infrastructure approach expands the addressable market for financial institutions while creating direct social impact by unlocking working capital for underserved segments.

According to David Alvo Verdugo, CEO of Impacta VC, Quipu’s team has the competitiveness required to lead regional financial inclusion efforts, positioning the startup as key infrastructure for credit democratization in Latin America.

Strategic Use of Capital: Scaling Infrastructure

The US$300,000 bridge round will be deployed across three main strategic priorities:

API Integration and Adoption

Quipu plans to deepen and expand integration of its alternative scoring API across a broader range of financial institutions, including commercial banks, fintechs, digital wallets, and credit cooperatives. Increased adoption directly translates into more microbusinesses gaining access to tailored financial products.

Strengthening the Technical Team

Part of the funding will reinforce the technology and data intelligence teams. Enhancing machine learning models is critical, particularly in Latin America, where financial behavior patterns vary significantly across markets. Continuous improvement of scoring algorithms will allow for greater precision and local adaptation.

Regional Expansion

The company is preparing to enter additional Latin American markets. Early internationalization is a common strategy among fintech startups seeking scale efficiencies while diversifying regulatory risk. Quipu’s ambition is to position itself as regional infrastructure for financial inclusion rather than a single-country solution.

Impacta VC: Impact-Driven Venture Capital

Founded in 2021, Impacta VC focuses on early-stage startups (pre-seed and seed) that generate measurable social and environmental impact. Its investment thesis prioritizes companies addressing structural inequalities through technology, particularly in fintech, education, health, climatech, and circular economy.

The fund’s portfolio includes 13 startups, among them:

• Betterfly
• Wheel the World
• Kilimo
• Mozper
• and now Quipu

Typical ticket sizes range between US$250,000 and US$500,000, complemented by post-investment strategic support.

In 2024, the fund operated its IFSP (Impacta Fellowship Startup Program), accelerating 150 startups from 14 countries, with a strong emphasis on climatech. Looking ahead, Impacta VC plans to close its Fund I and launch Fund II in 2026, targeting US$20 million, while consolidating alliances such as Impact Ventures PSM Seed (US$5M).

Colombia and LATAM: A Structural Credit Gap

Colombia continues to face a significant financial inclusion gap, especially among micro-entrepreneurs and informal workers. Millions across the region lack access to basic credit products due to the absence of formal credit histories or conventional guarantees.

While companies like Nubank, Ualá, and Mercado Pago have demonstrated the scalability of digital financial services in underserved segments, alternative scoring infrastructure remains a bottleneck for institutions aiming to responsibly expand credit access.

Rather than competing directly with banks or neobanks, Quipu positions itself as a technological enabler. By providing decision-making tools powered by alternative data, it allows financial institutions to extend services to populations previously excluded from formal finance.

Lessons for Tech Founders in Latin America

Quipu’s trajectory offers several strategic insights for founders building in the region:

Impact as Strategy, Not Narrative

The company addresses a structural inequity affecting millions. This alignment between business model and measurable social impact attracts both specialized impact capital and institutional clients seeking responsible expansion.

B2B2C Infrastructure Scales Efficiently

By serving existing financial institutions instead of building a consumer-facing neobank, Quipu reduces customer acquisition costs and accelerates market penetration.

Alternative Data as Competitive Advantage

In high-informality markets, the ability to generate reliable credit profiles without traditional histories creates natural barriers to entry and defensible differentiation.

Timing and Capital Alignment

Quipu’s fundraising comes at a moment when impact funds in Latin America are increasing deployment activity and financial institutions are actively seeking technological solutions for inclusion.

Fintech Infrastructure with Purpose

The US$300,000 bridge round led by Impacta VC validates Quipu’s business model and signals broader trends shaping the Latin American startup ecosystem: the convergence of technology, measurable impact, and specialized venture capital.

As Quipu advances its regional expansion and Impacta VC prepares to launch Fund II in 2026, impact-driven fintech in Latin America appears to be entering a consolidation phase, one with greater capital availability for startups that combine scalable technology with structural inclusion.

For founders building at the intersection of innovation and financial access, the message is clear: infrastructure solutions that tackle systemic gaps can attract both market traction and aligned investment.