Speakers
Johan is a Partner at Quona Capital, a global emerging market fintech for inclusion venture firm, driving access to meaningful financial services to the underserved. Quona has invested in 70+ fintech companies across Latam, Africa, MENA and Asia.
Prior to Quona Johan worked in the Consumer Finance and Insurance industries. After leaving a more corporate career Johan built a few new businesses in Africa, closing pan African partnership deals with brands like MTN, Millicom and Airtel, providing Mobile Financial Services products to millions of unbanked consumers, small businesses and mobile money agents.
Prior to exploring the digital finance space in Africa, Johan worked at two investment banks London and ran digital brands at an online specialist in the gaming industry. Johan went on to co-found the first online financial services affiliate network focused on South Africa.
Johan holds an Economics degree from the University of Stellenbosch.
Speaking At
GFTN Insights
The Telegraph Hotel - Telegraph Ballroom
Open
Many emerging markets are grappling with fragmented investor ecosystems, where early-stage founders struggle to find seed capital, and later-stage companies face liquidity bottlenecks that limit scale. Global investors are increasingly interested in untapped markets, but challenges such as underdeveloped exit pathways, regulatory uncertainty, and shallow capital pools remain.
This dialogue brings together venture capitalists, institutional investors, fintech leaders, and policymakers to share lessons from developed investor markets, examine strategies that can localize best practices, and chart a path towards building vibrant, liquid ecosystems in the region.
GFTN Insights
MOMA - The Museum of Modern Art
Open
GFTN Insights
The Telegraph Hotel - Telegraph Ballroom
Open
Financial services stand at the cusp of a new innovation cycle where AI, tokenisation, and quantum computing are converging to reshape market infrastructure, regulatory oversight, and financial intermediation. These technologies will not only transform how institutions operate but also influence how jurisdictions compete as fintech hubs in the next decade.
This roundtable brings together central bank leaders, industry innovators, and academic experts to unpack what this next cycle means for regulators and policymakers, particularly in emerging markets. The dialogue will explore how to safeguard competitiveness while embracing innovation, what standards and guardrails are needed to balance resilience with experimentation, and how to translate new technologies into trusted, inclusive financial ecosystems.
Workshop
The Telegraph Hotel - Post Meeting Room
Open
This workshop delves into the evolution of crypto exchanges into all-encompassing ecosystems that seamlessly integrate trading, asset management, and real-world payments. Participants will engage in a hands-on exploration of Bybit Pay & Card, understanding how payment infrastructure connects Web3 innovation to everyday use. The session will also highlight key compliance principles that drive sustainable growth across regions. An interactive exercise will allow participants to design their ideal Web3 ecosystem, fostering deeper insights into the future of digital finance.
Workshop
The Telegraph Hotel - Post Meeting Room
Open
In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to move value quickly, securely, and across borders is critical for economic growth. Yet, global settlement infrastructure faces challenges. From fragmented systems, high costs, and delayed settlements to regulatory complexities and evolving technological demands.
In this interactive workshop, hosted by Visa, we will explore how the settlement landscape is evolving, the role of emerging technologies, and how collaboration between financial institutions, fintechs, and regulators can drive innovation. Participants will engage in discussions and rapid ideation to envision the future of a frictionless, scalable, and inclusive global settlement network.