Impacta VC Backs Quipu to Expand AI-Driven Credit Access in Latin America

Impacta VC , the Chilean impact venture capital fund founded in 2021, announced a $300,000 lead investment in Quipu, a Colombian fintech company transforming access to credit for microbusinesses excluded from the traditional financial system. This bridge round makes Quipu the thirteenth startup in Impacta VC’s portfolio, solidifying the fund’s presence in the Colombian ecosystem following previous investments in Preventix by TIMSER, Popular Power, and MUTA.

The investment was made in January 2026 and is part of a total equity round of USD 1.1 million , which also included participation from Decelera , Vertical Partners , Corteza Capital , and Comfama. The funds will be used to expand Quipu’s alternative scoring model, integrate its API with more financial institutions, strengthen the technology team, and expand into new regional markets in Latin America.

Quipu: Democratizing credit with AI and alternative scoring

Quipu is a Colombian social impact fintech company that develops alternative credit scoring solutions based on artificial intelligence . Its technology allows for the assessment of the repayment capacity of microbusinesses, freelancers, and informal sector workers who lack a traditional credit history, using unconventional data such as digital transactions, app behavior, and other alternative financial variables.

To date, Quipu has generated credit scores for over 300,000 users and facilitated more than USD 7 million in loans . The startup was incubated at MIT’s DesignX and has established strategic alliances with key players in the financial ecosystem such as Nequi , Claro , Bancóldex , and ProMujer .

Quipu’s business model is based on offering its scoring API, which can be integrated into banks, digital wallets, and credit unions, generating revenue by issuing loans with positive unit economics . The startup maintains a focus on regional scalability and is planning to expand into other Latin American markets during 2026, seeking additional partnerships and new rounds of funding.

Impacta VC: Investment thesis and impact portfolio

Impacta VC is a Latin American fund specializing in social and environmental impact venture capital, focusing on early-stage (pre-seed and seed) startups that use technology to reduce structural inequalities in the region. The fund operates with investments ranging from $100,000 to $300,000, prioritizing scalable, sustainable, and innovative solutions with the potential for systemic impact.

Founded in 2021, Impacta VC first made contact with Quipu in 2023 during the Latin American Impact Investment Forum (FLII). The fund operates programs such as the Impacta Miami Soft Landing Program, which supports the internationalization of startups into the United States, and the Impacta Fundraising Strategy Program, backed by CORFO with 72 scholarships in 2025, with high participation from female founders.

The fund’s current portfolio includes startups such as Airbag , Betterfly , Carryt, and Cuéntame , among others. Looking ahead to 2026, Impacta VC ‘s investment thesis has been adjusted to prioritize profitability, real traction, and financial strength with a particular focus on fintech in a more mature ecosystem that demands concrete results and measurable social impact.

The challenge of financial exclusion in Latin America

Access to credit for informal SMEs and self-employed workers is one of the most critical structural challenges in Latin America. According to data from the regional fintech ecosystem, millions of microbusinesses are excluded from the traditional financial system due to a lack of credit history, collateral, or formal documentation.

Alternative scoring is emerging as a key technological solution to close this gap. By using artificial intelligence and non-traditional data, platforms like Quipu can assess the repayment capacity of segments historically invisible to banks, offering personalized and fair loans that promote financial inclusion and economic growth for vulnerable sectors.

Impacta VC’s investment in Quipu validates this trend of convergence between technology, social impact, and specialized venture capital. In a 2026 marked by the consolidation of the fintech sector, with more capital directed toward profitable and traction-driven solutions, cases like Quipu demonstrate that it is possible to combine social purpose with scalable and sustainable business models.

Prospects for regional growth and expansion

With its recent capital injection, Quipu plans to accelerate its growth in 2026 by expanding its scoring technology, integrating its API with new financial institutions, and entering additional markets in Latin America. The startup aims to strengthen its technology team and establish strategic alliances to scale its impact in the region.

For its part, Impacta VC continues to consolidate its presence in Colombia and other Latin American markets, with plans to close its Fund I and launch a Fund II during 2026. The fund maintains its commitment to startups that combine technological innovation with measurable social impact, focusing on solutions that transform key sectors such as fintech, health, education, and sustainability.

Conclusion

Impacta VC ‘s $300,000 investment in Quipu represents a prime example of how impact venture capital is driving financial inclusion in Latin America. By combining alternative scoring technology with artificial intelligence, Quipu is democratizing access to credit for more than 300,000 users excluded from the traditional system, while building a scalable and sustainable business model

For founders in the Latin American tech ecosystem, this deal reinforces the importance of combining social purpose with solid commercial traction, especially in 2026 when funds prioritize profitability alongside impact. The experience of Quipu, incubated at MIT and backed by key players in the ecosystem, illustrates the path toward building startups that transform structural realities while generating sustainable financial value.

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(Featured image by Mathieu Stern via Unsplash)

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First published in El Ecosistema. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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