A Note from Our Founders

We’re Anny and Andrew, co-founders of Mona. As first-generation Americans whose families came from Egypt and Taiwan, small businesses have been critical to our families’ stories. Like so many others, we have seen firsthand the power of small businesses to create economic opportunity for families, while also transforming communities for the better.

Small businesses generate more than half of net new jobs in America and are a critical path up the socioeconomic ladder for families across the U.S. Beyond the economic impact, these entrepreneurs are the backbones of our towns and cities – fueling community, economic growth, and togetherness across the country. Yet the vast majority face major barriers to accessing capital because of the fragmented small business funding ecosystem – and this problem is only exacerbated for historically disadvantaged groups.

We launched Mona while at Stanford to help change this. So far, Mona’s AI-powered fintech platform has connected 100+ entrepreneurs to $1 million+ in affordable loans and grants. From home care services to restaurants to coffee brands and beyond, we have provided entrepreneurs with best-fit capital matches as well as the coaching support they need to secure pivotal funding. Open to all small businesses, we’ve partnered with entrepreneurs driving impact across 50+ cities throughout the U.S.

For many, these loans were life-changing. About 80% of Mona entrepreneurs noted they could not get loans elsewhere and the majority are first-time borrowers. And the business impacts have been clear. On average, monthly revenue increased by more than 40% after funding disbursement, and entrepreneurs were able to hire 1 to 2 staff members because of receiving funding. From Chicago’s south side to Jacksonville’s north side to downtown Detroit and beyond, we are proud to lead this work to support entrepreneurs and their local communities.

Ultimately, what drives our team is the creativity, kindness, and selflessness of our Mona entrepreneurs. The least we can do is provide them with fair access to capital to uplift the stories of our towns and cities – and of their own families – for generations to come.