Day 3 – Session C2: Financing Growth: Unlocking Co-Lending, Capital Markets & Risk-Sharing for FinTechs
Apurva Kumar, Senior Investment Specialist, ADB
Apurva Kumar – Senior Investment Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
As part of the Private Sector Financial Institutions (PSFI) Team, Apurva is based out of ADB’s Delhi office and is the unit head for the South Asia region. For the broader APAC region, he also covers direct equity investments for the financial sector and is the fintech lead. He has been with ADB since January 2015 and was earlier based in ADB’s Singapore office. At ADB, he has closed several equity and debt transactions across the Asia Pacific region with banks and inclusive non-bank financial institutions.
Prior to ADB, Apurva was an investment banker with SBI Capital Markets for 7-years in the equity capital markets team working primarily with FIG and Energy clients. He also spent 3-years with McKinsey & Co. as part of their research team. Apurva is an MBA from Management Development Institute, Gurgaon; a Bachelors in Finance from College of Business Studies (Delhi University) and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Irem Sayeed, Chief Risk Officer, UGRO Capital
Irem Sayeed is currently serving as the Chief Risk Officer at UGRO Capital. Part of the founding team at UGRO. She has been with UGRO since 2018 and has handled various roles within the organisation . With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Irem has a rich background in risk, credit and lending. Her career journey includes significant roles at Mswipe Technologies, Poonawalla Fincorp ( Erstwhile Magma Fincorp), Kotak Mahindra Bank, and GE Capital.
Fernanda Lima, Partner, LeapFrog
Fernanda is a Partner and Co-head of LeapFrog’s Asian financial services team, responsible for
originating investments and driving value and growth across the firm’s diverse portfolio. She has over
20 years of experience in private equity, since joining AIG Global Investment Group in London in
2002. From 2008, she focuses on Asia by taking an active management approach. Her team works
to grow or turn around inclusive finance institutions across the region, making them attractive to
strategics and capital markets.
Fernanda joined LeapFrog from Developing World Markets, a US-based pioneer and a sizable
impact asset manager, where she was Managing Director. She invested and managed private equity
investments for two funds . Her portfolio companies has spread across Cambodia, China, India,
Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam and she has held Board seats and leadership roles
managing diverse teams, Boards and senior staff.
She holds a Master of Science in Environment and Development from the London School of
Economics and a Master in Business Administration from the University of London (Imperial College).
She was a British Chevening Scholar (funded by the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office) and
speaks three languages. Fernanda has worked in four continents and moved to Singapore in 2013,
where she lives with her husband and three sons.
Gabby Lacuesta, Chief Financial Officer, Fuse Financing Inc.
Gabby Lacuesta is the Chief Financial Officer of Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of GCash. Since joining in 2021 at the inception of the company’s flagship products, Gabby has played a pivotal role in transforming Fuse into one of the Philippines’ largest and fastest-growing lending and credit institutions.
Gabby began his professional journey in technology services, working with industry leaders like Procter & Gamble and HP. After earning his master’s degrees in Singapore and France, he continued to build his tech expertise at Globe Telecom. Transitioning into finance, Gabby served as CFO at Ramcar and Uploan before bringing his strategic leadership to Fuse.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management Engineering from Ateneo de Manila University and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from INSEAD, complemented by executive courses at INSEAD and the Kellogg School of Management
Luke Boland, Head of Fintech Asia, Standard Chartered Bank