Meet The Fintech Founders And Investors Of The 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 List

Patrick Nappa launched Kashcade in Sydney in 2022 after leaving his role as a software engineer at Apple. The fintech startup offers loans to small businesses and startups, leveraging Australia’s R&D tax incentive refunds—up to 43.5% of spending—by disbursing up to 80% of the refund early. Kashcade charges a A$950 fee and 1.38% monthly interest, with loans repaid once the tax office deposits the refund. The company has lent A$100 million to 200 businesses, including humanoid-robot developer Andromeda, and now plans to expand into financial analytics software and international markets. Kashcade has raised A$80 million in funding and turned profitable last year, with revenue doubling annually. Nappa, who studied computer science at the University of Sydney, cited the challenge of entering a new field as his motivation. The startup’s growth aligns with broader trends in fintech, providing critical capital access for early-stage businesses. In New Zealand, Bex Gidall leads investments at Icehouse Ventures, a venture capital firm managing over $1 billion in assets. Since joining in 2021, she has risen to principal and now oversees a $25 million climate tech fund and a $10 million female founders fund. Gidall has invested $13 million in 21 startups, including Factor, a grid forecasting software provider, and Scentian Bio, a digital scent sensor maker. She also founded Arc, a community supporting women in the startup ecosystem. Elice Jesslyn Ongko, based in Jakarta, is a senior associate at B Capital, a venture capital firm cofounded by Facebook cofounder Eduardo Saverin. Since joining in 2024, Ongko has invested $60 million in three startups: Eureka Robotics, Ninja Van, and MoEngage. Inspired by her entrepreneurial parents, she previously worked at KPMG, McKinsey, and Northstar Group. Duc Anh Bui leads AI and cybersecurity investments for Kasikorn Business-Technology Group (KBTG) in Ho Chi Minh City, focusing on Southeast Asia and the U.S. Since January 2025, he has built a portfolio of cybersecurity companies, including Zest Security and Jericho Security, while supporting U.S.-based startups in cloud security and AI-driven resilience.