Arjuna

Arjuna is a co-founder and managing partner of Flourish Ventures, an early-stage global venture capital firm that invests in mission-driven entrepreneurs and industry influencers working towards a fair financial system. With a primary focus on venture investing across emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, Arjuna is driven by a deep compassion for vulnerable populations across the globe. He partners with entrepreneurs using innovative technologies to enhance their customers’ financial well-being.

Before Flourish, Arjuna was a partner at Omidyar Network, where he built a global portfolio of early-stage, inclusive fintech companies. Prior to that, Arjuna developed a deep understanding of the potential to radically alter traditional “brick-and-mortar” economics through mobile money solutions for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Before that, he invested equity and debt in consumer finance companies in emerging markets at The Rohatyn Group, a multi-billion dollar emerging markets investment firm.

In 2003, Arjuna co-founded a $120-million private equity fund focused on the turnaround of distressed commercial banks in Africa. The fund grew out of advising governments on the restructuring and privatization of its banking sector. Arjuna began his career at Lehman Brothers, where he spent five years financing power plants and airports globally.

Arjuna earned an MBA degree from Harvard Business School and a BA degree in Computer Science from Columbia University.

In The News
Blog
digital banking
Why We Invested in SWAP: It's All About BaaS
If you are an up-and-coming fintech entrepreneur, how do you connect your offering into existing banking and payments systems? If you are a consumer platform and want to offer financial products to your engaged customer...
Research
opinion
New Flourish Research Finds Brazilian Gig Workers Under Pressure Since COVID-19
New Flourish Research Finds Brazilian Gig Workers Under Pressure Since COVID-19.
Events
flourish conversations
[Flourish Conversations] Early Stage Funding in Africa A Pulse Check
Watch as Arjuna Costa and Ameya Upadhyay convene with leading Africa-focused VCs to discuss investing and fundraising in the current health and financial crisis.
Blog
opinion
[Medium] How Fintech Lenders Can Cope with the Impact of the Pandemic — Lessons from Flourish’s Portfolio Leaders
While the policy interventions being proposed at the national and multilateral levels could partially cushion the shock, these lending start-ups are going to have to navigate a period of chronic uncertainty.
Blog
opinion
[Medium] Let’s Act Now to Protect the Financially Vulnerable
Our managing partner Arjuna Costa calls out for bold action to help the 135 million Americans that are already financially vulnerable overcome the COVID-19 impact on the economy.
Events
opinion
[Video] FinTech Silicon Valley Managing Partner Arjuna Costa Speaks About Systemic Change for Financial Health
After participating in the Fintech Investors Panel with Fintech Silicon Valley, managing partner Arjuna Costa spent time with Pemo Theodore to dive into Flourish's mission.
Blog
digital banking
Why We Invested in Neon: Reinventing the Bank in Brazil
Flourish celebrates the three-year anniversary of our portfolio company Neon with a blog telling why we invested in the company.
News
interview
[This Day Live] Costa - Why Financial Inclusion is Not Enough Anymore
Managing Partner, Arjuna Costa, spoke to journalists in Lagos about financial health and rising trends in fintech.
News
interview
[Disrupt Africa] Meet the Investor: Arjuna Costa, Flourish
Managing partner Arjuna Costa sat down with Disrupt Africa to share about his journey - from his career on Wall Street, to starting funding microfinance organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa, and now as a leader at Flourish.
Blog
opinion
Why We Are Launching Flourish
We have to build businesses that include everyone. We have to aim for greater opportunities for all.
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