Financing Designed by and for Women in Ecuador
Feksa is redefining access to finance for small businesses in Ecuador—especially women-led SMEs. Since 2016, the company has delivered fairly priced working capital to underserved enterprises in Quito and beyond, building one of the most gender-equitable financial institutions in the country.
The vision began with Augusta, Feksa’s co-founder. After nearly two decades in risk and finance roles at Citibank, Lloyds Bank, and FINCA International, as well as an MBA from Willamette University, Oregon, Augusta launched Feksa with a mission: close the financing gap for small businesses, particularly those led by women. With support from friends and family, she and her business partner, Gustavo E., introduced factoring services to SMEs, allowing them to grow on the strength of their customer relationships.
In 2018, as demand surged, catalytic capital from AGC enabled Feksa to scale its operations. According to Augusta,
AGC has been the best thing that has happened to us because it has given us a lot of structure and advice and accountability. Apart from providing the financial resources for factoring, AGC has been an incredible mentor and partner. We remain ever grateful.”
– Augusta.
The results speak for themselves: Feksa provides affordable financing to very small, underserved businesses in high-impact sectors such as agriculture and rural supply chains. On average, Feksa’s clients employ 24 people. Feksa complements lending with financial education for women, strengthening local financial ecosystems.
Feksa also leads by example in advancing gender equity. Women make up 67% of its management team and 75% of employees. Among its SME clients, 70% are led by women—demonstrating a multiplier effect in communities where women’s income supports families, education, and future generations.
Clients agree: in Feksa’s annual survey, businesses rated the company 4.9 out of 5.0, underscoring the trust and value it delivers.
Looking ahead, Feksa aims to extend its reach into fair-trade, climate change resilient products for export and enabling indigenous cooperatives from the highlands and Amazonian regions to access working capital and double its portfolio within three years—unlocking further opportunities for women entrepreneurs which in turn will result in better conditions and wellbeing for their children. For impact investors, Feksa represents the powerful combination of how investing in women yields strong financial results and measurable social change.
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