Rodrigo Tumaián (Prometeo): “We will strengthen our presence in Brazil, the Dominican Republic and the wider Caribbean"

Prometeo aims to create an open financial system in Latin America. What does that involve?

In practice, this means someone can share their banking data with a fintech of their choice to receive a fairer credit offer, without having to rely solely on their traditional bank. That kind of openness and portability is what drives competition, improves services and empowers users. At Prometeo, we build the infrastructure that makes this possible in a secure way: a unified API platform that connects financial institutions across Latin America and the US, enabling services like payments, account validation and data access ─ all through a single integration point.

What obstacles to achieving this are there in LatAm?

The region still faces deep structural challenges. Latin America lags behind when it comes to API adoption and in the use of a common language to operate financial services. Most banks still rely on heterogeneous layers, manual processes and limited interoperability. As other regions move toward standardized financial infrastructure, this fragmentation is holding us back.

Does the arrival of generative AI alter the landscape in any way?

The arrival of generative AI ─ particularly through protocols like MCP ─ is a turning point. If financial services in the region don’t speak the language of AI, they’ll be left out of the new digital distribution channels that are already emerging. “Appifying” Latin America is no longer just about efficiency or innovation ─ it’s the baseline requirement to ensure the region’s financial infrastructure can interact with intelligent agents, integrate seamlessly and stay competitive in the next tech cycle.

To build a global presence a fintech needs four key ingredients: truly scalable technology, a diverse and talented team, strategic funding and deep knowledge of every market it wants to operate in

At Prometeo, we’re tackling this challenge head-on. We’re not only building the connections that enable more open financial systems ─ we’re making sure Latin America has the tools and protocols it needs to participate in this new AI-driven era.

Since launching in 2018, you’ve expanded to 11 countries. Do you have plans to reach new markets?

We operate in 11 countries, with over 1,500 active connections to 1,200 financial institutions. But we’re not stopping there ─ our next big move is to strengthen our presence in Brazil, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean countries. Beyond geographic expansion, we’re also making major investments in broadening our product offering. In March, we launched our latest solution: Borderless Banking, a suite of cross border solutions that enable companies to expand globally without giving up their local financial operations. Our goal with this product is to truly connect the region, offering solutions that solve real problems and scale with impact. Just to give some context: in 2022 alone, imports from North America to Latin America totaled $507 billion, while intra-regional trade reached $228 billion. Yet, less than 30% of those payments were made digitally. That’s a massive opportunity ─ and we’re building the infrastructure to seize it.

What does a fintech need to establish a multinational presence like Prometeo’s?

To build a global presence like Prometeo’s, a fintech needs four key ingredients: truly scalable technology, a diverse and talented team, strategic funding and deep knowledge of every market it wants to operate in.

From the beginning, we knew at Prometeo that it wasn’t just about raising capital ─ it was about generating real traction. In the world of fintech, money alone isn’t a differentiator. What matters is what you build with that capital, the value you create, and how it translates into real impact. We were very intentional when choosing our investors. We’ve partnered with funds from Silicon Valley, Europe, Asia, Mexico and several local angel investors.

What are the key opportunities to improve financial inclusion in Latin America and to drive further fintech growth across the region?

One of the biggest opportunities lies in hyper-personalization, driven by artificial intelligence and advanced analytics. It enables better risk assessment, fraud prevention and the creation of more human-centered financial experiences, designed for each user. But there are still major structural challenges. Today, nearly 70% of transfers in Latin America are still done in cash. Credit cards remain too expensive for many small businesses, leaving a huge portion of the population excluded from the formal financial system.

True financial inclusion isn’t just about digitizing what already exists. That’s why at Prometeo we work with both traditional banks and new players ─ neobanks, wallets and payment platforms ─ and continue to expand our APIs to support new models that adapt to local realities.

Latin America arrived late to the API revolution, and now we’re facing a new wave ─ driven by AI ─ that demands even more advanced levels of interoperability and standardization. If we want to build truly inclusive digital finance, we can’t afford to miss this second wave. At Prometeo, we’re making sure that the region can catch up and leap forward at the same time ─ by developing the infrastructure that lets financial services speak the same language, connect intelligently and reach people where they are.

What regulatory hurdles are holding back the growth of an open financial system?

We identify three major challenges: fragmented infrastructure, high costs associated with adapting to each regulatory framework and a lack of regulatory clarity. On top of all that, there’s still a significant knowledge gap. There’s a lack of widespread understanding around how modern financial infrastructure works and the role that data plays in it. As players in this space, we have a huge responsibility to educate, raise awareness and empower users. Technology alone isn’t enough if there’s no consciousness around it. Users need to understand how, with whom and why they’re sharing their financial information.