NEWSROOM
News & updates.
See highlights of our recent partnerships, upcoming events, and other updates.
Forbes: Mastercard, Sheryl Sandberg, Eric Schmidt Back Small-Business Finance Platform
Mona’s round was featured in Forbes. “Mona, a new AI-powered finance platform for small businesses, announced a $3.5 million funding round. Sheryl Sandberg’s venture fund, Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners, led the round with participation from Alumni Ventures, Wisdom Ventures, and angel investors including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Mastercard, through its Strive USA Innovation Fund, has also backed the platform.”
Mona raises $3.5M to expand its AI platform for small business capital access and financial coaching
Mona today announced an oversubscribed $3.5M round to expand its AI platform for small business capital access and financial coaching. The round was led by Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners, with participation from Alumni Ventures, Wisdom Ventures, angels including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and others. Mona is also backed by the Mastercard Strive USA Innovation Fund.
Mastercard: For small business owners, finding funding is a full-time job
Mastercard recently featured Mona’s work helping small business owners access capital through AI-powered funding navigation and human coaching. Mona was also selected as a 2026 Mastercard Strive USA Innovation Fund winner, supporting its expansion of small business coaching across the U.S.
Mona named winner in Fast Company’s 2026 World Changing Ideas Awards
Mona was selected as a winner in Fast Company’s 2026 World Changing Ideas Awards. This annual recognition honors bold and transformative efforts that tackle the world’s most pressing issues.
Mona Impact Grant: Meet the inaugural winner – Three Little Ducks
The Mona Impact Grant received thousands of applications from founders working on critical challenges – expanding access to education, financial tools, community resources, healthcare, and services that help people live healthier, more stable lives. We’re grateful to every entrepreneur who applied and for the work they’re doing to serve their communities, and are thrilled to celebrate Three Little Ducks as the winner of the inaugural Mona Impact Grant.
Mona honored as part of the 2026 Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge
Mona was selected as a finalist in the 2026 Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge – one of 25 ventures chosen across all 11 Harvard schools. The President’s Innovation Challenge is Harvard’s flagship venture competition, spotlighting founders tackling pressing challenges across sectors.
Mona selected as a winner of the 2026 MIT Fintech Challenge
We’re excited to share that Mona was selected as a winner of the 2026 MIT Fintech Challenge. The global competition, held alongside the MIT Fintech Conference, brings together founders, investors, and industry leaders to explore the most pressing issues shaping the future of fintech.