Yuta Nagano

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Yokohama, Japan

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN CAMBODIA AND WHY?   

I am running Digicro, lending a small amount of retail funds $ 50-1000 to the Unbank class in Cambodia (non-bank users) through its app Spean Loan. By utilizing big data obtained from customers’ smartphones using machine learning, loans can be provided within 3 minutes after downloading the application. We offer flexible lending terms from $ 50 to $ 1,000 depending on creditworthiness. API partnership with Wing, Cambodia’s largest mobile money transferr, allows customers to withdraw cash 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I launched the current business with the vision of realizing a financially accessible society where everyone can get education, food and medical care.

I thought that all industries would improve if finance improved, and I wanted to solve social issues from the financial aspect. I think finance is a kind of infrastructure, just like electricity or roads. I thought it’s a problem that some people did not enjoy it. I think it would be inconvenient without electricity, and that would be the same for finance, would you be surprised if your bank account suddenly became unavailable? It is said that about 40% of the population in Cambodia cannot borrow money for various reasons.

Because of the lack of physical access to banks and microfinance institutions due to their remote location, lack of official documentation to submit, and borrowing from financial institutions in the country relies on land collateral, those who cannot prepare real estate collateral have lost access to loans.

Don’t say that you don’t have access to education, food and healthcare because of money. Conversely, with these three things, I think capitalism can be successful if you make an effort. I think that fulfilling that is the role of finance. I want to achieve financial inclusion(give all the people access for finance).  

WHAT DO YOU LOVE?  

I do what I like, I like what I do. I like everything my way of life including useless things. But especially, I love traveling. More than 60 countries I went. I sometimes feel like “Haven’t I come across places that I really like?” Such kind of Curiosity leads me to travel and I can meet new things and people through traveling.

I’m excited to see things that I can’t see. My life is a journey. It is more interesting for me to do different things, live a different way of life, do different job from other people than doing the same thing in the world everything is obvious.

WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT (DO YOU THINK) ?

I think it’s definitely “Luck”. I have “Good Luck”. Starting from “a sunny man”, my business just accidentally got shaped. I had no money, no teams, no technology, but human resources, things, money, alliances, qualifications I just all got.

Especially, him! The Engineer working in my company now. I can’t make an app alone nor without him. I’m spinning my business with him now. I can’t believe it. The coincidences overlap. That’s why I am always saying “I’m lucky”. I am saying it for any small things around me.

Because I have such kind of mind, I feel like Only good things come, and even Bad things look good. It is also said as insensitive power. I think not so many Startup CEOs can collect more than 1 million, and create 15 jobs. I’m super lucky.

WHAT CHANGE DO YOU MOST LOVE TO CREATE IN THE WORLD? 

I have a keen awareness of the problem in capitalism. The current flow of money now seems to be prolonged with wars and bubbles. I think the current system is overwhelmed, but it forcibly produces wealth and that is very biased. I want to solve this in the future. Inequality in wealth.

I want to create a state where everyone has access to education, medical treatment and foods by changing the flow of money through finance. The best thing about capitalism is those who do their best are rewarded.　

Now, only some part of countries, communities and people dominate the world system and others have limited options and possibilities. It is said that current system is the best from the past, but I doubt “Really so?”

Whether I can do it or not depends on myself. Fight with myself, face with myself. I was pleased to know the joy of accomplishment and to learn new worlds by performing new techniques in Gymnastics. Gymnastics is my basis.

WHAT DO PEOPLE VALUE AND PAY YOU FOR? 

A keen awareness of Problem, the ability to involve people with strong passion, and the power to push forward.