How Cubo Is Expanding Digital Payments for Women-Led Businesses in Central America
- yanabijoor
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
What is the problem?
Across Central America, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) face a lot of obstacles from participating in the digital economy. Many MSMEs rely on cash because they lack access to affordable, easy-to-use digital payment tools. This limits sales, excludes customers who prefer cards or digital payments, and prevents businesses from building transaction histories that are often required to access credit, scale operations, or integrate into broader financial systems.
In countries like Guatemala, where MSMEs make up a large share of economic activity, this digital exclusion disproportionately affects women-led businesses, reinforcing inequality and slowing regional economic growth.
How is Cubo solving the problem?
Cubo addresses this gap by providing a comprehensive, low-friction digital payment platform designed specifically for MSMEs in Central America. Its application allows businesses to accept payments through multiple channels, including point-of-sale devices, payment links, and QR codes, without complex onboarding or infrastructure requirements.
Registration and activation are immediate: businesses simply download the app, register, and begin accepting card payments. For in-person transactions, Cubo offers a portable, rechargeable POS device compatible with Visa and MasterCard and connected via Bluetooth to mobile phones. By making digital payment acceptance intuitive and accessible, Cubo enables small businesses to increase sales, reach more customers, and begin formalizing their financial activity.
Why is Cubo innovative?
Cubo’s innovation lies not in inventing a new payment method, but in adapting digital payments to the realities of Central American MSMEs. Instead of a one-size-fits-all system, Cubo offers a flexible suite of tools, such as POS, QR codes, payment links, and even Bitcoin transactions, that meet businesses where they are, whether online, in-person, or mobile.
Equally important is Cubo’s regional focus. Originating in El Salvador and expanding to Panama and Guatemala, the platform is built for markets with high informality, low banking penetration, and growing demand for digital payments. Its ability to scale quickly, averaging 45% monthly growth since its founding in 2021, demonstrates that the model responds to a real, unmet need.
What has been Cubo’s impact?
Cubo currently connects with over 10,000 businesses across Central America, with approximately 40% led by women, an important metric for inclusive reach. The company raised $3.5 million USD from IDB Lab to expand into Guatemala and further develop digital payment solutions, signaling strong institutional confidence in its social and economic impact.
By enabling MSMEs to accept digital payments, Cubo is helping businesses increase transaction volume, participate more fully in the formal economy, and move closer to long-term financial inclusion. Its entry into Guatemala, a market with significant potential for financial and technological inclusion, marks an important step toward regional scale.
What needs to improve?
Despite its growth, Cubo still faces challenges common to fintechs serving small and informal businesses. Adoption beyond early-stage users will require continued education, trust-building, and support, particularly in rural or underserved areas. Long-term impact will also depend on whether digital payment data can be translated into broader financial access, such as affordable credit or savings tools for MSMEs.
Additionally, keeping costs low while scaling across multiple countries with different regulatory environments will test Cubo’s operational abilities. Addressing these challenges will be critical if Cubo is to move from enabling payments to fully transforming financial inclusion for Central America’s small businesses.
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