• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
FinanceFintech

Nubank’s co-founder Cristina Junqueira talks inflation concerns, serving the underserved after blockbuster IPO

By
Felicia Hou
Felicia Hou
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Felicia Hou
Felicia Hou
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 9, 2021, 5:21 PM ET
Video Poster
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Cristina Junqueira became a billionaire today after shares in the Brazilian fintech company she co-founded, Nubank, started trading after an initial public offering.

The company’s stock rose 15% above the initial offer price to close above $10, and a market cap of $47.6 billion, making Nubank’s value the third-highest of all public companies in Brazil.

Nubank, which raised $2.6 billion in the IPO, has been a rising force in the fintech industry since it was founded in 2013, with its fee-free credit card and mobile banking app providing a stark contrast from traditional Brazilian banking’s high interest rates and costs.   

Last month, the company shared plans to raise $3.7 billion in an IPO filing, but Nubank eventually lowered its intended share price last week from $11 to $9, which the company says was a result of its dual listing in the U.S. and Brazil.  

“We had to put out a price range much earlier with much less information,” Junqueira, who is also the company’s CEO for Brazil, told Fortune. “The markets’ course is unpredictable, as they are, and it just made sense.”

In June, Nubank received a $500 million investment from Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway. But even before Buffet’s investment, Nubank had caught the eye of well-known names like Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital and SoftBank.

Last year, Fortune named Junqueira to its 40 Under 40 list, the company’s annual selection of the most influential young people in business. 

“It’s always a privilege to be able to have investors like Berkshire Hathaway. We’ve been very lucky with the support of investors ever since we started the company,” Junqueira said. “Berkshire, of course, brings a lot of credibility and is so successful in what they do, and we’re so lucky to have them.”   

Despite the IPO, Nubank faces a number of obstacles. Inflation in the U.S. is at the highest rate in over 30 years, which could make investors wary as it can affect corporate profits. There’s also concerns about how the new Omicron variant will impact the markets, and about the significant losses and troubles of other Brazilian fintech companies. But Junqueira says she’s unfazed by the challenges ahead. 

“Frankly, since we’ve started the company years ago, all we’ve seen is horrible market environments,” said Junqueira. “We’ve seen the worst recession in Brazil’s history, the crashes in GDP growth. Our business model is about people that have been underserved and unsatisfied…so we just try to focus on the things we can control. The market’s going to be whatever it’s going to be, and frankly, we’ve seen worse.”

Junqueira remains confident that Nubank will continue to grow, thanks to the strength of its customer base of over 48 million users and the company’s dedication to its mission.

“To the degree that we continue to solve customers’ problems and they see value in that, and they continue to refer their friends and family to us, that’s our plan for growth,” Junqueira said. “That’s the strategy that we’ve always used, and we believe that customers are going to continue to want to be better served.”

Although Nubank has talked about plans to grow in Latin American markets outside of Brazil (it is also currently active in Mexico and Colombia), Junqueira says that Nubank’s current plan is to “stay focused and execute well.”

“Before we take on more. I like to say that we’re in the business of doing fewer things but doing them really well,” she said.

In addition to running the world’s largest independent digital bank , Junqueira is also expecting her third child. Junqueira has spoken before about her pride in being both a full-time mother and businesswoman, and hopes her success can inspire her daughters. 

“I hope that I can be a good example for them, to say that women can raise our families and care for them, but we can also have great careers and be passionate about our work,” she said.

Never miss a story: Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you.

About the Author
By Felicia Hou
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

A pedestrian walks past a Gucci luxury fashion store at a shopping district on June 24, 2026, in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
RetailLuxury
Rich consumers taking GLP-1s are rebuying their wardrobes and eating smaller, fancier dishes—it’s a factor saving the luxury sector right now
By Eleanor PringleJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Top CD rates today, June 25, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.40%
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates today, June 25, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.40%
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on June 25, 2026
Personal FinanceSavings accounts
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on June 25, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Micron drives global rally tech stock rally as traders abandon their fear of an AI bubble
InvestingMarkets
Micron drives global rally tech stock rally as traders abandon their fear of an AI bubble
By Jim EdwardsJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
What bubble? JPMorgan says the $5.5 trillion AI capex explosion is profitable–for now
AIFinance
What bubble? JPMorgan says the $5.5 trillion AI capex explosion is profitable–for now
By Sheryl EstradaJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
Man in a suit and tie
InvestingAmazon
Bill Ackman, David Tepper, and other billionaire fund managers are quietly piling into Amazon
By Amanda GerutJune 25, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
Economy
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
22 hours ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
23 hours ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
Economy
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
18 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.