Why We Invested in Prima
At Quona Capital, we back bold entrepreneurs with big visions for solving large, complex problems. That’s why we’re excited to support Prima, a company that is transforming the manufacturing landscape in Mexico by providing access to new business opportunities and working capital for underserved SME manufacturers. Here’s what makes us believe in Prima’s potential.
An Industry Ripe for Change
Manufacturing in Mexico is an important sector, employing around 9.75 million people and encompassing over 600,000 businesses. Yet, it’s also one where inefficient ways of doing business prevail. Most manufacturing SMEs face challenges like fragmented supply chains, complex sales cycles, and limited access to larger buyers driven by pervasive informality. Only about 1.5% of these businesses have more than 100 employees, and fewer than 5% access export markets. Enter Prima, a company that is not only helping MSMEs connect with large industrial buyers, but also modernizing the entire procurement process with its end-to-end platform.
The Right Solution at the Right Time
Prima is building a platform that does much more than just match buyers and suppliers; it brings trust and simplifies every step of the manufacturing process, from discovery and quoting to project management and quality assurance. Prima is developing at a pivotal moment for the Mexican manufacturing industry, as nearshoring trends create significant opportunities for growth. With global supply chains becoming more complex, companies are increasingly seeking ways to relocate manufacturing closer to key markets like the United States to shorten supply chains and reduce logistical risks. Mexico, in particular, has emerged as a strategic hub for this shift, recently becoming the #1 trading partner with the U.S.
The nearshoring trend has accelerated Mexico’s industrial growth, which has consistently outpaced overall GDP gains over the past 20 years. Mexico’s manufacturing output now exceeds $315 billion, with ample room for expansion as businesses increase investment in the region. Prima is well-positioned to benefit from this trend. Since its founding in 2022, Prima has quoted over 5,000 projects in record time and achieved significant operational improvements, including a time-to-quote reduction of 50% and on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery rates that are 2x above the market average. These efficiencies translate into a 10% average cost savings for customers and a 10% productivity boost for procurement teams, making Prima an attractive partner for businesses optimizing their supply chains in Mexico.
Empowering Local Businesses and Communities
Prima’s work is about more than streamlining manufacturing processes — it’s about giving small and medium-sized businesses the tools to compete and grow. By offering working capital solutions and access to out-of-reach buyers, Prima enables smaller manufacturers to take on larger contracts and smooth out cash flows, addressing one of the biggest pain points in the industry. This is particularly impactful for Mexican SMEs, where less than 10% have access to formal financing. With Prima’s support, these businesses can unlock previously untapped sources of revenue, helping them to scale operations and increase the utilization of excess capacity.
Looking Ahead: A High-Growth Path
Prima’s business plan is not without its challenges — the vision is bold, manufacturing is a complex and capital-intensive space, and the road to scale is steep. But with the right team, support, and strategy, we see a path to tremendous upside. We’re thrilled to team up with founders Daniel Autrique, Juan Pablo Ramos, and Patricio Servitje as they shape the future of manufacturing in Mexico.
Disclaimer: Quona portfolio companies were selected for profiles based on objective, non-performance-based criteria for the purpose of illustrating the types of investments made by Quona funds and their impacts. These profiles are being provided for illustrative purposes only, in order to provide examples of the idea generation, research, and thought process of Quona investment teams. No representation is made as to whether or if the investment ideas represented in these profiles have been or will be profitable. It should not be assumed that Quona will be able to identify similar investment opportunities in the future, or that any such opportunities will be profitable. The above statements include the opinions of the Firm and are for illustrative purposes only. There is no assurance that any trends depicted or objectives described in Quona profiles will continue or become successful.
