When Zandell Monteras left his job as a bank CSR-teller, he didn’t have a fancy finance degree, a deep-pocketed investor, or even barista skills. What he had was grit, a growing obsession with charts—and an idea no one else had tried: a coffee shop where people could learn how to trade.
Today, Traders Hub Café is the first trading-themed café in the Philippines, blending caffeine, candlestick charts, and community into one space. For Zandell, it’s not just about the brews—it’s about breaking down financial education for everyday Filipinos.
“At first, I thought trading was easy—just click and earn. I was wrong. Trading is 90% emotional, 10% skill,” Zandell told Financial Adviser PH.
From Side Hustle to Game Plan
Zandell’s journey started like many during the pandemic—uncertain, stuck at home, and looking for income. He started watching YouTube videos on forex and crypto, enrolled in free trading academies, and made his first deposit: just $4.78.
Six months later, he had grown it to $300. Motivated, he worked remotely for three months just to fund a bigger trading account. He turned $50 into $1,500—and that’s when he knew: this wasn’t luck. It was strategy.
“My biggest edge was not capital—it was discipline. I journaled every trade, studied every mistake.”
That experience led him to go full-time into trading for two years, learning price action, technical analysis, and market psychology on his own terms.
Brewing a Bold Idea
Zandell’s “aha!” moment didn’t come from a win in the market—it came from his love of coffee shops.
“I realized both traders and coffee lovers want the same thing: a place where they belong,” he says.
So he built one.
In 2022, Traders Hub Café opened its doors. Think of it as part Starbucks, part Bloomberg terminal. Baristas pull espresso shots while customers talk trading strategies. Events include market forecast nights, trading bootcamps, and livestreamed chart breakdowns—right from the café floor.
“Financial education can be intimidating,” Zandell explains. “But over coffee, it feels more human. People open up.”
Viral Buzz and Global Recognition
It wasn’t long before people took notice. In 2023, Traders Hub Café won the Innovation Award of the Year at the Trading.Live Influencer Awards (Autumn Edition)—a first for any Filipino trading brand.
But for Zandell, the real win is watching young professionals and students walk into the café knowing nothing about trading, and leave inspired to learn.
He also became a Certified Technical Analyst (CTA), and took on a national role as Senior Learning Consultant at SmarTrade Philippines, hosting free trading seminars across the country.
More Than Coffee: A Movement
Zandell isn’t stopping with one café. His vision? A chain of Traders Hub Cafés nationwide, each serving as a learning hub, coffee shop, and community space rolled into one.
“This isn’t about coffee or charts. It’s about accessibility,” he says. “We’re making trading feel less scary—and more Filipino.”
He continues to collaborate with universities, champion financial education, and prove that even without Wall Street credentials, Filipinos can take control of their financial future.
His Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs?
Start small. Be obsessed. Don’t wait for perfect—build now, adjust fast.
“I didn’t have a roadmap. But I had my ‘why.’ And that made all the difference.”
