Kiva Zip is an online crowdfunding platform that provides 0% interest loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs who may not qualify for traditional bank loans. Since 2005, Kiva has funded over $972 million in loans to 1.3 million borrowers across more than 80 countries through 1.3 million registered lenders. In 2012 alone, $150 million was crowd-funded through Kiva loans. Kiva Zip specifically addresses the needs of US micro-entrepreneurs by providing small starter loans up to $5,000. Trustees, who work closely with small businesses, play a crucial role by identifying eligible borrowers, endorsing them on the Kiva Zip website, and supporting the borrower's business.
14. Kiva Zip “Trustees” and why they matter
In the Kiva Zip model of character-based lending, “Trustees” -
organizations or individuals that work closely with small
entrepreneurs - are absolutely crucial.
Trustees are those entrusted to recommend the most trustworthy
small businesses for crowds to lend to:-
Identify eligible and deserving borrowers for 0% interest loan
Publicly endorse them on the Kiva Zip website
Support the borrower in their business (advice, mentorship,
incubator space, networking)
Trustees have no financial risk if a borrower they endorse does not
repay, but their reputation is tied to borrowers’ performance.
15. How ZIP works: example of Victor, SF
Victor engages his
lenders with the
“conversations”
feature
Created 5
new part-time
jobs Repaid 10
months on time
Now applying
for a second ZIP Lenders can also
loan of check out his Yelp
profile
$10,000
16. What’s in it for trustees?
If you already work with financially excluded clients
Empower (unproven startups, or low credit score entrepreneurs)...
Clients Kiva Zip will give the clients you endorse access to 0% business
loans they would otherwise not qualify for
If you already do great work in your community that largely
Promote goes unrecognized or unpromoted...
what you being a Kiva Zip trustee automatically allows you to promote
do your work (in your own words) to >1 mil socially-conscious Kiva
lenders everywhere. Also participate in Kiva PR initiatives.
If your organization’s potential funders care about tangible
Increase impact (businesses helped, $$ generated, jobs created)...
Impact, Kiva Zip helps you help more small businesses take off, faster.
Help Endorsing a deserving borrower online takes 15min. Reducing
Fundraise time and cost for raising capital means you can impact more.
17. 1.4mil, 20% Unemployment
Great local community
programs stimulating
entrepreneurship
Zero Entrepreneurs taking
advantage of 0% Zip loans
We’d like to change that,
and soon!
sulin.lau@fellows.kiva.org
Zip.Kiva.Org