Kiva Hub Microlending Program Opens In Northeast Indiana
November 10, 2020 at 1:53 a.m.
By Staff Report-
Kiva Hub Northeast Indiana, a crowdfunded microlending center, has opened at The NIIC with the collaboration and support of The City of Fort Wayne, SEED and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).
Kiva Hub is designed for business owners who may lack access to traditional financing. “The collaborators are unified in their goal of promoting and encouraging microentrepreneurship by inclusive and diverse business builders. The Kiva Hub is focused on preparing underestimated founders for business and financing opportunities to fuel and fund their business launch and support their early-stage growth,” stated Karl R. LaPan, president and CEO, The NIIC.
“Kiva connects aspiring entrepreneurs with capital in a unique way,” said Jami Thomas, NIIC grants compliance specialist and Kiva-capital access manager. “It provides a non-traditional opportunity for business owners who may have faced obstacles through those lending sources. Through Kiva Northeast Indiana business builders may obtain crowd-sourced loans. Community-minded funders can invest in local start-ups and small businesses knowing that their contributions will help build the regional economy and put Hoosiers to work.”
Kiva Hub Northeast Indiana offers distinct advantages to newer, smaller businesses that may lack credit history to secure a traditional bank loan, according to a news release from The NIIC. Kiva will not reject an entrepreneur because of their credit, net worth or years in business. Rather, Kiva’s crowd-sourced model determines borrowers’ creditworthiness through social underwriting based on character and reputation.
Through Kiva Northeast Indiana, individuals can support loans to local entrepreneurs with contributions beginning at $25. These funds are pooled and loaned to entrepreneurs. Borrowers can access up to $10,000 at 0% interest with no fees. Globally, Kiva loans have a 97% or better repayment rate.
Kiva is a global nonprofit organization that takes its name from a Swahili word meaning agreement or unity. Since its founding in 2005, Kiva’s crowd-funded lending platform has brought together entrepreneurs and investors in 89 countries worldwide. In the United States, Kiva has addressed financial exclusion by connecting 5,500 borrowers to 230,000 lenders and facilitating loans totaling $29 million.
“The graduates of our Build Institute Business Education Program frequently need micro-financing. The NIIC’s Kiva Hub is going to be a game changer for those startups,” said Trois Hart, SEED Fort Wayne director. “The city of Fort Wayne is working diligently to help provide opportunities for women and people of color who are under connected to funding, information and other resources needed to successfully launch a business.”
Small businesses are an essential part of the economy, creating two out of every three new jobs in the United States.
“The IEDC understands the importance of creating an inclusive access to capital culture in our entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through innovative programs like the Kiva Hub, Northeast Indiana can capitalize on providing both the business advisory services and increasing access to the first rung of the capital ladder. That often can make the difference in whether a new venture starts, or an existing one can grow,” stated Mark Wasky, vice president innovation and strategic initiatives, IEDC.
The NIIC coaches and guides entrepreneurs through the process of securing funding to help increase their odds of success.
Kiva Northeast Indiana is Kiva's second microlending center in Indiana. Bankable in Anderson is the Kiva Hub for the greater Indianapolis area.
Kiva Hub Northeast Indiana, a crowdfunded microlending center, has opened at The NIIC with the collaboration and support of The City of Fort Wayne, SEED and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).
Kiva Hub is designed for business owners who may lack access to traditional financing. “The collaborators are unified in their goal of promoting and encouraging microentrepreneurship by inclusive and diverse business builders. The Kiva Hub is focused on preparing underestimated founders for business and financing opportunities to fuel and fund their business launch and support their early-stage growth,” stated Karl R. LaPan, president and CEO, The NIIC.
“Kiva connects aspiring entrepreneurs with capital in a unique way,” said Jami Thomas, NIIC grants compliance specialist and Kiva-capital access manager. “It provides a non-traditional opportunity for business owners who may have faced obstacles through those lending sources. Through Kiva Northeast Indiana business builders may obtain crowd-sourced loans. Community-minded funders can invest in local start-ups and small businesses knowing that their contributions will help build the regional economy and put Hoosiers to work.”
Kiva Hub Northeast Indiana offers distinct advantages to newer, smaller businesses that may lack credit history to secure a traditional bank loan, according to a news release from The NIIC. Kiva will not reject an entrepreneur because of their credit, net worth or years in business. Rather, Kiva’s crowd-sourced model determines borrowers’ creditworthiness through social underwriting based on character and reputation.
Through Kiva Northeast Indiana, individuals can support loans to local entrepreneurs with contributions beginning at $25. These funds are pooled and loaned to entrepreneurs. Borrowers can access up to $10,000 at 0% interest with no fees. Globally, Kiva loans have a 97% or better repayment rate.
Kiva is a global nonprofit organization that takes its name from a Swahili word meaning agreement or unity. Since its founding in 2005, Kiva’s crowd-funded lending platform has brought together entrepreneurs and investors in 89 countries worldwide. In the United States, Kiva has addressed financial exclusion by connecting 5,500 borrowers to 230,000 lenders and facilitating loans totaling $29 million.
“The graduates of our Build Institute Business Education Program frequently need micro-financing. The NIIC’s Kiva Hub is going to be a game changer for those startups,” said Trois Hart, SEED Fort Wayne director. “The city of Fort Wayne is working diligently to help provide opportunities for women and people of color who are under connected to funding, information and other resources needed to successfully launch a business.”
Small businesses are an essential part of the economy, creating two out of every three new jobs in the United States.
“The IEDC understands the importance of creating an inclusive access to capital culture in our entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through innovative programs like the Kiva Hub, Northeast Indiana can capitalize on providing both the business advisory services and increasing access to the first rung of the capital ladder. That often can make the difference in whether a new venture starts, or an existing one can grow,” stated Mark Wasky, vice president innovation and strategic initiatives, IEDC.
The NIIC coaches and guides entrepreneurs through the process of securing funding to help increase their odds of success.
Kiva Northeast Indiana is Kiva's second microlending center in Indiana. Bankable in Anderson is the Kiva Hub for the greater Indianapolis area.
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