NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - June Cleaver with a PayPal Account - Kiva Hits the One Year Mark - Comments

Yet the level of lender

Virtual Office — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:32:17 -0500

Yet the level of lender interest, both from a site like Kiva targeting individual lenders and Wall Street firms investing in larger microfinance funds, is raising some concern. While generally supportive of the concept, some in microfinance are worried that direct cash investments may divert attention from the need to strengthen local financial institutions like banks, fostering dependence on outside money.

This is what the internet is about

Dave Ritell — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 16:21:08 -0400

Fantastic article -- thanks for providing insight into their progress. I love how Kiva leverages existing systems (MFI networks, PayPal, blogosphere, etc) to do good.

June Cleaver with a PayPal Account - Kiva Hits the One Year Mark

sara standish — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:24:35 -0400

With my head spinning from the loftiness of an IDB infused week, I happily returned to reality in a conversation with Kiva, which--as many of you know--is leveraging micro-finance institutions (MFIs) to create virtual connections between investors and micro-entrepreneurs. This doesn't sound remarkable until you learn that this investor could be you, your Uncle Benny from Ohio, or anyone else, who with, as CNN Money so aptly wrote, "...$25, a PC and a PayPal account...now [has] the wherewithal to be an international financier." A sort of investment experience for the proletariat, Kiva has turned the traditional microfinance lending model on its head.