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Expanding Financial Opportunity to All: Kiva CEO Chris Tsakalakis Discusses the Pioneering Lending Platform’s Evolving Focus
In April of last year, Chris Tsakalakis was named CEO of the San Francisco-based microlending nonprofit Kiva, after successful leadership stints at Vivino, the world’s largest online wine marketplace, and StubHub, the world’s largest online ticket marketplace. We caught up with Tsakalakis roughly one year into his tenure at Kiva, to discuss his vision and priorities for the organization, the lessons he’s learned in his time at the helm, and his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing Kiva and the broader microfinance sector in the coming years.
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Microfinance for Better Housing: How the Sector Can Serve Low-Income Borrowers in India and Other Emerging Markets
In most emerging countries, populations are growing and the numbers moving into cities are rising even faster. Providing housing for these often low-income individuals has become a huge global challenge. But as development sector researcher Moin Qazi points out, these borrowers' lack of credit history, collateral and property rights makes it difficult for both traditional commercial lenders and microfinance providers to serve them. He explores the challenges facing housing microfinance in India and other emerging markets, and highlights some solutions.
- Categories
- Finance
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Annapurna Finance Mobilizes $30 Million in Equity From Nuveen Global Impact
"Nuveen’s expertise and funding will help us meet our expansion plans and we look forward to working with them to develop our climate initiatives,” Annapurna managing director Gobinda Chandra Pattnaik said.
- Categories
- Environment, Finance, Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Creation Investments Sets up India-Focused $100 Million Debt Fund
Global impact investor Creation Investments Capital Management LLC has set up a debt fund in India, for which it will raise $100 Mn to invest in the country.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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‘Our Only Competition Is Poverty’: How Avanti Finance Aims To Create a ‘Population-Scale’ Digital Microfinance Platform in India
India has long been a hotbed of digital financial innovation. Avanti Finance is an emerging innovator in the sector, with a digital lending platform that aims to bring affordable microfinance to even the poorest customers. NextBillion spoke with CEO Rahul Gupta to discuss Avanti’s unique model, and the challenges of serving low-income customers both efficiently and responsibly.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Can Microlenders Make a Comeback?
Once hailed as a game-changer for the impoverished, microlenders are falling behind in the digital race while online lenders and commercial banks poach their turf.
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U.S.-Based Fintech Venio Launches Developing World-Focused Smartphone App to Make Nano Loans
The app is the first-ever smartphone-based nano lending service for developing countries, Venio said in a statement.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
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Press Release: W-GDP, DFC Target Additional $6 Billion of Investment in Women
Announcement marks one of several new commitments at event highlighting the power of investing in women.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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