jkurnia

40 ms·

1. 271.▲
   Why Zidisha is way better than Kiva(theimpactinvestor.net)

   2 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
2. 272.▲
   Save a nonprofit in the current YC batch from Cthulhu code

   1 points by jkurnia 13y ago
3. 273.▲
   Zidisha launches world's first open-source P2P lending platform (YC 2014)(p2p-microlending-blog.zidisha.org)

   2 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
4. 274.▲
   The joys of pretending to help the poor: The Kiva Story(dailykos.com)

   4 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
5. 275.▲
   Kiva Responds: The famed microlender replies to Sinclair's scathing critique(nextbillion.net)

   4 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
6. 276.▲
   Zidisha (YC 2014) applies online karma system to international P2P lending(p2p-microlending-blog.zidisha.org)

   1 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
7. 277.▲
   The Kiva Fairytale(nextbillion.net)

   89 points by jkurnia 13y ago|24 comments
8. 278.▲
   Creator of Facebook Ads matching P2P microloans at Zidisha final week (YC W2014)(p2p-microlending-blog.zidisha.org)

   1 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
9. 279.▲
   How microfinancing is using tech to empower global entrepreneurs(techrepublic.com)

   1 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
10. 280.▲
    Y Combinator nonprofit launches the first global P2P lending platform(sacbee.com)

    3 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
11. 281.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi BvS, Microfinance as a poverty-fighting tool is hotly debated among donors. Here is a recent post about why we believe microfinance is healthier and more effective than handout-based charity: http://www.huffingtonpost.com&#x2F
12. 282.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    The assumption that poverty = lack of access to the internet was pretty generally true until about five years ago. Today, the generation just entering the working population in developing countries still live on pretty meager incomes, but u
13. 283.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi detcader, That is a really good question for debate. You may see my views on it here: http://www.quora.com/Microfinance/Do-the-micro-loans-contrib...
14. 284.▲
    Creator of Facebook Ads is matching P2P microloans at Zidisha (YC W14)(p2p-microlending-blog.zidisha.org)

    68 points by jkurnia 13y ago|10 comments
15. 285.▲
    Real P2P lending across the international wealth divide (YC 2014 nonprofit)(zidisha.org)

    1 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
16. 286.▲
    Village prodigy in Kenya uses Indiegogo to send himself to college (p2p-microlending-blog.zidisha.org)

    1 points by jkurnia 13y ago|0 comments
17. 287.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi kfk, The optimal interest rate is one of the most frequently debated questions among Zidisha lenders. Zidisha doesn't set interest rates. Our platform allows borrowers to offer up to 25% interest, and lenders may fund at any rate t
18. 288.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi 1dundundun, Thanks for your message. Kiva was a big source of inspiration for Zidisha. I would say our biggest challenge is finding affordable local payment options that can be accessed over the internet, without needing to outsource fu
19. 289.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi pbreit, That is a really good question. I know that in the case of Zidisha, we opted to be nonprofit because we did not want to have to charge higher fees to the borrowers in order to make returns for investors.
20. 290.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi frozenport, Thanks for this honest feedback. Zidisha definitely isn't for everyone - it is really a do-it-yourself platform rather than a managed charity. We do have an autolending tool, which gives lenders the option of having the
21. 291.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi Heynk, I realize now that was unclear - thanks! Yes, the 5% service fee is paid to Zidisha at the same time interest is paid to lenders, as the loan is being repaid. We have a separate registration fee that borrowers pay upon joining Zi
22. 292.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi mrjatx, Domestic P2P lenders like Lending Club and Prosper may be able to shave a fraction of the cost of borrowing within the US. But I think the real windfall to be gained from P2P lending is where the local alternatives are most expe
23. 293.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi ipince, We use a different local payment channel in each country to transfer funds directly to the borrower. In Kenya, for example, we use the M-PESA mobile money service to electronically transfer cash into the mobile phone account of
24. 294.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi mrjatx, Yes, thanks for bringing that up. In the US we have large commercial P2P lending services like Lending Club and Prosper. Then there is Kiva Zip, which also does P2P loans in the US but at zero interest and an emphasis on human c
25. 295.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi pchristensen, thanks for your message. Watsi and Zidisha are just the latest examples of a turning point in history: thanks to technology, people who happen to have been born in the world's poorest places are no longer condemned by
26. 296.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi andrewpbrett, thanks for joining us! We are probably the most transparent microlending website in the world - you see exactly how much each borrower will pay for the loan, and you can dialogue directly with each borrower about how they a
27. 297.▲
    by jkurnia 13y ago

    Hi notahacker, I'm Julia from Zidisha. I agree that microloans are more efficient than donations, as they can be recycled over and over as they are repaid and disbursed as new loans, and there is a built-in incentive to invest the fund