VanillaSoft announced today that it has reached and passed 150 Micro loans made through Kiva. At the beginning of 2011 VanillaSoft selected Kiva micro lending as its 2011 social community initiative and uses Kiva as the platform to make micro loans to entrepreneurs and small businesses across the globe.
VanillaSoft, a leading provider of lead management software for outbound selling sees micro lending as a perfect fit for its employees, prospects, investors and customers. Ken Murray, President of VanillaSoft stated; “We are really pleased. Our goal in year one was to expose as many people as possible to micro lending. Goal one is behind us. In 2012 VanillaSoft hopes to do more than 400 micro loans. Murray went on to say; “When we started our company, we got funded early on through friends, angels and eventually through traditional banks and VCs. Opportunity for funding in the developing world is extremely limited or simply not available. This is not only an opportunity to make a loan to a fellow business owner; it is absolutely the right thing to do.”
VanillaSoft hopes to spread the good will well beyond their community of supporters. In 2012 VanillaSoft will continue to match any loan of $25 to $100 made to Kiva prior to the end of the year and up to a total of $10,000 in new loans. Interested lenders simply join the VanillaSoft Team at http://www.kiva.org/team/VanillaSoft to pick out who they wish to fund, then notify VanillaSoft atsupportkiva@vanillasoft.com and VanillaSoft will match the loan to the selected entrepreneur. If the selected entrepreneur is fully funded, VanillaSoft will make a loan of equal value to another one. All repaid loans go directly back to the original lender.
The team at VanillaSoft is excited to continue sharing their good fortune with other businesses and entrepreneurs around the world. To learn more about the program visit vanillasoft.com/kiva.