Premal Shah-Co-founder and President, Kiva

Go To Past Event
from Premal Shah: Social Entrepreneur Series held on
Duration
1:05:19

Premal Shah


Co-founder and President, Kiva


Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending web site, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the globe. Combining technology with social issues in a way that allows mass participation in facilitating solutions, it inspires grassroot support for the financing of social alleviation projects. Kiva has generated extraordinary excitement and more than $100 million in small online loans that are reimbursed if the donor requests such an outcome. Says Shah: “What bummed me out was that microfinance is such a great tool to alleviate poverty and that there is a shortage of capital – but that there is no way for the average guy in the U.S. to invest in microfinance.”


This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on December 8, 2010