On this site, and many others, the talk regularly concerns how entrepreneurs can get their startup funding. It is an important part of every business startup. And two parties are always involved. The people who need to get (borrow usually) the money, and those who give (lend, usually) the money.

Today I’m encouraging entrepreneurs to swap roles. We have plenty of ways of saying it. Turn about. Complete the circle. Giving back. Karma. Offering the helping hand.

A friend of mine just told me about a snippet she saw on the Today show last week about Kiva.org. I did a quick search and found this longer story on the MSNBC site, Changing the world one loan at a time.

Kiva.org provides the vehicle for everyone to become, in lending as little as $25, that venture capitalist or Angel investor that we, each in our own turn, were looking for when we started up.

“We let you loan to the working poor”
“Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can “sponsor a business” and help the world’s working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you’ve sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.”

So go check out the Kiva.org site.

Steve Lange
Senior Editor