Access Ventures wants to celebrate the journey of the individuals behind our investments and partnerships. Founder Stories are a series of conversations with entrepreneurs, partners and founders in our portfolio. We will explore the motivation, inspiration, and innovation that drives the spirit of entrepreneurship in the workplace, as well as provide insight to balance our regular workdays.…
Read MoreJonny Price, the Senior Director for Kiva US, and David Taliaferro, Director of Microfinance at Access Ventures discuss inclusive economies and why it’s so important for us to focus on inclusivity in our financial system. A few highlights include distinctions between wealth inequality versus income inequality and the ever-decreasing levels of wealth among the poorest of…
Read MoreEvery day, Timothy Wilkins wakes up, gets dressed, and his wife drops him off at work before taking their two boys to school. When he gets home, he helps his kids with homework, exercises, has dinner with his family, and a few days a week, he attends meetings to support his sobriety. His youngest son,…
Read MoreMrs. Fasoro Christina grew up in Osun State, Nigeria, about four hours away from where she lives now in Lagos. Her father was a clerk at the local hospital but it was difficult for her family financially growing up, part of that due to the local economy. The community where she grew up didn’t have…
Read MoreWhen you think about people who are living in food insecurity, your first thought might not be someone living in your zip code. Perhaps you think food insecurity is something mostly felt in developing countries and isn’t much of an issue in the United States. The truth is 1 in 9 Americans are food insecure,…
Read MoreAccess Ventures exists to open doors that would otherwise be closed. By promoting a one-pocket investment mindset and inviting entrepreneurs, creators and investors to share in an active and vibrant vision for their communities, we are all enriched as we build something together. As we start this new year off, we wanted to assess what’s…
Read MoreCan blockchain technology be the solution to economic exclusion? Recognizing that economic exclusion happens as trusted third parties centralize the decision of who may participate in the economy, blockchain’s potential to work around large institutions is certainly promising. When comparing a blockchain option to current solutions there is an apparent reality that, although well-meaning, existing solutions do not provide the decentralization…
Read MoreA major hurdle that any small business owner must overcome is that of poor or nonexistent credit in an imperfect financial system. In the US there are three major Credit Bureaus who operate as “trusted third parties” to help evaluate repayment risks. All three rely on evaluation methodology created by the Fair Isaacs Corporation, commonly…
Read MoreThe institutions which facilitate our economic life are prone to excluding the most vulnerable consumers among us. Too many people find it difficult (or altogether impossible) to access many parts of the formal economy. For example, twenty-five million American households are underbanked, and nine million more do not have a bank account of any kind. Banks, in…
Read MoreWhat is the future of microfinance? In the second of a series of videos with Jonny Price, the Senior Director for Kiva US, myself discuss the future trends in American microfinance. Watch below as we pause for a moment to consider needed advancements in microfinance and common themes that will contribute to building a better future.…
Read More