Kiva NWA amplía su apoyo al acceso al capital en español en medio del crecimiento del programa.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As demand for accessible small business capital continues to grow in Northwest Arkansas, Kiva NWA is expanding its bilingual lending support to help more entrepreneurs secure 0% interest microloans and overcome barriers to traditional financing.

Operated locally by the Startup Junkie Foundation, the Kiva NWA Hub provides character-based, crowdfunded loans of up to $15,000 at 0% interest to small business owners across the region. The program’s continued growth, fueled by strong community participation and support from the Walton Family Foundation, has led to the expansion of program support and the addition of Ignacio Balderrama as Kiva NWA Capital Access Manager.

Hispanic-owned businesses represent one of the fastest-growing segments of new business formation in Arkansas, yet many founders face persistent barriers to traditional financing, including language access challenges, limited credit history, and unfamiliarity with conventional lending systems. By strengthening its Spanish-language consulting and loan readiness support, Kiva NWA aims to reduce those barriers and expand participation in the region’s entrepreneurial economy.

“As our region grows, our capital systems have to grow with it,” said Claudia Scott, director of the Kiva NWA program. “Strengthening bilingual support through Ignacio’s leadership allows us to remove barriers, increase participation, and ensure that Latino entrepreneurs are fully integrated into Northwest Arkansas’ economic momentum.”

A native of Bolivia, Balderrama joined the Startup Junkie team as an intern in 2023 and has also served as the host of Querido Emprendedor, the organization’s Spanish-language podcast highlighting Northwest Arkansas’ Latino founders. In his new role, he will support prospective borrower intake, borrower advising, outreach, and loan readiness preparation as Kiva NWA expands Spanish-language consulting and capital access services.

“For many entrepreneurs, access to capital is about clarity and trust as much as eligibility. And entrepreneurship takes courage,” said Balderrama. “The least we can do is make sure the path forward feels clear and welcoming.”

The continued expansion of the Kiva NWA program was made possible through the renewal of support and increased investment in September 2025 from the Walton Family Foundation, which included renewed operational funding and a $1 million loan match contribution to Kiva U.S., doubling the impact of local lenders in Washington and Benton counties.

“The renewed investment last fall allowed us to scale responsibly, not just deploying more capital, but strengthening the infrastructure around it,” said Caleb Talley, executive director of Startup Junkie Foundation. “Adding dedicated bilingual capital access leadership is a direct extension of that strategy. If we want a resilient and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, we have to remove barriers intentionally.”

Kiva loans are crowdfunded by individual lenders worldwide and do not require traditional credit scores, collateral, or high interest rates. In addition to providing 0% interest financing, the program helps entrepreneurs build financial history, increase visibility, and strengthen business fundamentals through one-on-one advising.

Entrepreneurs interested in learning more about Kiva’s 0% interest microloan program or receiving bilingual consulting support can visit kiva-nwa.org.

###

Acerca de la Fundación Startup Junkie: Startup Junkie is a mission driven organization that exists to improve lives through innovation and entrepreneurship. With a goal to stimulate economic growth in the region, the organization provides a variety of services including mentorship, consulting, training, and more. Startup Junkie has an extensive network of partners and professionals that are dedicated to enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northwest Arkansas. The Foundation has helped thousands of entrepreneurs through one-on-one consulting and hosts over 200 events and programs a year.

Acerca de Kiva: Kiva es una organización global sin fines de lucro que trabaja para ampliar el acceso financiero y ayudar a las comunidades desfavorecidas a prosperar. Fundada en 2005, Kiva conecta a personas dispuestas a prestar desde tan solo $$25 con emprendedores de todo el mundo. Hasta la fecha, más de dos millones de prestatarios han accedido a capital a través de la plataforma de Kiva, respaldada por una comunidad de 2,2 millones de prestamistas en 190 países. Los préstamos se ofrecen con un interés de $0%, lo que ayuda a las personas a crear y expandir sus negocios, invertir en educación y mejorar su calidad de vida.

Contacto con los medios

Caleb Talley, Director Ejecutivo, Fundación Startup Junkie
caleb@startupjunkie.org | 479-879-7997

Claudia Scott, Director de Acceso Empresarial y Kiva NWA
claudia@startupjunkie.org | 479-264-5856