Kiva NWA, 프로그램 성장세에 발맞춰 스페인어권 자본 접근 지원 확대

아칸소주 페이엣빌. — 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.”

키바 대출은 전 세계 개인 투자자들이 크라우드펀딩 방식으로 자금을 모아 제공하는 대출 상품으로, 기존의 신용 점수, 담보, 높은 이자율을 요구하지 않습니다. 키바는 무이자 대출뿐만 아니라, 일대일 맞춤형 컨설팅을 통해 창업가들이 재무 이력을 쌓고, 사업 인지도를 높이며, 사업의 기본기를 강화할 수 있도록 지원합니다.

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

###

스타트업중독재단 소개: 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.

키바 소개: 키바(Kiva)는 소외된 지역 사회의 번영을 위해 금융 접근성 확대를 위해 노력하는 글로벌 비영리 단체입니다. 2005년에 설립된 키바는 최소 $25의 소액 대출을 원하는 사람들을 전 세계 기업가들과 연결합니다. 현재까지 200만 명이 넘는 대출자들이 키바 플랫폼을 통해 자금을 조달했으며, 190개국 220만 명의 대출 기관이 이를 지원하고 있습니다. 대출 금리는 0%로, 개인들이 사업을 시작하고 성장시키고, 교육에 투자하고, 삶의 질을 향상하는 데 도움을 줍니다.

언론 담당자

케일럽 탤리, 스타트업 정키 재단 상임이사
caleb@startupjunkie.org | 479-879-7997

클라우디아 스콧, 기업가적 접근 및 키바 NWA 담당 이사
claudia@startupjunkie.org | 479-264-5856