Fundraising Status:closed
Risk Rating:
What to know about this Lending Partner
Impact Category:
Mobile Money and ICT
Default Rate:
0%
Currency Exchange Loss Rate:
0%
Total Loans Raised:
$1,725
Loans at Risk Rate:
0%
Kiva Borrowers:
9
Delinquency Rate:
0%
Interests and Fees:
N/A
Frogtek is a for-profit social venture that makes mobile software for micro-entrepreneurs in emerging markets to better manage their finances, inventories and records. The system helps these businesses optimize profits by trimming expenses, stocking the right inventory, and more, such as providing them with a bank account.
Many micro-retailers in Frogtek’s target markets (today, Mexico and Colombia) lack financial literacy and fail to keep accounting records of expenses and sales. As a result, they remain at the subsistence level, barely making enough profit to care for themselves and their families.
Today, nearly 100 shops in each country are using Frogtek software on a tablet or smart phone. Many of these devices were purchased on credit, including some from Frogtek. The cost of the recommended hardware is such that the majority of micro-retailers can’t afford it upfront. Kiva loans would help finance purchase of these devices, allowing borrowers to use Frogtek’s software and optimize their businesses.
Frogtek’s principal software package, called Tiendatek, offers a bank account and insurance, and keeps track of expenses, income, product performance and more on a point-of-sale basis that is user-friendly and easy to learn.
Kiva loans will help micro-entrepreneurs buy a hardware package comprised of an Android tablet, wireless barcode reader, credit card reader, and printer. Loans will be offered at 0% interest with monthly repayments spread out over two years.
For its efforts to help micro-entrepreneurs grow their businesses and lift themselves out of poverty, Frogtek has received a number of awards, including Vodafone’s 2011 Mobile Clicks Best Start-up Awards, the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader Awards, and Columbia Business School’s Alumni Innovator Award.