When Seth was 6 years old he had 3 appletrees in his backyard. Not even knowing how to pronounce the word entrepreneur, he decided to grab up the apples off the ground, wash them in his little red wagon, bag them, tag them and tried to hustle selling them for $2 for 4 apples. Growing up he had two great loves, the ability to design eclectic and to the ability to tell stories. Not much has changed in the past 20 years. Seth still loves the design and now his passion has shifted to the creation of practical and comfortable outdoor gear. A new passion that Seth has added is his love for helping others wherever he can, which is why he has made an effort to help build jungle school houses in Papua, Indonesia.
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Choose a borrower
Browse categories of borrowers— people looking to grow businesses, go to school, switch to clean energy, and more.
Make a loan
Select a borrower who you connect with and help fund a loan with as little as $25.
Get repaid
Receive updates on your loans and see the dollars return to your Kiva account.
Repeat!
Use the repayment to support another borrower, or withdraw your money.
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Expired
Total loan: $10,000
Supported by 60 lenders
Seth's story
This loan is special because:
It helps an ambitious entrepreneur expand his insulated hammock business.
More about this loan
Business Description
Ideas are funny things, and SWAYY is no exception to this.
The late Tennessee summer of 2013 marks the true birth of SWAYY when few buddies and I (Seth) all decided to do a little hammock camping. Before we all would send it off to different corners of the globe for a year abroad, we wanted to have one last bro sesh on the beautiful Ocoee Lake in Eastern Tennessee. So we stuffed our hammocks, filled our canoes, and before we knew it we are all headed for our little island on the lake… And that’s where things got chilly.
All growing up I’ve heard that “the bridge ices before the road” because of wind swiftly passing under and over it sucks up all its heat, and this trip shed new light on what that truly meant. CBS (Cold Butt Syndrome)... It is a real issue, and it was at that very moment that the idea for SWAYY was born.
And the rest, well, it’s now our history. But the reason why we do what we do isn't just for kicks, the awesome gear we create, or even the money.
Each year we send a percentage of sales overseas to Papua, Indonesia to help build jungle schoolhouses for kids who have never heard of the alphabet, seriously. We are solely set on making an impact that will benefit generations to come. This isn't just what we do, but it is the entire reason why we are doing what we are doing.
So jump on board and remember to always...
Encounter More!
What is the purpose of this loan?
We will be using our Kiva loan to purchase inventory for each of our two products, the SWAYY Premus, and SWAYY Eira. To purchase inventory will cost $10,000. This will enable us to market our newly purchased product and secure distributors. As we continue to sell our newly acquired inventory this will allow us to further penetrate the market which will build brand awareness and ultimately increased sales.
This loan will allow us immediate access to purchase inventory for several distributors that are currently seeking at least $20,000 in inventory before they bring our product to their storefront. This loan will allow us to grow the company and our potential networks with distributors.
Loan details
Loan length:
36 months
Repayment schedule:
Monthly
Disbursed date:
Not disbursed, expired before fully funding.
Endorsed by Trustee:
CO.LAB
Risk rating:
Unrated
Expired:
November 11, 2018
Repayment schedule
A loan's repayment schedule describes the frequency with which repayments are sent to Kiva lenders:
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
The disbursed date indicates the date that the borrower receives their loan funds. Loan disbursal for loans on Kiva can happen anywhere from 30 days before to 90 days after the loan is posted on the Kiva website. Direct loans are always post-disbursed, and will be done only after the loan has fully fundraised on Kiva.
In the case of partner loans, many of our Field Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Field Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Field Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
In the case of partner loans, many of our Field Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Field Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Field Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
What is currency exchange loss and how could it affect my Kiva loans?
When lending internationally, the local currency in a borrower's country may lose some of its value compared to the US dollar -- requiring the partner to use more of its local currency to reimburse Kiva in USD. We offer Field Partners the option to protect themselves against severe currency fluctuations (a USD appreciation of over 10% relative to their local currency) by sharing any losses greater than 10% with Kiva lenders. By bearing these losses, lenders protect the partner and its borrowers from catastrophic currency devaluations.
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Covered" means the Field Partner has opted to cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation.
"Possible" means the Field Partner has opted not to cover these losses, and lenders face additional risk because they will bear losses greater than 10%.
"N/A" means the Field Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Covered" means the Field Partner has opted to cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation.
"Possible" means the Field Partner has opted not to cover these losses, and lenders face additional risk because they will bear losses greater than 10%.
"N/A" means the Field Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Yes, most Kiva borrowers do pay interest to our Field Partners in some form. Kiva and Kiva lenders themselves do not receive interest on these loans.
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Field Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Field Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Field Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Field Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
What is a risk rating?
There are many levels of risk associated with Kiva loans, which are explained on our website here: kiva.org/about/risk
The Field Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Field Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Field Partner section of every loan. Field Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Field Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
The Field Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Field Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Field Partner section of every loan. Field Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Field Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Field Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Field Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Field Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Field Partners often work with borrowers over time to help them build credit and expand their businesses. In order to make it easier for partners to post loans for borrowers who have been listed on Kiva before, we allow some partners the ability to relist a loan without having to re-enter all of the borrower's information. When this occurs, you'll see an updated loan description, as well as excerpts of the original descriptions from an earlier loan.
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Field Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
About SWAYY, LLC
Lenders and lending teams
Country: United States
Trustee: CO.LAB
Trustee type:
Nonprofit
Location:
Chattanooga, TN
Time on Kiva:
September 25, 2018 (8 months)
Total loans:
$29,000
Paying on time:
Not enough data
Paying back late:
Not enough data
Defaulted:
0
Repayment rate:
100%
What are Trustee tiers?
Trustee tiers determine the number of endorsements a Trustee can make and what loan sizes they can endorse. All Trustees begin as a pilot and can advance in tier depending on their borrowers' repayment performance.
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Seth?
Seth has been through our CO.STARTERS program as well as through our Accelerator, which showcases how he has grown SWAYY over the last couple years. He's a great example of an entrepreneur who is dedicated to his business and does an amazing job utilizing all the options available to him. That's why we would love to see him grow his inventory and have access to his product as demand grows. We're excited to see how Seth and SWAYY Hammocks will impact their market!
Loan details
Loan length:
36 months
Repayment schedule:
Monthly
Disbursed date:
Not disbursed, expired before fully funding.
Endorsed by Trustee:
CO.LAB
Risk rating:
Unrated
Expired:
November 11, 2018
Repayment schedule
A loan's repayment schedule describes the frequency with which repayments are sent to Kiva lenders:
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
The disbursed date indicates the date that the borrower receives their loan funds. Loan disbursal for loans on Kiva can happen anywhere from 30 days before to 90 days after the loan is posted on the Kiva website. Direct loans are always post-disbursed, and will be done only after the loan has fully fundraised on Kiva.
In the case of partner loans, many of our Field Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Field Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Field Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
In the case of partner loans, many of our Field Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Field Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Field Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
What is currency exchange loss and how could it affect my Kiva loans?
When lending internationally, the local currency in a borrower's country may lose some of its value compared to the US dollar -- requiring the partner to use more of its local currency to reimburse Kiva in USD. We offer Field Partners the option to protect themselves against severe currency fluctuations (a USD appreciation of over 10% relative to their local currency) by sharing any losses greater than 10% with Kiva lenders. By bearing these losses, lenders protect the partner and its borrowers from catastrophic currency devaluations.
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Covered" means the Field Partner has opted to cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation.
"Possible" means the Field Partner has opted not to cover these losses, and lenders face additional risk because they will bear losses greater than 10%.
"N/A" means the Field Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Covered" means the Field Partner has opted to cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation.
"Possible" means the Field Partner has opted not to cover these losses, and lenders face additional risk because they will bear losses greater than 10%.
"N/A" means the Field Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Yes, most Kiva borrowers do pay interest to our Field Partners in some form. Kiva and Kiva lenders themselves do not receive interest on these loans.
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Field Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Field Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Field Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Field Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
What is a risk rating?
There are many levels of risk associated with Kiva loans, which are explained on our website here: kiva.org/about/risk
The Field Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Field Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Field Partner section of every loan. Field Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Field Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
The Field Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Field Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Field Partner section of every loan. Field Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Field Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Field Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Field Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Field Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Field Partners often work with borrowers over time to help them build credit and expand their businesses. In order to make it easier for partners to post loans for borrowers who have been listed on Kiva before, we allow some partners the ability to relist a loan without having to re-enter all of the borrower's information. When this occurs, you'll see an updated loan description, as well as excerpts of the original descriptions from an earlier loan.
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Field Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
Trustee: CO.LAB
Trustee type:
Nonprofit
Location:
Chattanooga, TN
Time on Kiva:
September 25, 2018 (8 months)
Total loans:
$29,000
Paying on time:
Not enough data
Paying back late:
Not enough data
Defaulted:
0
Repayment rate:
100%
What are Trustee tiers?
Trustee tiers determine the number of endorsements a Trustee can make and what loan sizes they can endorse. All Trustees begin as a pilot and can advance in tier depending on their borrowers' repayment performance.
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Seth?
Seth has been through our CO.STARTERS program as well as through our Accelerator, which showcases how he has grown SWAYY over the last couple years. He's a great example of an entrepreneur who is dedicated to his business and does an amazing job utilizing all the options available to him. That's why we would love to see him grow his inventory and have access to his product as demand grows. We're excited to see how Seth and SWAYY Hammocks will impact their market!
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