Press Room

– Canadian-owned and operated web hosting company HostPapa has announced a new social initiative program with Kiva.org, a San Francisco-based microfinance crowdfunding platform that provides funding to aspiring entrepreneurs in developing countries where funding sources are not readily available. HostPapa will be reaching out to its employees and business partners for contributions to the initiative, as well as integrating the program into the HostPapa customer experience through social engagement, contests and reviews.

HostPapa hopes the initiative will allow them to contribute to the financing of important, regionally-beneficial small businesses that will have a positive impact on their local communities. "HostPapa has always been focused on providing online tools and resources for companies to help them achieve their goals," says Jamie Opalchuk, HostPapa's CEO. "Through our initiative with Kiva, we will now also be able to play a part in assisting less fortunate entrepreneurs achieve their business dreams as well. In countries where small business financing is difficult or impossible to acquire, many of these important businesses could never get off the ground without the support of groups like Kiva."

Headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Nairobi and staff stationed around the world, Kiva has facilitated more than $880 million in no-interest, small business loans from over 1.5 million lenders to over 2 million entrepreneurs around the world. "We envision a world where all people hold the power to create opportunity for themselves and others," says Julie Costello, Development Operations Manager at Kiva. "HostPapa, with their commitment to entrepreneurial spirit, is helping to empower small businesses around the world."

About Kiva.org

Kiva is a 501(c)3 U.S. non profit fueled by passionate people. Founded in 2005, Kiva is the world's first and largest crowdfunding platform for social good with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Since 2005, Kiva and their growing global community of 1.5 million lenders have crowdfunded over $880 million in microloans to nearly 2.1 million entrepreneurs in 80 countries, with a 98% repayment rate.