Direct communication with microfinance borrowers

Kiva Zip (a project of kiva.org operating in Kenya and the United States) enables people to make direct loans to entrepreneurs in the United States and Kenya, and was one of Telerivet's first customers.

Kiva Zip needed a two-way SMS service that used local numbers to connect with users in Kenya, and were looking for alternatives to the expensive short-code system.

Kiva Zip now uses Telerivet to collect application materials from borrowers, send repayment reminders, and facilitate communication between borrowers and lenders. Kiva chose Telerivet because it was quicker to set up, easier to integrate, and cheaper to operate than other companies offering the same services. And as Kiva Zip expands into other countries, they can continue using Telerivet.

"Telerivet is a scalable solution that enables us to expand from 1 to 60+ countries without writing a bunch of new code, using the same APIs and services that we know well. They offer low overhead, easy set-up, and a great browser interface that allows our San Francisco-based staff to communicate directly with our borrowers in Kenya in the way that both groups are most comfortable."
Sam Mankiewicz, Chief Technology Officer