Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 480,840 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,297 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 103,731 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,297 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 103,731 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,233 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 480,840 cutting edge ideas.

Mainstream Micro-Lending

Charities take a backseat to doing social good through microloans

Implications - It only takes a small amount of money from individuals part of a much larger collective to have a big impact on the world. The most appealing aspect to micro-lending to the public isn't just that it's low risk (the large majority of loans are paid back), but the more personal & communal aspect of micro-lending.
Trend Themes
1. Microcredit From High Net Worth Individuals - High net worth individuals are starting to lend their assets to microfinance companies, providing a new source of capital and an ethical way to use their assets.
2. Crowdfunding for Loans - Crowdfunding websites dedicated to loans are emerging and providing individuals with an alternative to traditional institutions while also creating opportunities for new funding sources.
3. People-focused Finance - Financial institutions are emerging with a triple bottom line philosophy that focuses on investing in people, the environment, and the arts and culture.
Industry Implications
1. Microfinance Industry - Microfinance companies can develop partnerships with high net worth individuals to provide an ethical source of capital or utilize crowdfunding platforms to access new sources of funding.
2. Peer-to-peer Lending Industry - Crowdfunding websites offer new opportunities for individuals to obtain loans, disrupting traditional lending models and creating innovative funding sources.
3. Socially Conscious Jewelry Industry - Jewelry companies can create socially conscious lines that have a dual purpose: benefiting disadvantaged communities and cultures while offering unique and aesthetically pleasing accessories.
4.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
6 Featured, 54 Examples:
176,238 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Apr 13 — Dec 14
Trending:
Average

Featured Examples

Philanthropic Textbook Businesses
Philanthropic Textbook Businesses
Textbooks for Change Aims to Help Entrepreneurs Worldwide
Textbooks for Change is an Ontario-based company dedicated to bringing about a positive difference in the world by selling and donating used textbooks. Chris Janssen started this social good... MORE
Microloan-Funding Necklaces
Microloan-Funding Necklaces
The Female-Empowering Socially Conscious Accessories Contain Crystals
If you are looking for socially conscious accessories to give as gifts this holiday season, the LOVE necklace from Bird & Stone is an elegant choice that directly helps women in developing... MORE
People-Focused Finance
People-Focused Finance
Triodos Bank Adheres to the Triple Bottom Line
If you think banks are part of the problem, take a look at Triodos Bank, a financial institution that attempts to do things differently. They’re not only focused on money—they invest in... MORE
play_circle_filledPeer Support Entrepreneurship
Peer Support Entrepreneurship
Village Capital Attempts to Democratize Enterprises
Village Capital is an organization that aims to support entrepreneurship through democratic means and peer support. ” Inspired by the ‘village bank’ in microfinance, we convene and support... MORE
Guarantor Model Capital
Guarantor Model Capital
MicroCredit Enterprises Uses the Funds of People with a High Net Worth
“MicroCredit Enterprises’ guarantor model enables me to use my assets to help some of the poorest people in the world—while retaining and managing my portfolio,” Gregory S.... MORE
play_circle_filledCrowdfunded Loan Platforms
Crowdfunded Loan Platforms
The 'hellomerci' Platform Helps You Get a Loan While Avoiding the Bank
Taking inspiration from sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, the ‘hellomerci’ platform is using crowdfunding to help you get a loan. The online platform aims to help you circumvent... MORE

Related Examples

Beautifully Empowering Fashion
Beautifully Empowering Fashion
'House of Wandering Silk' Works with NGOs to Support Women
Mission-Made Communities
Mission-Made Communities
The Social Venture Network Brings People Together in the Name of Good
Art School Social Innovation Programs
Art School Social Innovation Programs
OCAD University & CSI Partner for Creative Entrepreneurship
Californian Co-Working Spaces
Californian Co-Working Spaces
Impact Hub Oakland Fosters Social Entrepreneurship
play_circle_filledSelf-Employment Social Enterprises
Self-Employment Social Enterprises
FranchisingWorks Supports New Businesses Through Advice
Interactive Entrepreneurial Business Hubs
Interactive Entrepreneurial Business Hubs
The SXSW Startup Village Brings New Age Entrepreneurship
Code-Teaching Robots
Code-Teaching Robots
Robotiky the Educational Robot Teaches Kids How to Program
Kinetic Jewelry Collections
Kinetic Jewelry Collections
RUIFIER's Luxury Jewelry Captures the Motion & Brilliance of the Stars
Family-Based Service Trips
Family-Based Service Trips
A Me to We Family Volunteer Trip is Life Changing for Everyone
Charitable Sock Businesses
Charitable Sock Businesses
Cole and Parker and Kiva Collaborate to Help Entrepreneurs Worldwide
play_circle_filledSocially Responsible Quality Tees
Socially Responsible Quality Tees
'Teequality' Will Bring Clothes and Social Good to Haiti
Social Entrepreneurship Investors
Social Entrepreneurship Investors
A-Spark Good Ventures Works with a Range of Bio, Social Proucts
Best Practice Presentations
Best Practice Presentations
International Multi-Sector Conference of Social Enterprises in Poland
One-for-One Hosiery Brands
One-for-One Hosiery Brands
Bombas Socks Help Give Customers and Those in Need Quality Garments
play_circle_filledCharitable Canvas Wallets
Charitable Canvas Wallets
These Canvas Products Raise Money for the Charity: Water Organization
Online School Fundraiser Platforms
Online School Fundraiser Platforms
The 'Pledgecents' Platform Lets Schools Leverage Crowdfunding
Kid-Friendly Crowdfunding Platforms
Kid-Friendly Crowdfunding Platforms
'Piggybackr' Teaches Youth the Power of Crowdfunding
Collaborative Workspace Launches
Collaborative Workspace Launches
The Center for Social Innovation NYC Opened Earlier This Month
Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Systems
Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Systems
The Impact Economy Innovations Fund Works in Asia
Crowdsourced Campaign Charts
Crowdsourced Campaign Charts
Discover if Growth in Crowdfunding Statistics Can Help Your Business
Co-op Representatives
Co-op Representatives
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) Brings Members Together
World Bank Books
World Bank Books
'The New Microfinance Handbook: A Financial Market System Perspective'
Community-Bridging Organizations
Community-Bridging Organizations
Youth Social Innovation Capital Fund (YSI) Offers Finance Support
Research-Funding Web Platforms
Research-Funding Web Platforms
Microryza Crowdfunds Innovative Science Research Projects
Microfinancing Poverty Solutions
Microfinancing Poverty Solutions
Lumana Credit is Microlending to Rural Africans from Seattle
play_circle_filledInnovative Micro-Crowdfunding Sites
Innovative Micro-Crowdfunding Sites
The Tipping Bucket is a Web Platform for Social Change
Crowdfunding Community Offshoots
Crowdfunding Community Offshoots
CSI's Catalyst is a Platform for Funding Social Projects
Impact Investor Networks
Impact Investor Networks
Clearly Social Angels Attempts to Bring Ideas Together
Crowdfunded Online Ownership Tools
Crowdfunded Online Ownership Tools
OwnMutually Lets Members Crowdfund Fractional Ownership
Low-Income Microfinance Associations
Low-Income Microfinance Associations
RADIM Works in Buenos Aires to Support Economic Development
Found Material Jewelry
Found Material Jewelry
KORA Designs Worked with Artisans in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana
Humble Humanitarian Necklaces
Humble Humanitarian Necklaces
The Signature Necklace By Liberate Apparel Sheds Light On Poverty
Shelter-Providing Jewelry
Shelter-Providing Jewelry
Eden Ministry Supports Women with Employment, Education and Clinics
Crafty Microfinance Blogs
Crafty Microfinance Blogs
Ahkun Takes a Different Approach with Local Artisans
Crowdfunding for Social Start-ups
Crowdfunding for Social Start-ups
'33needs' is a Website Helping to Start Companies with Purpose
Poverty-Fighting Purses
Poverty-Fighting Purses
The Sass & Bide ITC Project Promotes Ethnical Fashion and Social Good
Online Hyper Funding Collectives
Online Hyper Funding Collectives
PleaseFund.Us Does Crowdfunding for Creative Community Projects
Eco-Conscious Knitted Attire
Eco-Conscious Knitted Attire
'lur.' Creates Comfortable Clothing for the Environmentally Aware
Global Charity Microfinancers
Global Charity Microfinancers
WildHearts Provides Microloans to Help People Work out of Poverty
Creative Credit Programs
Creative Credit Programs
The Microfinance for Artists Research Project Focuses on Socio-Economics
play_circle_filledCreative Power Forums
Creative Power Forums
The Social Business Conference 2012 Featured Muhammad Yunus
Tropical Charitable Fashion
Tropical Charitable Fashion
The H&M for Water Provides Access to Sanitation and Clean Water
Snazzy Social Good Socks
Snazzy Social Good Socks
Toesox Keeps the Needy Warm with Socially Responsible Footwear
School-Supportive Jewelry
School-Supportive Jewelry
SOMO Reinvests Profits Toward Education Fees in Uganda
play_circle_filledAnti-Poverty Jewelry
Anti-Poverty Jewelry
'Me to We Artisans' Empowers Women & Promotes Tribal Style
Plaid for Social Good
Plaid for Social Good
Seer Clothing Gives Multi-Purpose New Meaning, Supports Causes
Microloan-Giving Tees
Microloan-Giving Tees
The Naked Hippie Invests in Small-Scale Entrepreneurs in the Majority World
Digital Rural Medicine
Digital Rural Medicine
mDiagnostica Leverages Mobile Tech for More Efficient Healthcare
Pay-as-You-Go Energy
Pay-as-You-Go Energy
Simpa Networks Offers Solar Power to Underserved Markets in India
play_circle_filledGlobal Microfinance Networks
Global Microfinance Networks
FINCA Provides Financial Services to Low-Income Entrepreneurs
Eco-Certified Athletic Balls
Eco-Certified Athletic Balls
Fair Trade Sports is a North American Purpose-Driven Company
Safe Neon Clothing
Safe Neon Clothing
BrightKidz is a Social Enterprise That Sells High Visibility Designs
Smallholder Coffee Farmers
Smallholder Coffee Farmers
Cafedirect Builds Communities Through Social Business
Collateral-Free Microcredit
Collateral-Free Microcredit
Muhammad Yunus's Grameen Bank Has Revolutionized Finance