Mobile App

Kiva, a web-based crowdfunding platform, has driven financial inclusion and poverty alleviation for 15 years. During this time, 1.8 million lenders have lent $1.43 billion to 3.6 million borrowers in underserved communities worldwide.

As the lead designer, I spearheaded a 0-to-1 initiative to launch Kiva’s first app, enabling the organization to scale impact and better convey the borrower’s story.

Reporting to the CPO, I explored ways to evolve beyond the existing, stagnant e-commerce-like approach to lending.

Kiva aims to create a groundbreaking app for global micro-lending to underserved communities.

For my research, I interviewed both experienced users and our target demographic to identify potential barriers to lending. I analyzed mobile trends and nationwide usage to gain stakeholder support, including the CPO. I used engagement research to guide design decisions and conducted user testing for usability. Additionally, I collaborated with Apple for feedback on app usability and success.

In my design approach, influenced by extensive research, I prioritized:

1. Perfecting the core lending experience.
2. Emphasizing human connection.
3. Incorporating storytelling.
4. Infusing joy and delight.
5. Eliciting the best in users.

These align with the organization's goals of acquiring new users, generating loans, and reducing the time between loans.

Apple featured our app in the App Store within days of launch.

We received overwhelmingly positive user feedback, much of it praising the user-friendly loan processes, repayment tracking, and celebratory experience.

In the first week alone, we gained 1,200+ new users and facilitated $95k in loans, potentially assisting up to 3,800 borrowers.