Breaking barriers: How Kinara Capital is redefining small business lending in India
Powered by Praxis, this women-led fintech is using tech and trust to fuel entrepreneurship and transform communities
Kinara Capital, is a woman-founded fintech institution committed to unlocking financial access for India’s small business entrepreneurs. Since 2011, Kinara has been bridging the critical credit gap for micro, small, and medium enterprises, transforming lives and energizing local economies across India. Headquartered in Bangalore, Kinara operates through 125 branches across six Indian states covering over 100 cities, reinforcing its commitment to regional economic development.
Kinara Capital’s unique approach combines cutting-edge AI technology with a highly personalized customer experience to resolve the “missing middle” financing challenge. Their innovative model facilitates faster, fairer loan approvals, with many borrowers receiving funding within 24 hours. The integration of technology not only streamlines operations but also enhances transparency and efficiency in lending practices.
A key initiative, the HerVikas program, focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs by providing discounted, collateral-free loans to women-owned businesses. This program underscores Kinara’s dedication to gender inclusion and the promotion of women as catalysts for sustainable community growth.
Kinara Capital exemplifies leadership in diversity, with a women-majority management team and gender parity at its headquarters. Kinara’s lending activities have been instrumental in driving economic growth and job creation, having disbursed loans over $800M and sustaining hundreds of thousands of jobs in local communities.
Amar Singh
When Amar Singh lost his job, he turned to entrepreneurship to support his family, launching Sri Balaji Electronics. But like many small business owners, he couldn’t secure the capital he needed to grow because traditional banks turned him away.
Then he found Kinara.
Although Amar initially lacked formal documentation like a trade license, bank statements, and IT returns, Kinara didn’t shut the door. Instead, their team provided coaching and gave him time to gather what was needed. That support made all the difference. “I invested in developing the business by securing storage, adding new hardware products, and updating the storefront,” Amar shared. “Since the first loan, my turnover has doubled! Before Kinara, I didn’t even have the option to get a loan. Kinara is like my best friend—they’ve supported me and helped me improve my life.”
The Praxis commitment
Praxis Investment ManagementTM helps empower communities like Amar’s by investing in Calvert Impact, an impact-investing institution that helps people around the world through community development financing. It’s part of the Praxis commitment to place approximately 1% of each of its funds to benefit neighborhoods and individuals through community development investments.
Kinara Capital is just one example of the real-world impact that results from this commitment, showing how finance, when aligned with values, can change lives.