Kiva loans do more than provide short-term financing. They help borrowers grow strong, sustainable businesses in their communities.
Across the U.S., thousands of entrepreneurs turn to Kiva for their first access to capital. But some come back two, three, or even four more times. These repeat borrowers are a testament to the compounding opportunities that Kiva loans create.
That’s what Roberto and Shakeera’s stories show. As four-and-five-time borrowers, they’ve both come back to Kiva again and again, using each loan as a stepping stone for the next phase of their business’s growth. At each step, they’ve built trust with their network and with the Kiva community.
Meet Roberto: From the forests of Nicaragua to embassy gardens in D.C.
Roberto is the owner of D.C.-based landscaping company, LadyBug Landscaping. He started the business with the goal of transforming his knowledge of plants into a stable way to provide for himself and his family.
Before coming to the U.S., Roberto was a forestry professor in Nicaragua. He studied agronomy at the National Agrarian University of Nicaragua, and got his master's degree in plant taxonomy. He worked in the forests of Nicaragua for over a decade, publishing hundreds of articles on the plants and forest systems he studied.
A deep knowledge of nature
“I know the forests of my country like the palm of my hand,” he says.
That deep knowledge of plants, soil, and natural ecosystems became his foundation when he moved to the U.S.
Just two months in, he was doing gardening work for a client who recognized the depth of his educational experience and encouraged him to take the Maryland state agronomy licensing exam.
“I had only been here about two months… and the entire exam was in English. All 150 questions. I stayed up every night because I was studying and working at the same time.”
The dedication and commitment paid off. With his license in hand, Roberto grew his landscaping business, taking on more specialized projects and delivering a high level of quality to his clients.
“It was the theoretical foundation I needed to go forward with confidence and precision. I could tell people exactly what we were going to do in each place, and why,” Roberto said.
Coming to Kiva
Roberto heard about Kiva through a small business course at Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS). NVFS is a nonprofit and a Kiva Trustee, an organizational partner that can advocate for people in their networks to receive a Kiva loan. He enrolled because he wanted to understand how to manage and formalize a business in the U.S., from licenses and registrations to pricing and marketing.
At first, he was hesitant to take out a loan, worried about getting into a complicated cycle of debt. But his mentor at NVFS encouraged him. At the time, Kiva hadn’t yet opened loans in the area. She told him that if he were willing to be the first, it might open the door for many more entrepreneurs in his community.
Roberto decided to give it a try, starting off with a $4,000 loan. He used his loan to immediately reinvest in his business, buying more tools and equipment to speed up his work. He also invested in marketing.
Roberto is now paying back his fifth Kiva loan, which he received in October 2025. Each of his five loans has supported a different phase of growth: replacing aging equipment, purchasing new machines, or preparing for busy seasons by hiring more workers. He’s using the current loan funds for payroll, online marketing efforts, and the purchase of three new lawn mowers.
When asked what made him come back to Kiva, Roberto shared,
“Again and again, what motivates me is knowing that there are people in the world who need to see what we’re doing. That there’s a whole group of us who go unnoticed, and who also need financial help we can’t get anywhere else. That’s what matters most. And with the opportunity Kiva gives, all you need to do is be responsible.”
Paying it forward to other Kiva borrowers
Roberto has not only shown his tremendous responsibility and hard work, but also his care and gratitude for the Kiva community by lending to other borrowers on Kiva.
The Kiva process has strengthened and complemented the other types of financing he relies on, he reflects. Through years of on-time payments and careful money management, Roberto has built strong credit and access to store-based business tools, like hardware store cards and promotional financing. But even still, he sees Kiva as central.
“For me, these Kiva loans are important to maintain the status quo of the business and the quality,” he says. “They let me plan ahead, hire more people for the season, and keep serving clients the way they expect.”
Today, Roberto’s business serves clients across the D.C. metro area. His business has grown steadily through both word of mouth and his own marketing efforts. He’s even worked with Botswana's embassy for several years, helping with landscape design across its multiple properties.
Moving to the U.S., Roberto wanted “to earn a wage that reflected his efforts.” With Kiva, he’s found a platform to help him do just that. His continued success is a testament to what community-backed capital can unlock for hardworking entrepreneurs who simply need a fair and accessible starting point. We’re happy Kiva could be that starting point for Roberto and the successful business he’s built.
*Roberto’s quotes translated from Spanish
Meet Shakeera: Bridging early education and innovation
Shakeera is a four-time repeat borrower whose business, Kiddie Tech University, has grown with her to meet the needs of her community. Her childcare center provides kids with a happy, safe environment that blends early learning with technology and individualized support.
Shakeera has always gravitated towards teaching. Throughout high school and college, she found herself working after-school jobs with organizations like Americorp or the Boys and Girls Club. Later, she got her master's in elementary education and taught third grade and kindergarten in public school systems.
“Oh, I love it,” she says. “I just love being around them, the energy, and helping them figure out new things. And they just make me laugh all day.”
Her vision for Kiddie Tech University (KTU) began in 2007, when a close relative was thinking about expanding a home daycare center. She particularly thought about the importance of technology in today’s changing world, and wanted to incorporate that into childhood education.
In 2014, when she saw rising demand for quality early education in West Haven, she opened KTU. Her daughter was young at the time, and she saw it as a win-win; with her new business, she’d be able to continue spending time with her daughter.
At KTU, technology is woven into lessons to ensure kids are comfortable with technology and ready to learn in the digital age. The daily curriculum includes reading, writing, math, music, science, and technology, all woven together to create a fun environment for kids to learn.
“There are currently six of us on staff, and our low staff-to-child ratios are intentional,” Shakeera says. “Every child gets the guidance and attention they need.”
As the needs of her community have changed, KTU has adapted. After the COVID pandemic, she saw an increase in kids coming to KTU with a wider range of needs.
“It’s such a big difference from when I first opened, and we want to ensure we address all needs.”
Helping children of all needs and abilities thrive
To meet this need, her center has added new tools, incorporated specialized equipment, and created calming spaces so children with autism, behavioral challenges, or different sensory sensitivities can thrive. Her Kiva loans helped her add these additional features, allowing her to provide the same great environment while being inclusive of every child’s needs.
Her most recent loan has helped with something new: a transportation service for children who require individualized support or after-school care.
“I didn’t think it would take off that quickly,” she says. “But now so many families are inquiring.”
With the transportation service, she can now add convenience for families juggling multiple responsibilities. It’s also led to more jobs, as she’s hired a driver to help with the service.
As the center and its offerings have grown, Shakeera has added more and more jobs to her community, a ripple effect of her gaining access to affordable capital.
Discovering Kiva
Shakeera first heard about Kiva in an unexpected place: her hair salon.
“My hairdresser mentioned she was trying to expand her business and used Kiva,” she recalls.
“I’d never heard of it, but she sent me the information.”
Shakeera applied and was approved. That first loan gave her the momentum she needed to keep growing, and since then, each process has been easier and faster than the one before.
“It’s very rare to find a loan that’s no interest and so flexible,” she says. “The whole structure is just so great.”
KTU is nearly at capacity, and demand continues to grow. Shakeera’s dream is to continue expanding her business by opening more centers across the area, so more families can access safe, high-quality early learning.
Would Shakeera turn to Kiva again?
“Yes!” she says, laughing. “I don’t know if there’s a cutoff, but I hope not.”
Learning from repeat borrowers
Roberto and Shakeera’s journeys show what’s possible when small business owners are met with the tools, trust, and capital they need to grow. As repeat borrowers, they’ve each used Kiva loans to adapt, expand, and strengthen the services they provide, whether that means hiring local staff, creating more inclusive environments, or taking on new opportunities with confidence.
Their stories are reminders that early-stage capital doesn’t just fund a project. It fuels momentum. It creates jobs. It helps families. And it helps entrepreneurs build the futures they envision for themselves and their communities.
Kiva is proud to be part of that journey. Not just once, but again and again.
