Had to get an idea down before I passed out and forgot what I was thinking. I had a little free time today, just me and the pup over at Rodeo beach for the first time. It was good for the sanity I think. Anyway, whatya think about being able to invest in everything? Whatya think about a cross between kiva and yelp? I can’t afford to make real investments… say things over $100, or at least I think I cant. However I don’t think I would have any problem putting a little money here and there towards a local cafe I really want to succeed. Why do I have to put my money into big ass corporations I don’t trust and can’t really know anything about? I actually know the folks who own the produce market on the corner and I really trust the folks at the cheeseboard and arizmendi. I would give them my money in the form of a little loan or perhaps discounted prices.
I think if you mashed up Yelp or some other business directory with something with kiva functionality you could come up with some interesting results. I’m sure some small local businesses could use local loans that are just a grand or even less from a few folks.
I have an account. I add money to whatever businesses I want. They hear about this crazy site a month later… see they have $45 already to be granted to them. They sign up and agree to some sort of financial terms… be it actual interest or discounted goods. ??? I dunno. We’ll see, or not.
How many people just don’t bother with wall street, with investing their money because they hate all that it means. I don’t want what little money I have to be sitting with the next Enron or really with any other monster corporation I know so little about. Why can’t I invest my money with a bunch of the small businesses in my neighborhood?
That’s the crazy gist while I drink my scotch tonight.
