“One of the fundamental drivers of our business model is acknowledging and recognizing that small and growing businesses are the backbone of any healthy and resilient economy.”

On May 11, 2022, The Social Impact Pulse Podcast, together with Artesan Gateway and R.I.S.E. Artisan Fund released an episode featuring Athena and BIDUK’s Managing Director Kaylene Alvarez. In this podcast, Kaylene talks about how BIDUK, Athena’s lending model in Indonesia, supports Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) with a focus on those owned/led by women or environmentally sustainable.

Kaylene discusses how, after 30+ years of working in impact investing, she understood the ‘real gap between the needs and the problems that entrepreneurs face in Small and Growing Businesses in emerging markets and the solutions being offered.’ She explains why banks aren’t a panacea, the need for a diverse set of intermediaries that provide financing to SGBs and the importance of helping SGBs find a viable path from microfinance to venture capital. 

BIDUK provides tailored, flexible financing solutions to small and growing businesses in Indonesia to deliver financial returns as well as positive social and/or environmental impact.

Thank you Social Impact Pulse Podcast, Artesan Gateway, and R.I.S.E. Artisan Fund for featuring us on the podcast! To listen, click here!