Microfinance USA Conference Kick-Off Party :: San Francisco, CA. Wed May 19

Can't make it to the Thursday May 19 & Fri May 20 Microfinance USA Conference in San Francisco, but want to meet like-minded people? Check this out:



RSVP here.

For more info about the Microfinance USA Conference check out my Feb 19 blog post.


Also some additional good news for people who can't attend the full Microfinance USA Conference. This info came to me in an email: Tickets for single sessions at Microfinance USA now available! $50 per session. Register here.

Thursday, May 20th
10:00 - 11:45am -Sign up now!
Opening Session: Conversation with Maria Shriver, First Lady of California
& Premal Shah, President of Kiva
Opening Address: Martin Eakes, Self-Help

1:15 - 2:30pm - Sign up now!
Breakout Sessions
+ A Living History: U.S. Microfinance: Past, Present and Future
+ Scaling Global Microfinance: Funder Perspectives
+ Outsourcing: Improving underwriting and Portfolio Management

2:45 - 4:00pm - Sign up now!
Breakout Sessions
+ Growing Microlending in a Challenging Economy
+ Where Does All That Loan Capital Come From Anyway?
+ Leveraging Partnerships to Reach Millions

4:15 - 5:30pm - Sign up now!
Breakout Sessions
+ Inside the SBA Microenterprise Program
+ The Rise of P2P Lending
+ What is a Fair Price to Pay for Good Credit?

5:30 - 7:30pm
Taste of Microentrepreneurship Food Festival & Cocktail Reception
Microentrepreneurs representing some of the Bay Area's most popular and cutting-edge kitchens will delight guests with a "food festival" sampling of their culinary delights. Live music, hors d'œuvre, and cocktails. ($35 with conference registration/$45 at the door)


Friday, May 21st
9:00 - 10:30am -Sign up now!
Opening Remarks: Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco
Opening Address: Andrea Levere
General Plenary: Is Savings More Important than Credit?

11:00 - 12:30pm - Sign up now!
Breakout Sessions
+ Innovations in Microfinance Worldwide
+ Funding U.S. Microenterprise: Why Now? (for Donors and Funders only)
+ Policy Efforts to Promote Responsible and Appropriate Financial Products
+ Student Led Microfinance Clubs

12:30 - 2:00pm - Sign up now!
Lunch Sessions
+ Microfinance Careers Roundtables (Only a few spots available)
+ Microloan Client Tours (Only a few spots available)
+ Kiva Lender-Borrower Meet-Up

2:30 - 3:45pm - Sign up now!
Breakout Sessions
+ Proven Technology Trends for the Developing World
+ US Innovations: Serving the Unbanked
+ (Ir)Rational: Applying Behavioral Economics to Microfinance
+ Connecting Retail Banking and Microfinance

Microfinance USA 2010 Conference - San Francisco, May 20 & 21

Just found out about this from the Women Advancing Microfinance Facebook Group page -

May 20-21, 2010
The Westin San Francisco and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, CA

Microfinance USA is the place where microfinance practitioners, investors, and enthusiasts meet. Microfinance USA will bring together investors, policymakers, social entrepreneurs, practitioners, small business owners, and curious individuals to explore how microfinance produces jobs, increases incomes, and creates opportunities to build stable and sustainable communities.

* Join the leading practitioners and thought leaders of microfinance in the U.S. in enriching discussions
* Draw upon the experiences from international microfinance and how it relates to your community
* Engage with leading innovators of technology and practice in the field of microfinance
* Find your place in the field of international or domestic microfinance and connect with like-minded individuals across the country.

For more information and to register, please go here.
General Admission - $275
Early Bird by March 15th - $225
Student Admission - $50

Check out the breakout session descriptions here.


As a preview, check out the archives - including video footage - from the event that kick-started Microfinance USA. In May of 2009, Opportunity Fund, Kiva, and Silicon Valley Community Foundation hosted Microfinance, CA- the first statewide conference on U.S. microfinance. 500+ people attended the conference from across the country at Stanford University.