Today, we're excited to host the first ever KIVA SOUP event, resulting from an innovative partnership between Michigan Corps and Detroit Soup.

Both Detroit Soup and Michigan Corps seek to create new forums through which individuals can connect and collaborate. Through Kiva Detroit, Michigan Corps brings the community together to nominate, champion and lend to socially-minded businesses. Detroit Soup and Kiva Detroit foster a new peer-to-peer experience through which micro-funding can build macro-community.

Michigan Corps and Detroit Soup have teamed up to invite four Kiva Detroit entrepreneurs to pitch their businesses to a large crowd of Detroiters gathered together over a soup dinner. In this new experiment, Kiva Detroit's socially-minded entrepreneurs will share a funding need with an audience, which will then vote to decide who among them should receive a micro-grant up to $1,000 to advance their work. The micro-grant will be funded through a pooled collection of entry fees from participants. This event is open to the public and with a $5 entry fee, participants will receive a dinner of soup, bread and salad, and a vote!

KIVA SOUP extends an exciting, new way for the Detroit community to rally around local business as champions for their success. "SOUP is excited to experiment with a new funding model (Kiva Detroit) to engage those interested in social entrepreneurship and local business", said Amy Kaherl who leads Detroit Soup. "As we continue to explore the landscape of micro-funding, we are excited to see how we can make larger impact and change in the area of small business."

This partnership celebrates the central role that social entrepreneurs play in building a strong, vibrant community fabric in Detroit.

KIVA SOUP will take place January 17th at 2900 E. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202. Doors open at 5:30 pm and presentations will begin at 6.

To nominate an entrepreneur for Kiva Detroit, visit michigancorps.org/kiva or e-mail kiva@michigancorps.org. To lend directly to a Detroit entrepreneur, visit http://zip.kiva.org and search ‘Detroit'.