At the world economic forum, Lenddo recognized as Tech Pioneer

CEBU, Philippines - Lenddo, the first online platform that allows its members to use social networks to obtain personal loans, has gained attention from the World Economic Forum (WEF) as one of the world’s most innovative technology start-ups.

Lenddo is one of 36 companies from around the world selected as a Tech Pioneer in technologies that hold promise of transforming business and society.

“For Lenddo, being recognized as a Tech Pioneer is an honor -- for our company, our team and the hundreds of thousands of members of the Lenddo community whose lives we are trying to help improve,” said Richard Eldridge, co-founder and global chief operations officer.

“We are very proud of this recognition of our efforts to empower the emerging middle class around the world,” Eldridge said.

Technology Pioneers are selected annually by a high-level selection committee of many of the top business and society leaders in the world.

Lenddo’s achievement was honored at the Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2013 in Dalian, People’s Republic of China last month.

The meeting is the foremost global business gathering in Asia, which brings together leaders from top-ranked multinationals and chief executive officers of dynamic and fast-growing companies.

Previous Technology Pioneers include Google (2001), Mozilla Corporation (2007), Wikimedia (2008), Twitter (2010), Dropbox (2012), SoundCloud (2013), Kickstarter (2012), Qifang (2009), MC10 (2013), TaKaDu (2011), NetQin (2011), BloomEnergy (2010), Recyclebank (2009), 23&Me (2008), MBA polymers (2007) and Monitise (2006).

Each year, the WEF chooses a select number of Technology Pioneers from hundreds of applicants. Candidate companies are nominated by members, constituents and collaborators of the World Economic Forum, and by the public.

A selection committee, comprised of top technology and innovation experts, academics and venture capitalists, reviews all applications before making its recommendation to the WEF.

Lenddo's mission is to economically empower the middle class in developing countries. To accomplish this, Lenddo is the world’s first online platform that allows members to use their online social connections to build their creditworthiness and access local financial services.

Lenddo is currently providing loans to members in the Philippines, Colombia and Mexico. — (FREEMAN)