Entrepreneurs supported through Progress Microfinance

Across the European Union there are many women, young people, individuals belonging to a minority group and many other entrepreneurs  that would like to start-up their own business, yet often access to finance for them is difficult.

Progress Microfinance gives all these people a chance. By providing funding and guarantees to banks, microfinance institutions and any other entity authorised to provide microfinance instruments in the EU Member States, thus by reducing their exposure to risk, Progress Microfinance aims to encourage the availability of micro-loans to enterpreneurs.

Carla, Alina, Anton and other entrepreneurs benefited from the support of Progress Microfinance which allowed their local microcredit providers to give them the necessary kick-start to launch their businesses and carry out their ambitions.

Do you want to know more? Click on the pictures to read some stories...

microStart, Belgium Carla has literally begun to build a new career for herself. She had been managing a café in Brussels for many years, which she enjoyed but as costs started rising, it was difficult to keep the business running. Eventually she sold the business and decided to do something completely different. With a EUR 6 300 loan from  microStart,...	Šiaulių Bankas AB, Lithuania Alina had been working as a manager for an online award manufacturing business in Šiauliai for a year and had dreams of opening her own family business, making and selling awards. The company regularly supplied local schools, sports teams, dog shows and village fete organisers with awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions and was famous in the Šiauliai region for their colourful trophies. After noticing a gap in the market, Alina went to Šiaulių Bankas AB to ask for a loan...

Millenium BCP, Portugal António used to work as a waiter in a restaurant in the small touristic town of Armação de Pêra on the Algarve coast. As the restaurant faced difficulties from time to time, Antonio worked there without a work contract. Chances of improving his working conditions in the near future were slim. So with his years of experience in the restaurant industry, he decided to go to Millennium BCP....	Mikrofond, Bulgaria Vegetable grower Anton built a new greenhouse two years ago, with plans to expand it and start growing more vegetables. However, given his lack of credit history and difficulty of proving his real income, he could not get a loan from local banks. He later found out that the Mikrofond was providing micro-credits...

For entrepreneurs: how to access finance under Progress Microfinance
For any information about requirements and conditions, please refer to the the list of our financial intermediaries in your country by visiting : http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/index.htm