MicroPlace

MicroPlace, Inc.
an eBay Company

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Impact Investing
Founded	San Jose, California, USA (2006)
Headquarters	San Jose, California, USA
Key people	Tracey Pettengill Turner, Founder
Slogan	Invest wisely. End poverty.
Website	www.microplace.com

MicroPlace, was a US microfinance provider that focused on retail investors. Started by Tracey Pettengill Turner in 2006, MicroPlace was bought out by eBay Inc that same year.

MicroPlace provided everyday investors with the ability to make investments in the microfinance industry that had the potential to earn interest. This contrasts with most other services for microlenders, which generally rely on a charitable model.

The company acted as a broker-dealer and is registered with the SEC and is a member of FINRA.

History

MicroPlace was founded by Tracey Pettengill Turner and was bought by eBay for an undisclosed amount in 2006. Her hope is to expand the microfinancing industry from its current base of 100 million people to 1 billion people, with help from the middle class of affluent nations (the United States, European Union, etc.).

Ashwini Narayanan took over as the general manager of MicroPlace until 2012.

On January 14, 2014, MicroPlace announced that it would cease offering investments.

External links

• MicroPlace website
• New ebay site helps finance poor
• New ebay site lets people finance the world's poor
• Kiva vs. microplace - What's the Difference?
• Yahoo Tech: ebay's microplace: An Investment To End Poverty
• Wired: ebay-owned microplace Launches Microfinance Site
• CBS News: Fight Poverty With Online Microlending