For episode 204, we’re excited to welcome Will Le and Jessica Gaubert, Co-Founders of Haraka, a groundbreaking blockchain-based community credit protocol revolutionizing microfinance. Haraka leverages social trust and Web3 technology to provide affordable loans to underserved entrepreneurs by turning intangible social capital into measurable, portable, on-chain reputations.
With successful pilots already changing lives in Kenya and Ghana, Haraka is proving that trust-based lending isn’t just possible—it’s scalable. From stablecoins that slash fees and reduce risk, to intuitive tools that meet borrowers exactly where they are, Haraka embodies the promise of Web3: making previously impossible models of economic inclusion a reality.
This episode explores how Haraka is using blockchain to bridge centuries-old community lending practices with cutting-edge financial technology—creating new pathways to prosperity where traditional finance falls short.
We discuss:
🌱 Transforming Social Capital into Financial Opportunity: Group lending has existed for centuries but struggled to scale due to intangible social reputations. Haraka leverages blockchain to make reputation tangible, portable, and interoperable—unlocking financial freedom for underserved communities.
💸 Social Reputation can be a Powerful Tool to Lower Default Rates: Credit systems built on social reputation significantly reduce default risk. Haraka uses blockchain-based attestations to standardize reputation, empowering individuals previously excluded from traditional credit opportunities.
🤝 Meeting Users Where They Are: Tech adoption succeeds when it fits users' existing habits. Haraka integrates familiar platforms like WhatsApp and simplified onboarding processes to seamlessly introduce powerful blockchain financial tools to underserved communities worldwide.
PIPE gDAO is leveraging blockchain for their University Real World Asset IP Launchpad that helps bring groundbreaking ideas from lab to market. By joining the Pipe Associate Network (aka PAN), associates can create a profile highlighting their skills, be notified of opportunities, and then contribute fractional work to pre-IPO companies in return for equity and tokens.
Check out their Linktree for links to all of their socials so you can get involved and join this growing community!
02:15 - To kick things off, I'd love to hear about your personal journey. What led you into the world of Web3—and was there a particular moment or realization that inspired you to start Haraka?
08:15 - Haraka emerged from recognizing a paradox in microfinance—low default rates in group lending, yet a lack of available credit for group lending, and difficulties scaling this model. Could you share the story of how this insight led you to start Haraka
11:20 - How are you leveraging blockchain at Haraka to align incentives and make group lending scalable to the masses?
14:45 - Haraka’s model relies heavily on trust. What does trust truly mean in the context of lending, and why is it so central to your approach?
16:40 - You’ve spoken about trust being portable and transferable. How exactly does Haraka make trust measurable and portable between communities and even across borders? What role does blockchain play?
18:45 - Social capital has historically been intangible and informal. How is Haraka leveraging Web3 rails to tangibly measure, account for, and utilize social capital?
21:55 - You are preparing to launch Bondy, your social finance app, in the near future. What was the inspiration behind it, and how does it fit within your broader mission?
25:30 - Your pilot projects in Kenya and Ghana have generated some fascinating insights. Can you share some of the key takeaways and lessons from these pilots? Any stories of impact you’d like to highlight?
33:20 - Your pilots leverage familiar platforms like WhatsApp combined with blockchain tools. Why is meeting users where they are so critical, and how has this hybrid approach shaped Haraka’s success?
36:00 - Women entrepreneurs made up 85% of participants in your Kenyan pilot. What have you observed about how Haraka specifically empowers women economically and socially?
39:00 - With so much on the go, what do the next few months look like for Haraka?
40:55 - What’s your call to action for listeners—how can they support or engage with Haraka’s mission right now?
42:35 - If Haraka succeeds on a global scale, how will that transform the broader landscape of financial inclusion? What legacy are you hoping to leave on the space?
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While we may discuss specific web3 projects or cryptocurrencies on this podcast, please do not take any of this as investment advice, and please make sure to do your own research on potential investment opportunities, or any opportunity. We host a variety of guests on this podcast with the sole purpose of highlighting the social impact use cases of this technology. That being said, Crypto Altruism does not endorse any of these projects, and we recognize that, since this is an emerging sector, some may be operating in regulatory grey areas, and as such, we cannot confirm their legality in the jurisdictions in which they operate, especially as it pertains to decentralized finance protocols. So, before getting involved with any project, it’s important that you do your own research and confirm the legality of the project. More available HERE.
