https://www.theindusfund.com/our-impact daily 0.75 2020-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1571883223028-LTPO9O0T0FWL4BBOI32E/ev-epiORjQiXOg-unsplash.jpg Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598677163583-JK6XIAEDT6R31A0BW4LZ/j-w-Ju-ITc1Cc0w-unsplash.jpg Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598677949279-VSVN87YBSMVW102698RJ/alexei-scutari-5Zg64OwXJg8-unsplash.jpg Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598675903280-SUWCNNT7SCQHVTD13KSH/WHY_Mesa+de+trabajo+1.png Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1605042431548-UNMLFVAW8HE3MXR7LWQ2/WHY-02.png Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598676436481-DWPLDNDMMSETBNYFVW6D/WHY-03.png Our Impact - THE ASPIRATION At the end of the day we want to listen. We want to understand. We want to collaborate. We want to be part of the journey of self-determination and self-realization that enables the continuance of vital, vibrant and necessary communities that are the fundamental bedrock of our American society. We plan to fulfill our ethical and moral obligation by doing what is right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1599095075437-K5X2BU1WB4GA1LR99KOJ/cPort_LogoNOTag-Retina2+copia.png Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1604342078528-94LCF1N9RB8ILGRQPHNJ/Maine+DECD+Logo+HIGH+RES.png Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1599095101985-HEUQM2X4COO5W4H9MKAR/IMG_3480+copia.png Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1604342163769-2PKKDZVVUVNDEC04RZVO/NVME+LOGO.png Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1599095138023-36GZHMYXPHR3PTB406J3/Eaton-Peabody-Logo.png Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1604341920121-ZXYWLFD0PB8OOE1XVI9A/MCE_Primary_RGB+copia.png Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1604342276146-X8HLDGWNP2CHZTX7GF3R/ProsperityME-logo.png Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1599095211367-I5ZVQWW19PAU0IYQ2UZJ/SAHutnak.jpg Our Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1604341956613-E9KU6TQRZVPXOQ2EKXYK/SCORE+Logo+2015-R-Tagline+copia.png Our Impact https://www.theindusfund.com/overview daily 1.0 2021-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598677474727-X7OUMTD865KU9LNYZKIR/allen-cai-Y4RxCIaYaSk-unsplash.jpg Overview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598921256599-K4JHV0852VNLGCC7JOQR/2.jpg Overview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1599050306678-WNL7YYB1HNSTWY2K242D/Maine+River.jpg Overview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1599048739082-UW973GL70F6OUYRQHOID/iStock-657163522.jpg Overview - The Indus Fund is a community supported micro loan program for the immigrant community in Maine Our mission is to significantly expand the available capacity and capability of bank loans to service the needs of small business owners within the immigrant community of Maine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598646484330-QBPYAD69ATTNIQC24BU3/01 Overview - 01. – 01. – Working with cPort Credit Union we will expand the capability and capacity of the micro-loans available immigrant new Mainers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598661436820-SLWVLHO3GWCKELUBRAC7/Icons-02.png Overview - 02. – We will work towards establishing processes in order for our efforts to be hopefully utilized nationwide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598662845372-LOYFZALTMO94R646VZEP/03.%E2%80%93 Overview - 03. – We will contribute to the conversation of economic development in Maine that is inclusive, transparent and real. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598663226292-MN0FPHQRK13L0ZJA8GT7/Icons-04.png Overview - 04. – We are going to learn from our mistakes; but we are also to participate in enabling change on a societal level. https://www.theindusfund.com/our-team daily 0.75 2026-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1600218773931-GPEVP2BIKMDBI1FNVAAT/Kerem+Headshot+-+2017.jpeg Our Team - Kerem Durdag FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER Kerem Durdag, as executive leader of people and companies bringing out the best of their talents and aspirations, taking into consideration all stakeholders (he is a massive fan of B Corp and conscious capitalism) having over 30 years of experience directing world-class teams. He was CEO of GWI that become the first ever B Corp company in the ISP/telco industry and was voted to be one of the best mid-size companies to work in Maine under his tenure. He has served as the Entrepreneur-In-Residence for the Maine Technology Institute. He was the CEO of a start-up (in the sensors market) leading it to growth and eventual acquisition by a public company. Another startup he led (medical device and advanced materials) was sold in 2016 to a global Chinese company after he failed to sustain the growth trajectory. He has also been the CTO of a large US subsidiary of a public German semiconductor and optical media company and prior was the leader of the engineering department of an electronics company which went public. With an inherent strong bias towards action, Kerem also serves on several Boards and is a member of the Maine angel investing community. A long-time advocate for the inclusion of immigrant and refugee voices in societal conversation and extremely passionate about doing his part to close the economic and digital divide he is also a published poet, essayist, librettist and a producer of award winning short feature and animation films. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keremdurdag/ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1599094511363-FKWKZSCQK3YJX2UGS4EY/burak_sezen.jpg Our Team - Burak Sezen PARTNER, MEMBER OF GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE Burak Sezen is co-founder and partner at 6ixth Event Capital as well as founder at Sager Solutions where he invests in, consults and advises startups at different stages in their life cycles. Burak has extensive experience in technology with a focus on product development. He started his career as a management consultant working for Fortune 500 companies. He then worked for a local healthcare startup with a successful exit. Following this experience, Burak co-founded, grew and successfully exited two data/analytics companies in the healthcare space. Burak has a deep interest in helping new entrepreneurs realize their vision and potential while creating new opportunities for the local economy and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Burak has a Chemical Engineering degree from Bogazici University, Turkey and an MBA from the University of Southern Maine. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/burak-sezen-1b28763/ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1599094362171-ZYUMKN62JWO8AZTXHTUW/Wendy%2BBlackwell-Moore.jpg Our Team - Wendy Blackwell-Moore PARTNER, MEMBER OF GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE Wendy is the founder and principal owner of Pine Pitch Consulting, a business focused on helping businesses act as a force for good in the world by implementing strategies that care for and empower workers, engage communities, sustain and rebuild the environment, and honor customers. She spent 17 years with TD Bank in various leadership roles spanning strategy, analytics, service delivery, and retail management. Born and raised in Maine, Wendy is passionate about supporting the local economy and leveraging her years of business experience to facilitate the long-term success of Maine entrepreneurs, especially those within the BIPOC community. She holds a BA from Saint Joseph’s College and is a graduate of The Next Economy MBA program focused on regenerative business practices and social enterprises. Wendy lives in Portland, Maine with her wife Liz and two inspiring children, Cecelia and Jude. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wendyblackwell-moore https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1600200614367-AT9HN1JEBEW4F9V7EVZS/hcoburn.jpeg Our Team - Helen Sterling Coburn PARTNER, MEMBER OF GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE Helen is a corporate and securities attorney at Bernstein Shur, where she co-chairs the firm’s private capital group. In that role, she counsels start-up companies raising investment capital and also represents investors deploying funds.* Helen is committed to supporting companies that embrace conscious business principles (whether as benefit corporations or otherwise) and helping Maine build a diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem. Helen is also on the Board of Directors of Startup Maine, Inc., as well as the advisory board of several Maine-based enterprises. She was actively involved with the Boston College Immigration and Asylum Project during law school, and worked as a corporate immigration paralegal in San Francisco, CA prior to law school. She holds a BA from Dartmouth College and a JD from Boston College Law School. She lives in Cumberland, Maine with her husband and an energetic toddler. *Helen is not serving as counsel to the Indus Fund or its investment committee. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-sterling-coburn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1599050017989-7QK68T9SEJCMPTPPWZQZ/best1.jpg Our Team - Ben Willauer PARTNER, MEMBER OF GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE Ben has extensive background in business development, portfolio management, and leadership training. Currently he is assisting with the incubation of a variety of Impact investment projects in aquaculture, fisheries restoration and clean technology. Most recently Ben served as the Chief Development Officer for Whole Oceans, a $180mm land-based aquaculture development in Bucksport, Maine. After working with many Outward Bound schools for over ten years, he held several positions within the financial services industry, recently as the General Partner of Willauer Prosky and Willauer Asset Management, a governance-based, institutional hedge fund. Mr. Willauer is a founding trustee and was instrumental in the formation of the Hurricane Island Foundation and the Center for Science and Leadership on Hurricane Island – regarded as a groundbreaking educational campus with a focus on developing the scientific leaders of tomorrow. Additionally, Mr. Willauer has served on a variety of committees as a Trustee of the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Mr. Willauer received a B.A. in Expeditionary Learning from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University and is a graduate of the Sea Education Association. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-willauer/ https://www.theindusfund.com/terms-of-service daily 0.75 2020-10-07 https://www.theindusfund.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2020-10-07 https://www.theindusfund.com/faq daily 0.75 2020-07-23 https://www.theindusfund.com/join-2 daily 0.75 2020-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598921256599-K4JHV0852VNLGCC7JOQR/2.jpg Join (Copy) https://www.theindusfund.com/join-3 daily 0.75 2020-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598921256599-K4JHV0852VNLGCC7JOQR/2.jpg Join (Copy) https://www.theindusfund.com/apply daily 0.75 2021-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1611690430427-K0SI3TH9F8OG9TKB5516/Icons_Mesa+de+trabajo+1+copia.png Apply - Loans issued for up to $10,000 at below-market* interest rates. *Loan Interest rate is currently 3.5% https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1611690490796-XB0IT5AS5Q6FUIZ2ZD11/Icons-06.png Apply - Designed for businesses (including non-profit organizations) with a minimum of 18-months of operational history. Currently, we are not funding startups. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1611690574505-06007FUXZHFQ9U6667Q4/image-asset.png Apply - Our loans come with free access to a dynamic pool of business mentors. We ask all applicants to leverage the mentor pool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1598661436820-SLWVLHO3GWCKELUBRAC7/Icons-02.png Apply - Easy surveys to provide feedback determine program performance Surveys every six months https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1611690642338-M162CNRHUFJ1Y3QAX2IN/Icons-08.png Apply - Take the first step and contact cPort Credit Union today - ask for the lending department and ask about applying to The Indus Fund. All loans are originated, underwritten and serviced by cPort Credit Union. https://www.theindusfund.com/mentorship-program daily 0.75 2021-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1620409384304-71G2H2X76Y0L7X0DTSVA/Mentorship-04.png MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - What is the mentorship program? In partnership with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the Indus Fund has developed a process for loan recipients to receive a mentor in support of their business endeavors. A mentor is someone who provides objective advice, provides counsel from a fresh perspective, is willing to collaborate, listen and learn, as well as remind you of your goals, your purpose and what you’re working so hard to achieve. The DECD will engage with you to understand your specific needs and will match you with a mentor to offer guidance along the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1620428429528-GUOX8VWZBOVZ281SKC8C/Mentorship-05.png MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - How does the mentorship process work? During the loan application process, cPort Credit Union will provide information regarding the mentorship program and how to engage in the process. Once loan applicants receive approval of their loan request, they should contact the DECD to request a mentor. The DECD will respond with a request for additional information in order to effectively match the mentee with a mentor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1620428975505-2ITMNXWCV8F2JVH56ZX7/Mentorship-06.png MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Why is the mentorship program important? The Indus Fund is a micro-loan fund dedicated to New Mainers (first generation immigrants) looking to create a life for themselves and their families, catalyze their businesses, build credit and banking history, and help grow the Maine economy. Research has proven that entrepreneurs and small businesses that engage with a mentor are much more likely to succeed and to demonstrate profitability sooner than those who choose not to pursue mentorship. The early years of any business is a crucial make-or-break period and most small businesses agree mentors are vital to success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d9a199f942b656289187f4a/1620429194414-7630I6O58GEXZ5EAG8I4/Mentorship-07.png MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Expectation of Indus Fund loan recipients The Indus Fund understands that navigating a new country, state, and culture brings with it unique challenges to starting and sustaining a business. We are committed to the success and well-being of the Maine immigrant community and therefore strongly urge each loan recipient to take advantage of the mentorship program. Mentors can help navigate issues, expand networks, and assist in developing growth strategies that support you and your business for the long-term. https://www.theindusfund.com/contact-us-mojave daily 0.75 2025-05-06