Predicting Pay-it-Forward Impact with AI

At Bridging Gaps, we’re building a future where refugees and underserved communities can access the resources they need to launch sustainable, dignified livelihoods — on their own terms. Our pay-it-forward microloan model empowers entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and then support the next in line — creating a ripple effect of trust, ownership, and opportunity.

But as our work scales, so does our data. That’s where our partnership with Ishango.ai came in. Starting as part of Ishango’s April 2024 hackathon, a team of skilled data scientists helped us build a machine learning model to forecast loan pay-it-forward behavior — predicting with up to 92% accuracy which entrepreneurs are most likely to pay it forward successfully. Their prototype also identified key influencing features that help us better understand our entrepreneurs’ needs and strengths. Beyond the model, the team built a compelling Power BI dashboard to visualize "repayment" behavior and business outcomes — turning abstract data into actionable insight. This tool will help our team save time, allocate resources wisely, and scale the model across countries, including Uganda, the DRC, and Brazil.

We see this as the first step toward a smart, tech-enabled, and human-centered finance platform. As we are growing our impact, we plan to integrate predictive AI, blockchain for transparent fund tracking, and a personalized donor interface that allows supporters to back entrepreneurs by sector — such as clean energy, agriculture, or digital services.

Thanks to Ishango.ai, we’ve taken a huge leap forward — not just in data, but in deepening the impact of trust-powered finance for those who need it most.