ReadWriteWeb

If you're familiar with the overseas micro-lending space, then you're familiar with Kiva. In 2008, ReadWriteWeb readers chose Kiva as one of their favorite Web 2.0 apps. In 2009, the company continues to thrive.

Kiva initially allowed users to lend to entrepreneurs in developing countries. However, due to the American financial crisis, the company recently extended its mandate to help US entrepreneurs gain access to micropayment loans. As millions struggle to execute on their dream projects, a number of crowd-based funding options have emerged. Below are a few of these tools.

There's a seemingly infinite list of startup companies based on adding one form of value or another on top of Twitter. One called TipJoy closed its doors this week, despite a remarkable set of blessings that thousands of developers throughout the Twitter ecosystem would be wildly jealous of.

TipJoy offered a service that would let people pay small amounts of money as tips for online content, with the transaction being processed via messaging on Twitter. That wasn't the only way TipJoy worked, but the company was very closely tied to Twitter.