The Three Pillars of Producer Prosperity

Akiptan’s innovative lending model has been balancing lender security and producer prosperity since we began lending in 2019. Our philosophy is based on three pillars: 

• Deploy patient capital. 

• Deliver intentional technical assistance. 

• Cultivate relationships within lending. 

Patient Capital vs. Extractive Capital 

At Akiptan, we are committed to transforming Native agriculture and food economies by offering creative, non-extractive capital solutions. Patient capital aligns directly with producers’ goals by allowing the time and flexibility they need to grow, adapt, and thrive. Extractive capital prioritizes lender security at the cost of producer prosperity.  

Our unique patient capital approach focuses on providing options for flexible terms. Akiptan’s borrowers have the choice between a traditional repayment style with principal and interest payments beginning right away, or they can opt for the interest-only repayment option, which allows for up to five years of interest-only payments. After the interest-only period, the loan is converted to traditional terms with regular principal and interest payments. The significance of the interest-only option is monumental, allowing producers to grow their capacity by reinvesting profits back into their operation or retaining additional livestock to expand their herd. On the other hand, most producers operating on extractive capital struggle to sustain operations and are often forced to sell their entire calf crop to make a payment to a lender rather than to build their operation by way of reinvestment. 

We’ve seen first-hand the transformative effects that our patient capital model has had on Native agricultural operations. These experiences serve as living proof that our mission is not only necessary, but effective. Each success story reinforces our theory of change that when Native producers are given equitable access to capital and supportive systems, the entire ecosystem of Indian Country agriculture is strengthened. It's a validation of our approach and a clear signal that shifting financial paradigms is both possible and powerful. Producers build their operations AND the lenders are secure; they exist in tandem. 

Intentional Technical Assistance

Our focus on intentional technical assistance, or individualized support services, is embodied in our loan and program staff. Akiptan has made it a priority to hire employees who know and truly understand agriculture in Indian County. All client facing staff have a background in agriculture or are still producers themselves. In 2024 alone, our team provided 721 hours of technical assistance to borrowers for business planning, resiliency and risk mitigation, and credit management.

While getting to know each producer through our intake and application process, our loan officers work alongside  them to put pen to paper to define their goals, write business plans, explore diverse income streams, and more. This knowledge and relationship are nurtured from the first day until the loan is paid in full. Akiptan is unique in providing intentional one-on-one assistance through the life of the loan, rather than just pre-closing. This allows us to work together proactively, instead of reactively, with our producers so that we can be prepared when an outside factor affects their ability to operate or they need support in reworking their budget. 

Akiptan’s programs department leads the development and delivery of our complimentary services through workbooks, webinars, group trainings, or cohorts. Based on the needs borrowers have identified, this team has covered topics such as record keeping tips, tax preparation, succession planning, and marketing. We are constantly soliciting feedback and adjusting our technical assistance and complimentary services to meet the needs of our producers. It’s critical that we equip them with the information they need to make empowered and informed decisions about their agriculture operation and overall financial health. 

The Relational and Transactional Sides of Lending 

Akiptan values the relationship with our borrowers just as much as the capital that goes out the door. As such, we invest equally in cultivating relationships and deploying capital. We have built an organizational culture where people are valued the same as organizational success, and as a result, we’ve found that the strength of our borrower relationships is a large indicator of repayment. Because we understand our producers’ success is our success, we want to be a valuable partner in their operation – not just a lender they talk to once a year. Our team will gladly talk about the weather or catch up on a producer’s family before talking business, because it builds the relationship and trust that the producer has in us and us in them. We’ve made lending Indigenous by making it relationship based.

All of this goes to show that Akiptan’s innovative lending model – rooted in the three pillars of patient capital, intentional technical assistance, and strong relationships – sets us apart.  By prioritizing flexibility, culturally informed support, and borrower trust, we are not only meeting the financial needs of Native producers, but we are actively transforming the systems that have historically limited their access to capital. Since 2019, this approach has proven effective in transpiring longer-term prosperity for producers across Indian Country, validating our mission and demonstrating that Indigenous-led, values-driven lending is not only viable, but essential.    

To Learn more about our lending models and services, please visit our website at www.akiptan.org or email our team at info@akiptan.org.