A shared lending pool for small, short loans.
Potluck is a peer-to-peer lending platform where lenders contribute to a shared pool and borrowers access transparent, short-term loans. It is designed to make the mechanics easy to inspect, not to make risk disappear.
The core idea
People lend to a pool. The pool makes many small loans. Clear rules govern what happens next.
One pool, clear roles, visible rules.
Potluck is not a bank and does not promise a return. It is a structured way for people to fund small loans together, with an explicit reserve and a consistent settlement process.
01
Lenders add funds to the pool
Lenders make small deposits into one shared pool. That pool, not a direct match with one person, makes short loans possible while spreading exposure across the group.
02
Borrowers use a clear loan
Borrowers can request a small loan for an everyday need. Terms are set in advance: a flat fee, four weekly payments, and no compounding or late fees.
03
Repayment strengthens access
On-time repayment can raise a borrower's tier and unlock a larger future loan. The rules are visible to the borrower; lenders see pool-level information, not personal borrower data.
04
Each cycle is settled openly
At the end of a four-week cycle, collected fees are split by published rules. The reserve addresses losses first, then any remaining return or loss is allocated across lenders fairly.
The rules decide. AI explains. People choose.
Potluck's lending limits, repayment schedule, fee split, and loss handling are rule-based. The AI helper can translate those facts into plain language, but it cannot approve a loan, set terms, or move money.
Readable rules
The fee, payment schedule, tier ladder, and pool settlement sequence are defined in code and shown in the product.
A separate reserve
A reserve fund absorbs losses before lenders are affected. It reduces risk; it does not remove it.
No hidden penalty spiral
A missed payment begins a grace period. There are no late fees, collections agencies, or credit reporting in this version.
Privacy by design
Lenders see aggregate pool health, never a borrower's individual story. AI can explain facts, but it never makes lending decisions.
A missed payment changes access, not dignity.
A missed due date starts a seven-day grace period. There is no late fee. If a loan remains unpaid after grace, it is written off at the next settlement cycle; the borrower's tier can decrease and future borrowing is paused until the balance is repaid.
Honest risk, plainly stated
The reserve is a shock absorber, not a guarantee. If losses exceed the reserve, lenders can lose money. Returns depend on repayments and the rules of the pool; they are never promised.
Designed to be low-risk, not risk-free.
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