Empowering small businesses for a digital future

Small businesses are key to inclusive growth. Yet many are struggling to adapt to rapid digital transformation, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Mastercard Strive is equipping ten million small businesses with innovative digital solutions to enable them to build resilience and grow.
Tern Eco: supporting SME retailers on their journey to circularity

Tern Eco: supporting SME retailers on their journey to circularity

Fully closing the loop through the development of a plug and play solution that supports multiple circular models—from reuse to resale.

United Kingdom

SkyEye: Supporting small businesses to identify new customers and sales opportunities

SkyEye: Supporting small businesses to identify new customers and sales opportunities

Using marketing analytics and transaction data to enable better decision making for MSEs to benefit from operational efficiencies and cost reductions

Samoa

Datasketch: Equipping Colombian small businesses with tools to harness the power of their own data

Datasketch: Equipping Colombian small businesses with tools to harness the power of their own data

Using an AI-powered chatbot designed to deliver crucial information, along with charts and maps, directly via chat

Colombia

Africa 118: empowering small businesses in Ethiopia to be discovered online

Africa 118: empowering small businesses in Ethiopia to be discovered online

Enhancing an innovative MSME Digital Presence Pack (DPP) in Ethiopia to add value for small businesses

Ethiopia

Vested Impact: empowering small businesses with the data they need to make change

Vested Impact: empowering small businesses with the data they need to make change

Leveraging AI and 300M science-based and impact data points to automatically assess and quantify the non-financial impact of small businesses

Global

SoBanHang: Empowering nano and micro businesses to thrive on digital technology

SoBanHang: Empowering nano and micro businesses to thrive on digital technology

A one-stop business OS enabling merchants to access market intelligence data and manage end-to-end cross border procurement effortlessly

Vietnam

Alner: Using a deposit-reward scheme to create a sustainable consumption loop

Alner: Using a deposit-reward scheme to create a sustainable consumption loop

Strengthening small business resilience by supplying refillable products through an enhanced mobile app

Indonesia

FUNDES: Connecting artisans and craft merchants to the most appropriate digitization tools

FUNDES: Connecting artisans and craft merchants to the most appropriate digitization tools

Building the first online community where artisans and craft merchants can interact and learn from their peers and adopt essential digital solutions

Mexico

Boost Technology, Project IKE: Empowering retailers with insights to increase their resilience

Boost Technology, Project IKE: Empowering retailers with insights to increase their resilience

Data analysis, behavioral science and conversational commerce provide retailers with insights about their business to drive improved outcomes

Nigeria

Open Contracting Partnership: Government contracts made accessible for small businesses

Open Contracting Partnership: Government contracts made accessible for small businesses

Using open data to seamlessly connect small businesses awarded government contracts with financial institutions who can offer them credit

Colombia

Boost Capital: Financial education data de-risks and expands small business credit

Boost Capital: Financial education data de-risks and expands small business credit

Testing the viability of a virtuous circle in which businesses performing well in financial training are rewarded with lower-cost loans

Cambodia

Flourish Fi: Data-driven nudges for improved money management

Flourish Fi: Data-driven nudges for improved money management

Behavioral science and AI-driven incentives and nudges help build healthy financial management habits

Brazil

ChatGenie: Making social commerce work better for small businesses

ChatGenie: Making social commerce work better for small businesses

New features reduce friction for businesses selling on social media, and enable management of multiple channels within a single app

Philippines

Novek: IOT-enabled vending machines maximize sales for retailers

Novek: IOT-enabled vending machines maximize sales for retailers

Tech-enabled vending machines dispensing household staples increase sales, reduce stock outs, and eliminate single-use plastic

Kenya

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Programs

Strive Women: Her Business, Her Financial Future

Featured Program

Strive Women: Her Business, Her Financial Future

Supporting women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, confidence, resilience, and control.

Pakistan, Peru, Vietnam

Ragna: the AI powered sustainability advisor for micro and small businesses in the EU

Ragna: the AI powered sustainability advisor for micro and small businesses in the EU

AI powered sustainability advice and guidance to ensure long term value creation and compliance with EU regulations for small businesses. 

Sweden

IVÆKST: Supporting small businesses growth through AI adoption and optimization

IVÆKST: Supporting small businesses growth through AI adoption and optimization

Tailored assessments to drive small business success in AI adoption and optimization IVÆKST’s AI HUB.

Denmark

Lupasafe: Inclusive cybersecurity solution specifically designed for small businesses

Lupasafe: Inclusive cybersecurity solution specifically designed for small businesses

Businesses using the Lupasafe Cyber Monitor get 24/7 cybersecurity insights to reduce risk and secure staff, finances, data, and reputation.

The Netherlands

Redamp.io: Redefining cybersecurity for small businesses to grow and become more resilient

Redamp.io: Redefining cybersecurity for small businesses to grow and become more resilient

Enabling small businesses to bolster their cybersecurity with an affordable, cloud-based and user-friendly platform.

Czech Republic

Cresco: Democratizing cybersecurity by supporting small businesses to understand and tackle their vulnerabilities.

Cresco: Democratizing cybersecurity by supporting small businesses to understand and tackle their vulnerabilities.

Giving small businesses access to the technology and insights they need to protect their security against cyber threats

Belgium

Valerian: Access to capital for small businesses made as easy as one-click shopping

Valerian: Access to capital for small businesses made as easy as one-click shopping

A friendly companion chatbot that leverages small business data to access on-demand capital.

Luxembourg

Direct Market: Connecting agricultural small businesses to buyers to digitize key food markets

Direct Market: Connecting agricultural small businesses to buyers to digitize key food markets

Supporting small businesses to foster autonomous, sustainable and resilient food systems. 

France

Bizcuit: Enabling small businesses to overcome daily financial management struggles and unlock access to credit

Bizcuit: Enabling small businesses to overcome daily financial management struggles and unlock access to credit

Enabling small businesses to manage their daily finances through their bank app, saving time, making informed decisions, and improving cash flow management

The Netherlands

tilt: Unlocking small businesses' access to finance and know-how to support a low-carbon transition

tilt: Unlocking small businesses' access to finance and know-how to support a low-carbon transition

A data analytics solution that provides financial institutions with the required climate data to provide small businesses with the necessary funding and know-how.

Germany

It Goes Forward: Redesigning the e-commerce return process to reduce small businesses’ environmental impact and costs

It Goes Forward: Redesigning the e-commerce return process to reduce small businesses’ environmental impact and costs

Enabling small online retailers to resell return items directly between consumers, cutting warehouse costs and waste and reducing transport time for a positive environmental impact

The Netherlands

MayaSoft: Digitizing payments and unlocking credit for Uzbekistan’s small businesses

MayaSoft: Digitizing payments and unlocking credit for Uzbekistan’s small businesses

Empowering Uzbekistan’s micro and small businesses with innovative digital point-of-sale (POS) solutions, instant settlement, and improved access to finance.

Uzbekistan

Digital distribution and growth for small Spanish hotels

Digital distribution and growth for small Spanish hotels

Expanding small hotels’ digital sales and access to finance, while leveraging AI to support decision making

Spain

EMPRO: Building the digital skills and financial resilience of Dominican women-led small businesses

EMPRO: Building the digital skills and financial resilience of Dominican women-led small businesses

Women entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic will digitize their operations, unlock access to finance, and connect to new markets with bespoke digital training and mentorship.

Dominican Republic

Boost Capital: Boosting the digitalization of Filipino small businesses

Boost Capital: Boosting the digitalization of Filipino small businesses

Leveraging technology to enable access to capital, knowledge, and resources for Filipino small enterprises, particularly women-led enterprises.

Philippines

VIQTORIA: Connecting small businesses in Ecuador with digital solutions that accelerate their transformation.

VIQTORIA: Connecting small businesses in Ecuador with digital solutions that accelerate their transformation.

Connecting startups and women-led MSEs across Ecuador to cross-fertilize ideas and accelerate their digital transformation.

Ecuador

GO DIGITAL: Empowering women-led small businesses in Poland to grow through digitalization

GO DIGITAL: Empowering women-led small businesses in Poland to grow through digitalization

Unlocking the potential of female entrepreneurs by connecting them to tailored digital tools and one-on-one support services

Poland

Tern Eco: supporting SME retailers on their journey to circularity

Tern Eco: supporting SME retailers on their journey to circularity

Fully closing the loop through the development of a plug and play solution that supports multiple circular models—from reuse to resale.

United Kingdom

SkyEye: Supporting small businesses to identify new customers and sales opportunities

SkyEye: Supporting small businesses to identify new customers and sales opportunities

Using marketing analytics and transaction data to enable better decision making for MSEs to benefit from operational efficiencies and cost reductions

Samoa

Datasketch: Equipping Colombian small businesses with tools to harness the power of their own data

Datasketch: Equipping Colombian small businesses with tools to harness the power of their own data

Using an AI-powered chatbot designed to deliver crucial information, along with charts and maps, directly via chat

Colombia

Africa 118: empowering small businesses in Ethiopia to be discovered online

Africa 118: empowering small businesses in Ethiopia to be discovered online

Enhancing an innovative MSME Digital Presence Pack (DPP) in Ethiopia to add value for small businesses

Ethiopia

Vested Impact: empowering small businesses with the data they need to make change

Vested Impact: empowering small businesses with the data they need to make change

Leveraging AI and 300M science-based and impact data points to automatically assess and quantify the non-financial impact of small businesses

Global

SoBanHang: Empowering nano and micro businesses to thrive on digital technology

SoBanHang: Empowering nano and micro businesses to thrive on digital technology

A one-stop business OS enabling merchants to access market intelligence data and manage end-to-end cross border procurement effortlessly

Vietnam

Alner: Using a deposit-reward scheme to create a sustainable consumption loop

Alner: Using a deposit-reward scheme to create a sustainable consumption loop

Strengthening small business resilience by supplying refillable products through an enhanced mobile app

Indonesia

Strive EU: Surfacing new innovations and amplifying small business voices in the EU

Strive EU: Surfacing new innovations and amplifying small business voices in the EU

Supporting small businesses to navigate Europe’s twin transitions to a more digital and sustainable economy

European Union

Michael Miebach

CEO, Mastercard

“When small businesses thrive our local communities and economies thrive, but when they struggle, the impact is widespread. What small business owners need right now is partners who listen to them and develop innovative solutions that help them grow in the wake of the pandemic. That’s what makes programs like Strive so critical today and tomorrow.”
Michael Miebach

From the Blog

A new milestone for Strive Community: We’ve reached 5 million small businesses

Featured Article

A new milestone for Strive Community: We’ve reached 5 million small businesses

June 27th marks Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day, a global day that recognizes the critical role that small businesses play in inclusive growth around the world.
Bridging the digital divide for women-led small businesses: Gaps and opportunities in Ecuador

Bridging the digital divide for women-led small businesses: Gaps and opportunities in Ecuador

Digitalization has become a critical component for the growth and sustainability of small businesses worldwide.
Challenging assumptions: How a distinct operations model sets CDFIs apart in a vast financial…

Challenging assumptions: How a distinct operations model sets CDFIs apart in a vast financial…

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are mission-first financial institutions that have seen rapid growth in assets in the past five years, partly because CDFI investors are challenging a set of assumptions about how CDFIs operate that could have otherwise held back their success.

Breaking the debt barrier: New research explores external financing in Czech entrepreneurship

Breaking the debt barrier: New research explores external financing in Czech entrepreneurship

This post is written by Eva Lacinová, the Social Impact Manager at the Center for Inclusive Growth.
Getting impact capital off the sidelines: how CNote aligns investor interests with community…

Getting impact capital off the sidelines: how CNote aligns investor interests with community…

A two-year Mastercard Strive USA grant has paved the way for investment platform CNote to strengthen their organizational capacity, enabling them to scale operations, enhance their technology, and better serve the communities and institutions at the heart of their mission.

Why helping small businesses succeed should be a philanthropic priority

Why helping small businesses succeed should be a philanthropic priority

To create an equitable economy, grant makers should address the financial and training hurdles that cause so many entrepreneurs to fail. This article from the Chronicle of Philanthropy by Sandy Fernandez explains how.

The unique partnership at the center of California’s new loan match program

The unique partnership at the center of California’s new loan match program

A unique and first-time partnership between two mission-driven organizations, Next Street and Community Reinvestment Fund USA, is behind a new small business lending program in California that aims to connect small businesses with historic federal funding designed to help them grow and strengthen their financial resilience.

How local government can help more small businesses succeed: A fireside chat between St.

How local government can help more small businesses succeed: A fireside chat between St.

This conversation on the role of local government in helping small businesses succeed took place at the Mastercard Strive USA Summit in St. Louis, Missouri, between Tishaura O. Jones, mayor of St. Louis, and Salah Goss, senior vice president for social impact at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. 

Designing, activating, and empowering a digital community of informal micro-entrepreneurs

Designing, activating, and empowering a digital community of informal micro-entrepreneurs

For the past decade, Kenya like many other African countries has grappled with a phenomenon typically referred to as a building youth population.
Recognizing stories of digital transformation from favela entrepreneurs

Recognizing stories of digital transformation from favela entrepreneurs

No Corre Digital connected with more than 60,000 Brazilian micro-entrepreneurs through content, live streams, mentoring and tools This post was written by Aliança Empreendedora, and was originally published here in Portuguese.
Inclusive growth for entrepreneurs in North Carolina — and beyond

Inclusive growth for entrepreneurs in North Carolina — and beyond

Entrepreneurship is booming in North Carolina by many measures, but not all small businesses have equal access to opportunity. This article highlights key themes and moments from the fourth Mastercard Strive USA Summit held in Raleigh, North Carolina, where conversations centered on how to ensure that all entrepreneurs — in North Carolina and nationally — have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Behind the headlines: The critical role of credit unions in deploying $27 billion in federal…

Behind the headlines: The critical role of credit unions in deploying $27 billion in federal…

Inclusiv’s experience building trust in Puerto Rico, as well as its 50-year history working with Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs) throughout the continental U.S., will likely serve as a critical backdrop as it moves forward with its recent $1.87 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Clean Communities Investment Accelerator grant.

Toward a green economy: Enabling small businesses to become more sustainable and resilient through…

Toward a green economy: Enabling small businesses to become more sustainable and resilient through…

Toward a green economy: Enabling small businesses to become more sustainable and resilient through digital solutions Theres an important environmental shift underway, and small businesses are playing a central role.
Opening doors and connecting dots: How the small business ecosystem in Missouri is meeting…

Opening doors and connecting dots: How the small business ecosystem in Missouri is meeting…

How can organizations that support small businesses take advantage of historic federal investments and new technologies in an increasingly diverse landscape? This was the major theme of the third Mastercard Strive USA Summit, which brought together national and local leaders from government, philanthropy, the private sector, and others in St. Louis, Missouri.

How to show your authentic self in your innovation fund application

How to show your authentic self in your innovation fund application

This blog post was written by Rosie Afia-Ford, Senior Innovation Fund Manager, and co-created with Janet Shulist, Senior Insights Manager for Mastercard Strive.
Meeting small businesses where they are: Technical assistance models that work in an increasingly…

Meeting small businesses where they are: Technical assistance models that work in an increasingly…

There is an increasingly diverse range of technical assistance models, making it challenging to provide the right information to the right entrepreneur at the right time. This article highlights where leading technical assistance providers are focusing to help more entrepreneurs succeed.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again: The power of continuous learning in innovation

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again: The power of continuous learning in innovation

This guest post is from Boost Technology, a B2B commerce platform offering digital ordering and credit services to power growth for Africas 100 million micro- and small retailers.
Driving innovative solutions for small businesses: Reflections from our first Strive Innovation…

Driving innovative solutions for small businesses: Reflections from our first Strive Innovation…

Driving innovative solutions for small businesses: Reflections from our first Strive Innovation Fund Digital technology plays a big role in supporting the resilience and growth of small businesses around the world.
Tern Eco: Making circularity easy for micro- and small businesses

Tern Eco: Making circularity easy for micro- and small businesses

This post is authored by Zoe Rowswell and Kate Walmsley, co-founders of Tern Eco, and Grace Natabaalo from Mastercard Strive.
Supporting small businesses to sell online: How can local providers and networks build small…

Supporting small businesses to sell online: How can local providers and networks build small…

Supporting small businesses to sell online: How can local providers and networks build small business digital capabilities? The neighborhood where I live is not in a busy place.
Harnessing the powerful reach of social media to promote educational content to Latin American…

Harnessing the powerful reach of social media to promote educational content to Latin American…

Harnessing the powerful reach of social media to promote educational content to Latin American micro-entrepreneurs Role para baixo para versão em português.
How trust scales impact: The role of local partners in federal programs for small businesses

How trust scales impact: The role of local partners in federal programs for small businesses

Building trust with local communities is hard. The key to driving inclusive growth starts with recognizing and valuing the trust local organizations have established with communities, and then building on that foundation to help them succeed and grow. This was the cross-cutting theme of the second Strive USA Summit in Washington, DC.

Unlocking new markets and faster practices: How digital tools support small businesses to become…

Unlocking new markets and faster practices: How digital tools support small businesses to become…

Unlocking new markets and faster practices: How digital tools support small businesses to become more efficient and grow This post is part of a series on our findings from Mastercard Strives Small Business Digital Evidence Map.
The digital marketplace dilemma: Growth opportunities and challenges for small businesses

The digital marketplace dilemma: Growth opportunities and challenges for small businesses

This post is part of a series on our findings from Mastercard Strives Small Business Digital Evidence Map.
Public-private partnerships and small businesses: A conversation on what is working in New York…

Public-private partnerships and small businesses: A conversation on what is working in New York…

This conversation between Kevin D. Kim, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, and Shamina Singh, Founder & President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, took place at the Mastercard Strive USA Summit in New York.

Insights

Behavioral science to drive market participation

Behavioral science to drive market participation

Behavioral science involves understanding what influences behavior. It can be an effective ally for enabling small businesses to participate more effectively in digital marketplaces.

Women-centered models for last-mile distribution

Women-centered models for last-mile distribution

For e-commerce providers, a women-centered approach to last-mile distribution is a promising model for empowering women sales agents and better connecting with women customers.

Social commerce

Social commerce

Micro- and small businesses worldwide increasingly utilize social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok as virtual storefronts, tapping into a growing global industry.

Consumer protection

Consumer protection

Adopting digital financial services by small businesses can increase their access to finance and strengthen their financial inclusion. However, a lack of trust arising from consumer protection risks can limit the adoption process.

Financial services for women-owned small businesses

Financial services for women-owned small businesses

Globally, one in three businesses are owned by women, who often encounter obstacles in financing, owning, and growing a business. Digital financial services can have positive business and household impacts on women.

Embedded finance

Embedded finance

Embedded finance allows small businesses to access financial services through digital interfaces with which they already interact, with the potential to offer faster access to timely and tailored products.

Measurement in a digital age

Measurement in a digital age

The pandemic challenged traditional approaches to monitoring, evaluation and learning systems for business support programs, presenting new opportunities for optimization, learning, and impact measurement.

Digitizing payments

Digitizing payments

Digitizing payments not only offers small businesses many benefits and efficiencies, it also provides positive spillover effects for their customers and suppliers, and strengthens financial inclusion efforts.

Digital insurance

Digital insurance

Small businesses are often more vulnerable to risks and shocks compared to larger enterprises. Insurance can be critical to small businesses better absorbing financial shocks, building assets, and managing risks.

Access to finance

Access to finance

Access to finance is critical to small businesses’ development and growth, but few solutions account for their nuanced and diverse needs, resulting in a huge small business financing gap globally.

Enabling small businesses to grow by outsourcing

Enabling small businesses to grow by outsourcing

For small businesses who want to grow, hiring new staff is not the only option—they could also consider outsourcing. Outsourcing enables small businesses to strengthen and execute their operations and improve efficiency.

Digital peer networks to support small businesses

Digital peer networks to support small businesses

Peers can support fellow small business owners by sharing business practices, facilitating new connections, and offering tailored advice. 80% of small businesses believe interacting with peers improves their business outcomes.

Digital mentoring for small businesses

Digital mentoring for small businesses

Mentoring offers relationship-based guidance from experienced business owners for small businesses to develop new skills and networks to support growth. Digital channels have increased the availability and convenience of mentoring.

Delivering digital training to small businesses

Delivering digital training to small businesses

Training that is delivered to small businesses through digital channels is increasingly promising. It can integrate techniques that increase knowledge retention and user engagement, leading to positive impacts for small business capacity building.

Designing digital training for small businesses

Designing digital training for small businesses

Training programs that are delivered digitally show promise for small business owners with limited time to access key information when they need it. Digital training is convenient, cost-effective, and engaging, so long as it is designed well.

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