About us
Supporting small business resilience and growth in a changing digital economy
A global initiative of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Mastercard Strive is unleashing the potential of small businesses as catalysts of inclusive growth.
Get in touch about our latest funding and partnership opportunities.
Our vision
The world needs thriving small businesses
Small businesses are vital engines of economic growth that is inclusive and sustainable. They are the backbone of our communities, employing millions and enabling access to basic goods and services, especially for marginalized groups.
Digital transformation, accelerated by the pandemic, has created new challenges and opportunities for small businesses. It has changed what they can do to thrive, but also what they must do to survive. Many small businesses are struggling to make effective use of digital technologies, and some remain excluded entirely.
Digital transformation has also fundamentally changed how small businesses can - and should - be supported, and has expanded the landscape of players pivotal to their growth; digital platforms, super apps, fintechs and others now play a crucial role.
This program unites these organizations as the Mastercard Strive. With philanthropic support from the Mastercard Impact Fund, we work with partners to meet small businesses where they are and support them with innovative digital and data-first solutions. By working together we can strengthen small businesses and unleash their full potential to catalyze inclusive growth.
Our approach
Empowering small businesses to overcome common roadblocks
Business operations
Supporting small businesses to save time by digitizing processes such as bookkeeping, invoicing, inventory management, scheduling, and sales.
Financial services
Promoting small businesses’ growth through meaningful use of digital financial services, such as payments, business banking, credit, and insurance.
Market Participation
Enabling small businesses to make more money by more effectively participating in digital marketplaces, to reach more customers and new markets.
Michael Miebach
MastercardWhen 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.
