Mastercard Strive | Czechia

Supporting 250,000 small businesses to succeed in the digital economy

Czechia

Our Focus

The Mastercard Strive in Czechia program, funded by the Mastercard Impact Fund with support from the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and implemented by CARE Czech Republic, is designed to provide micro and small businesses with the support they need to achieve sustainable growth and financial resilience, bolstering the resilience and growth of Czech micro and small businesses through digitalization, peer mentoring, and financial services.

The Mastercard Strive in Czechia program, funded by the Mastercard Impact Fund with support from the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and implemented by CARE Czech Republic, is designed to provide micro and small businesses with the support they need to achieve sustainable growth and financial resilience, bolstering the resilience and growth of Czech micro and small businesses through digitalization, peer mentoring, and financial services.

Our Approach

We help small businesses to overcome three common roadblocks:

Get capital

Get capital

By funding community financial institutions including local banks, minority depository institutions, and credit unions, we make it easier for businesses to get the funding they need, when and where they need it. 

Go digital

Go digital

We connect small businesses with mission-driven technology partners and essential digital tools that eliminate bottlenecks and enable access to lending and investment.

Grow networks and know-how

Grow networks and know-how

Through local and national partnerships, we connect small businesses with expert organizations to develop new skills and grow their capabilities.

Our Goal


Supporting 250,000 small businesses to succeed in the digital economy

By the Numbers


40K

women-led or -owned

10K

led or owned by displaced Ukrainian entrepreneurs

Our Programs

Mastercard Strive in Czechia: supporting 250,000 small businesses to succeed in the digital economy

Featured Program

Mastercard Strive in Czechia: supporting 250,000 small businesses to succeed in the digital economy

How is Mastercard Strive in Czechia supporting 250 000 small businesses to help them succeed in the digital economy.

Our Partners

Articles & Insights

Striving to thrive Part 3: Czech MSEs in 2024

Featured Article

Striving to thrive Part 3: Czech MSEs in 2024

A closer look at how MSEs access, use and think about financing: A closer look at how MSEs access, use, and think about financing, highlighting the need to build financial awareness, simplify access to finance, and develop gender-responsive financial products to improve growth and resilience for Czech micro and small businesses.

Katarína Klamková

National Director of CARE Czech Republic

“Even in today's world, gender remains one of the most significant sources of inequality. It is known that women do not have the same opportunities in business as men. We want to change that through the Mastercard Strive in Czechia program. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with local partners to help businesses in this country achieve long-term prosperity.”
Katarína Klamková

News & Updates

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.

Report

Digitalization of Small and Micro Enterprises in the Region

Tailored support is needed to advance the digitalization of MSEs, with regional ecosystems – comprising universities, innovation centers, and local entities – playing a crucial role. While EU and central government funding exists, regional collaboration ensures effective implementation. MSEs with growth ambitions benefit most from digital tools for marketing and process efficiency. Insights from selected Czech regions highlight disparities, emphasizing the need for localized strategies and motivation.

Digitalization of Small and Micro Enterprises in the Region

Report

Striving to thrive Part 3: Czech MSEs in 2024

A closer look at how MSEs access, use and think about financing: A closer look at how MSEs access, use, and think about financing, highlighting the need to build financial awareness, simplify access to finance, and develop gender-responsive financial products to improve growth and resilience for Czech micro and small businesses.

Striving to thrive Part 3: Czech MSEs in 2024

Report

Striving to thrive Part 2: Czech micro and small enterprises in 2023

A closer look at technology, gender, and perceptions of MSEs: Support from public and private institutions is required to enhance trust in technology, improve status of business owners, and to deal with unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.

Striving to thrive Part 2: Czech micro and small enterprises in 2023

Report

Striving to thrive: The state of Czech micro and small enterprises, 2022

Throughout the Czech economy, digitalization is a trend that is here to stay. However, the benefits of digitalization have not been equally realized.

Striving to thrive: The state of Czech micro and small enterprises, 2022

Report

Entrepreneurship as a man's world? The utilization of competences in entrepreneurship of self-employed women and women micro-entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic

Women entrepreneurs face challenges in balancing work and caregiving, perceive lower prestige in running a business than men, seek more public support, and define success beyond financial gains.

Entrepreneurship as a man's world? The utilization of competences in entrepreneurship of self-employed women and women micro-entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic

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