Mastercard Strive Czechia
Supporting 250,000 small businesses to succeed in the digital economy
Our Focus
The Strive Czechia program, funded by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and implemented by CARE International, is designed to provide small businesses with the support they need to achieve sustainable growth and financial resilience, bolstering the resilience and growth of Czech small businesses through digitalization, peer mentoring, and financial services.
Our Approach
We help small businesses to overcome three common roadblocks:
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
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
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
Our Programs
Featured Program
Strive Czechia: supporting 250,000 small businesses to succeed in the digital economy
Bolstering the resilience and growth of Czech small businesses through digitalization, peer mentoring, and financial services.
Czech Republic
Our Partners
Articles & Insights
Featured Article
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.
Eva Svobodová
Member of the Board and General Director, Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Crafts of the Czech Republic
“There is a clear need for increased support in digitalization targeting micro- and small enterprises as they are often disadvantaged by the lack of resources that larger companies can more easily obtain. This support could significantly improve productivity and efficiency for MSEs, that can in turn allow them to allocate capacities towards growing their business.”
Report
Striving to Thrive Part 3: Czech MSEs in 2024
A closer look at how MSEs access, use and think about financing. The study delves deep into the financial resilience, well-being, and challenges faced by micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Czechia — a sector that represents 98.9% of all businesses in the country.
Report
Striving to Thrive Part 2: Czech MSEs in 2023
A closer look at technology, gender, and perceptions of MSEs. In the dynamic landscape of Czech small businesses, our latest findings reveal a nuanced perspective that cannot be overlooked.
Report
Striving to Thrive: The state of Czech Micro and Small Enterprises, 2022
Help for 250,000 Czech entrepreneurs throughout the Czech economy, digitalization is clearly a trend that is here to stay. Unfortunately, however, the benefits of digitalization have not been equally realized.
Report
Entrepreneurship as a man’s world (Personas)
Women tend to start businesses at a slightly older age than men. Nearly half of the women-led businesses were founded between the ages of 31 and 45, while half of the men-led businesses were started between 21 and 30.
Report
Entrepreneurship as a man’s world
The utilisation of competences in entrepreneurship of self-employed women, and women micro-entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic
