Mastercard Strive

We were in Copenhagen this week! ???? It was an amazing few days connecting with European entrepreneurs and diving into the latest in AI, cybersecurity, embedded finance, and environmental sustainability. ???? Thank you TechBBQ for giving us the platform to spotlight the Mastercard Strive EU Program, which equips small businesses across Europe with the digital solutions they need to grow and thrive. Special thanks to Johanna Elvinsson, Alexander Mix, and Kristian Jacobsen for leading a fantastic session on embedded finance and cybersecurity, highlighting how these innovations support small businesses to unlock working capital, access credit, and go digital safely. #hygge #techbbq #smallbusiness #digitalsolutions Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Caribou Digital

The energy in #Raleigh yesterday was palpable. It was encouraging and motivating to witness the collaboration between public and private sector leaders and #SmallBusiness advocates, paving the way for real impact in #NorthCarolina — and beyond. Stay tuned for an in-depth recap of the insights shared at yesterday's summit!

"They say you have to work smarter, not harder — but we have to do both in order to support entrepreneurs in the rural areas we serve.” — Matt Raker, Executive Director of Mountain BizWorks. With unprecedented federal funding flowing to #SmallBusinesses, how do we ensure that implementation of these programs is tailored to the unique contexts of different regions and break through the "not-from-here" trust barrier that exists in many communities? This was one of many critical topics discussed yesterday at the Mastercard Strive USA Summit at ArtSpace in downtown #Raleigh. From supporting smaller #CDFIs working in high-poverty communities, to building capacity and infrastructure to connect historic funding with opportunity, and addressing the needs of the #NorthCarolina small business ecosystem, the conversations were timely, energizing, and vital. Stay tuned for a full recap soon! #FinancialInclusion #InclusiveGrowth Shamina Singh Sandy Fernandez Matt Raker Melissa Malkin-Weber José D. Alvarez Joe Battle

As a member of the Mastercard Strive EU Small Business Council, Derek Corcoran emphasizes the pivotal role that innovation plays in driving the #digitalization of European small businesses. With small businesses contributing significantly to the European economy, the Council is committed to providing support, mentorship, and networking opportunities to our EU Innovation Fund winners—the trailblazers equipping small businesses with the digital and data-first solutions they need to grow and succeed. Stay tuned for the announcement of winners who will drive small business resilience and growth across the EU! #innovationfund #smallbusiness #digitaltransformation #financialinclusion?

"Polish women are open to changes and technological innovations supporting their businesses." It’s fantastic to see our partner LBC spo?eczno?? kobiet biznesu featured in Forbes Polska, showcasing their collaboration with Mastercard Strive to drive the digitalization and growth of women-led small businesses in Poland. Through their GoDigital platform, they assess the digitalization level of small businesses and provide tailored digital tools and support services. The ultimate goal is to support women-led small businesses to adopt and embed digital tools in their day-to-day business, enabling them to grow and succeed in today's digital economy! https://lnkd.in/dPtxa9DA Learn more about the GoDigital program: https://lnkd.in/dskcWBXX

We are excited to announce that 100 women business-owners in the Dominican Republic have been selected for the next stage of EMPRO, our local program in partnership with INCAE Business School and Banco BHD. These women-led small businesses will receive bespoke training through self-paced virtual learning classes, 1:1 tutoring, and personalized mentorship to enable them to run effective digital marketing campaigns, sell online, and retain customers. Read all about the EMPRO program, this stage and what's next for small businesses here: https://lnkd.in/eeAmDztN #smallbusiness #digitaltransformation #digitalskills Gabriela Lucke Luz Gomez Tomás Alonso Martínez ADRIAN MIGUEL GUZMAN DURAN

Community credit unions have long been pillars of support in underserved areas, and after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico’s Cooperativas were no exception. Inclusiv’s work in #PuertoRico is a powerful example of how mission-driven financial institutions can drive lasting change. By equipping Cooperativas with the tools to access $308 million in CDFI grants, Inclusiv not only supported local communities but also paved the way for sustainable growth. Now, with the historic $1.87 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, Inclusiv is leading the charge to ensure low-income communities across the U.S. can benefit from the clean energy economy. Read more about this critical work from Mastercard Strive USA grantee Inclusiv in our latest article: https://bit.ly/4d6zmhH #GGRF #MastercardStrive #InclusiveGrowth #FinancialInclusion #SmallBusiness?

In the EU, we support small businesses in navigating Europe's twin transitions to a more digital and sustainable economy. We do this by equipping them with the digital solutions they need to digitize safely and effectively, navigate sustainability demands, harness AI, and unlock access to credit and working capital through embedded finance. Through the Mastercard Strive EU Innovation Fund, we received nearly 500 applications from innovative EU organizations working on such solutions. To select the best solutions, ensure they are tailored to the needs of European small businesses, and provide them with bespoke mentorship, we seek the guidance and support of those with hands-on experience. One such expert is?Marc-Alexander Christ, a member of the program's Small Business Council and the founder of?SumUp, which offers digital payment solutions to 4 million businesses worldwide. Learn more about the Mastercard Strive program in the EU, and check other council members here:?https://lnkd.in/dxQSSeHS #smallbusiness #digitalization #financialinclusion #inclusivegrowth

Since partnering with Mastercard Strive, Boost Technology has been equipping small retailers in Africa with real-time insights and access to capital. Now live in six markets and ready to scale! This project shows how data-driven insights can shape innovations that drive the digital transformation of small businesses. #digitaleconomy #digitaltransformation #InnovationFund #Digitalsolutions

?? Exciting times for small businesses! This August, Mastercard Strive saw some positive transitions through new initiatives and events for small businesses across the globe. From Malaysia’s new Strivers’ Hub platform empowering women-led small businesses to a peer-to-peer learning event in Indonesia with Alner , and trailblazing efforts in the EU and beyond, we continue to drive #smallbusiness resilience and sustainability through #digitalization. ?? Check out this month's newsletter for all the updates and insights from Mastercard Strive! #FinancialInclusion #WomenInBusiness #Sustainability