Inclusive opportunities and digital growth for women-led small businesses

This month, our partners around the globe have been shining a light on women-led small businesses and how we can better support them. In Poland, our partner Fundacja LBC Business Women Foundation shared recent findings from our GO DIGITAL project, which aims to accelerate digitalization among Polish female entrepreneurs. LBC’s recent report shows that women-led businesses in Poland recognize the benefits of digital transformation and are advanced in digital communications and social media tools. However, the findings also show a need to strengthen digital skills in business areas such as finance, sales, and cybersecurity. These findings highlight key opportunities for LBC to support women-led businesses by addressing barriers to going digital.

In Czechia, Mastercard Strive co-hosted an event on motherhood and entrepreneurship alongside the Pro podnikavé platform and Heroine magazine. Entrepreneurial mothers shared practical advice, personal stories, and valuable insights on balancing parenting and business. Jana Fi?erová from CARE Czech Republic shared research on the Czech entrepreneurial environment, highlighting the challenges that women face, particularly gender biases and the struggle for balance. Experts and government officials also discussed workplace flexibility, the pay gap, and systemic obstacles women entrepreneurs encounter. Attendees left with fresh perspectives and a renewed sense of empowerment to grow their businesses while maintaining personal well-being.?

In the Dominican Republic, Mastercard Strive program EMPRO, in partnership with INCAE Business School, kicked off the next phase of support with women-led small businesses focused on financial advice for making better informed strategic decisions, where 50 innovative small business owners from across the country met in person to learn more from BHD Bank about business valuation and financial health.?

As always, we invite you to explore our Insights library to learn more about how Mastercard Strive and our partners enable small business growth and resilience worldwide.

Insights

Putting digital enterprise transformation in the hands of Polish women: New insights from the GO DIGITAL project

“As the owner of a small business, I initially thought GO DIGITAL wasn’t for me. I felt that my business was too small and that I didn’t need digital solutions or tools — I thought I could manage just fine as things were,” explains Gracja Rytwińska-Jaworska, a small business owner in Poland. “But as I kept watching and reviewing the list of tools you shared, I suddenly realized that if I want to grow my business and take it to the next level, digitalization is essential.” Gracja is just one of the many women-led small businesses in Poland, which make up one-third of all businesses in the country. Her views echo a huge challenge facing all small businesses across the country: digital transformation is no longer a choice but a necessity.

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How SkyEye's Maua app is transforming the way Small businesses in Samoa work

Small businesses in Samoa need the right digital tools and support to access new markets and make more informed decisions. Watch how our Innovation Fund Winner, SkyEye Pacific, is supporting them to do just that—harnessing AI and real-time geospatial data to identify new sales opportunities, save time, and make more money.

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Building better financial habits through gamification

In Brazil, 77% of micro-entrepreneurs have never taken a finance course or training—but what if money management felt more like a game? In this video and accompanying blog post, Mastercard Strive partner Flourish Fi Co-founder Pedro Moura shares more on making financial education more engaging through gamification, encouraging smart financial habits like saving, investing, and paying loans and bills on time. By rewarding positive behaviors, they’re helping small businesses build financial health and resilience.

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