Boost Technology, Project IKE: Empowering retailers with insights to increase their resilience
Data analysis, behavioral science, and conversational commerce provide retailers with insights about their business to drive improved outcomes

Small businesses are key to inclusive growth. Yet many are struggling to adapt to rapid digital transformation, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Mastercard Strive is equipping ten million small businesses with innovative digital solutions to enable them to build resilience and grow.

This study identifies micro-business barriers and support needs. It also explores two emerging priorities of digital solution use: artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Data analysis, behavioral science, and conversational commerce provide retailers with insights about their business to drive improved outcomes
Leveraging AI and 300M science-based and impact data points to automatically assess and quantify the non-financial impact of small businesses
Enhancing an innovative MSME Digital Presence Pack (DPP) in Ethiopia to add value for small businesses
Using marketing analytics and transaction data to enable better decision making for MSEs to benefit from operational efficiencies and cost reductions

Enabling small online retailers to resell return items directly between consumers, cutting warehouse costs and waste and reducing transport time for a positive environmental impact

Giving small businesses access to the technology and insights they need to protect their security against cyber threats
A one-stop business OS enabling merchants to access market intelligence data and manage end-to-end cross border procurement effortlessly
Using an AI-powered chatbot designed to deliver crucial information, along with charts and maps, directly via chat.
Enabling small businesses to manage their daily finances through their bank app, saving time, making informed decisions, and improving cash flow management

Businesses using the Lupasafe Cyber Monitor get 24/7 cybersecurity insights to reduce risk and secure staff, finances, data, and reputation.

AI powered sustainability advice and guidance to ensure long term value creation and compliance with EU regulations for small businesses.
Enabling small businesses to bolster their cybersecurity with an affordable, cloud-based and user-friendly platform.

Development and deployment of an AI-powered credit scoring widget to enable small businesses’ instant access to financing.
Fully closing the loop through the development of a plug and play solution that supports multiple circular models—from reuse to resale.

Tailored assessments to drive small business success in AI adoption and optimization IVÆKST’s AI HUB.

Supporting small businesses to foster autonomous, sustainable and resilient food systems.
A co-creation platform unlocking small businesses’ access to digital tools, bespoke support, and AI-driven insights to build better products.
Building a comparison marketplace for traditional merchants to find the most appropriate tools and solutions to digitize their business operations

A friendly companion chatbot that leverages small business data to access on-demand capital.

A data analytics solution that provides financial institutions with the required climate data to provide small businesses with the necessary funding and know-how.

Testing the potential of virtual reality for training tractor owners to grow their businesses through the Hello Tractor app
Using open data to seamlessly connect small businesses awarded government contracts with financial institutions who can offer them credit.
Testing the viability of a virtuous circle in which businesses performing well in financial training are rewarded with better access to financial services.
Behavioral science and AI-driven incentives and nudges help build healthy financial management habits.

Supporting women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, confidence, resilience, and control.
Data analysis, behavioral science, and conversational commerce provide retailers with insights about their business to drive improved outcomes
Leveraging AI and 300M science-based and impact data points to automatically assess and quantify the non-financial impact of small businesses
Enhancing an innovative MSME Digital Presence Pack (DPP) in Ethiopia to add value for small businesses
Using marketing analytics and transaction data to enable better decision making for MSEs to benefit from operational efficiencies and cost reductions
Business owners use a self-assessment tool to identify digitization areas that could have the most impact, and find related content and tools

Enabling small online retailers to resell return items directly between consumers, cutting warehouse costs and waste and reducing transport time for a positive environmental impact

Giving small businesses access to the technology and insights they need to protect their security against cyber threats
A one-stop business OS enabling merchants to access market intelligence data and manage end-to-end cross border procurement effortlessly
Using an AI-powered chatbot designed to deliver crucial information, along with charts and maps, directly via chat.
Enabling small businesses to manage their daily finances through their bank app, saving time, making informed decisions, and improving cash flow management

Businesses using the Lupasafe Cyber Monitor get 24/7 cybersecurity insights to reduce risk and secure staff, finances, data, and reputation.

AI powered sustainability advice and guidance to ensure long term value creation and compliance with EU regulations for small businesses.
Enabling small businesses to bolster their cybersecurity with an affordable, cloud-based and user-friendly platform.

Development and deployment of an AI-powered credit scoring widget to enable small businesses’ instant access to financing.
Fully closing the loop through the development of a plug and play solution that supports multiple circular models—from reuse to resale.

Tailored assessments to drive small business success in AI adoption and optimization IVÆKST’s AI HUB.

Supporting small businesses to foster autonomous, sustainable and resilient food systems.
A co-creation platform unlocking small businesses’ access to digital tools, bespoke support, and AI-driven insights to build better products.
Building a comparison marketplace for traditional merchants to find the most appropriate tools and solutions to digitize their business operations

A friendly companion chatbot that leverages small business data to access on-demand capital.

A data analytics solution that provides financial institutions with the required climate data to provide small businesses with the necessary funding and know-how.

Testing the potential of virtual reality for training tractor owners to grow their businesses through the Hello Tractor app

Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) is a CDFI that drives economic opportunity in the Washington, D.C.

CAMEO is a coalition of 400+ mission-based lenders, CDFIs, business support organizations, and technical assistance providers.
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.

June 27th marks Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day, a global day that recognizes the critical role that small businesses play in inclusive growth around the world.

Discover how Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) provide mission-driven financing, expand access to capital, and help underserved entrepreneurs grow sustainable businesses in the U.S.

Learn how MARTA Soft POS is helping small businesses in Uzbekistan accept card payments via smartphones, improve onboarding, and boost digital financial inclusion.

How Alabama leaders are coordinating partnerships, data, and technology to strengthen the small business ecosystem and expand access to resources statewide.

Discover how local governments, mentors, and community networks help small businesses grow sustainably through trusted partnerships and hybrid digital support.

Explore how collaboration, shared technology, and network partnerships are strengthening the U.S. small business ecosystem and expanding access to capital at scale.

This post is by Lucinda Revell, co-founder of Boost Capital, an organization that enables financial service providers to serve customers via popular chat platforms without downloading another app.

Discover how tilt uses sustainability data and green financing insights to help European small businesses measure emissions, access funding, and accelerate their path to net zero.

This post is by ShopUp, a B2B-commerce company that connects mills, brands, and manufacturers to small neighborhood shops.

[The app is] easy to use, my order was processed quickly, and my order was delivered as soon as possible, explains Rose Guanzon Maningas, a sari-sari shop owner in Bulacan, Philippines.

Having more consistent definitions and standards about community lending data is one of the six shifts identified in our survey of small business support leaders.

This blog post is written by Subhashini Chandran, senior vice president, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and Leena Datwani, senior advisor.

In Tashkent, Uzbekistans capital and largest city, Olesya and Azamat are busy running their respective businesses.

This post is by Ragna, a Mastercard Strive EU Innovation Fund winner.

This post is written by MESH, a Mastercard Strive partner and the first online community for young entrepreneurs in Kenyas informal economy.

Emerging lessons show how localized, human-centered AI can help small businesses boost efficiency, access finance, and grow while avoiding new digital divides.

Agnes Fruean sells a little bit of this and that.

Digital technology plays a big role in supporting the resilience and growth of small businesses around the world.

How small businesses worldwide are using data, digital tools, and green financing to drive climate resilience and build a more sustainable economy.

By Araba Sapara-Grant Maria worked in the flower district in Manhattan for many years, but her dream of opening her own mobile flower shop seemed untenable.

This post is part of a series from Mastercard Strive EU program exploring the ways digital solutions can boost the resilience and growth of European small businesses.

How combining digital tools with trusted mentorship helps small businesses access finance, build confidence, and unlock sustainable growth.

This post is by the Center for Inclusive and Sustainable Leadership (CELIS) at INCAE Business School

Six key shifts—from flexible capital to stronger partnerships—could transform the U.S. small business ecosystem and improve long-term entrepreneur success.

The creative economy is one of the worlds fastest growing sectors, representing $2 trillion in economic activity globally and potentially comprising 10% of GDP by 2030.

Behavioral nudges and gamification help small businesses adopt digital tools, boosting engagement, sales, and participation in digital marketplaces.

Women-centered last-mile distribution boosts rural sales by empowering women agents with mobility, training, trust, and safer, flexible delivery models.

Social commerce helps small businesses reach customers, boost sales, and access digital payments and credit through social media platforms.

Digital financial services help women-owned small businesses overcome funding gaps, build resilience, and grow through accessible credit, savings, and digital tools.

Consumer protection risks fuel small business distrust of digital finance, highlighting the need for safer, transparent DFS to drive adoption and growth.

Embedded finance helps small businesses access payments, credit, payroll, and insurance directly within digital platforms to boost growth, cash flow, and efficiency.
Learn how digitizing payments boosts small business growth, resilience, and financial inclusion.
Explore best practices for designing digital training programs for small businesses, from microlearning and storytelling to user-centered design.
Learn how outsourcing helps small businesses boost productivity, cut costs, and access global talent.
Discover how digital mentoring boosts small business growth, with evidence, best practices, and strategies for designing impactful mentor programs.
Discover how digital insurance helps small businesses manage risk, build resilience, and close the coverage gap.
Learn how digital measurement helps small business programs track impact, improve decisions, and use real-time data responsibly.
Explore how digital lending is expanding small business access to finance, from fintech credit models to responsible lending practices.
Learn how digital peer networks help small businesses grow through shared knowledge, collaboration, and trust.

