Mastercard launches "Mastercard For Fintechs" to help fintechs grow

Mastercard has launched "Mastercard For Fintechs" in Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Milan, supporting fintechs with tools, mentoring and a 50,000 euro prize. The program addresses the challenges of fundraising, offering fintechs support for sustainable growth. It is part of Mastercard's strategy to affirm its role as a privileged partner for these players.

FACTS

• Mastercard has launched the "Mastercard For Fintechs" program in four major European cities: Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Milan.

• The program aims to support the growth of fintechs by offering them access to tools, mentoring sessions, and the chance to win a €50,000 prize.

• The competition targets fintechs in the early stages of investment, such as pre-seed, seed or series A. They must have developed a concrete solution on the market and be active in at least one of the following European countries: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.

• Eligible fintechs operate in various sectors, including payments, Web3, blockchain, new payment flows, banking, SMEs, integrated finance, as well as green technologies.

• Mastercard estimates it serves more than 80% of the world's leading digital payment fintechs and neo-banks (source: CNBC).

CHALLENGES

• Meeting the demands of fundraising: this program addresses the complexity of fundraising that fintechs face. It offers invaluable support for sustainable, profitable growth, with opportunities for training, networking, international visibility and financing.

• Supporting fintechs: "Mastercard For Fintechs" is part of a series of Mastercard initiatives aimed at supporting fintechs and startups. The program offers exclusive access to training platforms, fintech events and a European competition.

• Positioning itself as a privileged partner: By collaborating with fintechs, Mastercard reinforces its role as a privileged partner for these innovative companies, encouraging the emergence of new solutions in the financial sector.

MARKET PERSPECTIVE

• The launch of "Mastercard For Fintechs" reflects Mastercard's strategy to capitalize on the flourishing fintech ecosystem in Europe, where Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Milan are major hubs. By offering essential resources such as mentoring and financing, Mastercard seeks to consolidate its position in the fintech sector, where competition for partnerships and investment is intense.

• The Mastercard StartPath program has entered into partnerships with over 380 fintechs from 54 countries, including more than 10 developing unicorns such as Revolut, Razorpay and Airwallet. During 2023, around 50 commercial agreements were signed with Mastercard and its customers.

• Initiatives such as Mastercard's "Fintech Express" program were launched in 2020 to accelerate the development and enhance the innovation of European startups.