Mastercard Strive Colombia
Explore a curated collection of articles, insights, news, updates, and programs reflecting key developments and initiatives across Mastercard Strive Colombia. Stay informed on the perspectives and priorities shaping the region's evolving landscape.
Our focus
Digitalizing traditional businesses in Colombia
Strive Colombia aims to strengthen the resilience and growth of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) through digitalization. We recognize digital tools as key to improving financial well-being, optimizing interactions with customers, suppliers, and employees, and facilitating access to financing. Strive Colombia promotes the adoption of digital solutions and innovative financial instruments, while also strengthening the capabilities of financial partners to develop more accessible and effective models. Strive is designed to serve different profiles of small businesses, ranging from traditional businesses to those in digital transition or with a high level of digitalization.
Our approach
Empowering small businesses to overcome common roadblocks
Encourage the adoption and use of digital tools
We connect small businesses with mission-driven technology partners and essential digital tools that eliminate bottlenecks and enable access to lending and investment.
Promote the use of innovative financial instruments
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.
Strengthen the capabilities of financial partners
Through local and national partnerships, we connect small businesses with expert organizations to develop new skills and grow their capabilities.
Reports
Behavioral sciences to smooth MSE's income volatility in Colombia
Micro and small businesses face volatile income that impacts financial stability and wellbeing, often driving short-term decision-making. Financial providers can address this by designing products with behavioral insights—improving engagement while strengthening resilience and growth.
Reports
Ciencias del comportamiento para mitigar los efectos de la volatilidad de ingresos de las MyPEs en Colombia
En este contexto, existe una oportunidad para aprovechar los aprendizajes conductuales en el diseño de mejores productos y servicios financieros. Las soluciones que respondan a las necesidades psicológicas que rodean las decisiones financieras pueden mitigar los efectos negativos de la volatilidad de ingresos sobre la estabilidad, el crecimiento, el bienestar financiero y la resiliencia de las MyPEs.
Our goal
Strengthening the resilience and growth of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) through digitalization
By the numbers
Our programs
TechnoServe: E-commerce toolkit teaches business owners new ways to grow their online businesses
Business owners learn how to grow their online customer base, increase online sales and profits, and boost customer satisfaction.
Vested Impact: empowering small businesses with the data they need to make change
Leveraging AI and 300M science-based and impact data points to automatically assess and quantify the non-financial impact of small businesses
Datasketch: Equipping Colombian small businesses with tools to harness the power of their own data
Using an AI-powered chatbot designed to deliver crucial information, along with charts and maps, directly via chat.
Mastercard ‘Strive for Growth’ e-commerce training program for small businesses
Supporting small businesses across Latin America to increase their online sales by providing e-commerce training content through active MSE Facebook community groups.
Open Contracting Partnership: Government contracts made accessible for small businesses
Using open data to seamlessly connect small businesses awarded government contracts with financial institutions who can offer them credit.
Videos
Mastercard Strive: Helping Small Businesses Harness AI
Mastercard Strive works with a global network of partners to support inclusive AI solutions that help small businesses make informed decisions and grow their revenue.
The ups and downs of income volatility: Behavioral impacts and opportunities for MSEs
In this video session, we will deep dive into how income volatility affects MSEs and how their responses are shaped by the cognitive biases and perceived frictions that surround them.
Datasketch is democratizing access to AI, to reach small businesses across Latin America
Our partner in Colombia, Datasketch, is democratizing access to AI, with the potential to reach 65,000 small businesses across Latin America through its AI-powered chatbot.
Our partners
Driving growth through institutional know-how, capabilities and resources
Regional partners play a critical role in implementing Strive's programs within local communities. With deep market knowledge and trusted networks, they translate strategy into action — connecting small businesses to digital tools, financial services, and new market opportunities. Their leadership ensures solutions are locally relevant, accessible, and designed to drive lasting economic growth.
Become a partner
Interested in being a partner for change?
Together we can empower millions of small businesses globally with innovative digital solutions that boost resilience, growth, and inclusion. Your organization's expertise can help bring impactful programs to scale, deepen local reach, and create meaningful change in the small business ecosystem. Be part of a vibrant partner community driving real economic impact.