Mastercard ranked No. 1 on the Fair360 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list in 2023.
Mastercard has welcomed six fintechs to the Start Path in Solidarity Program, which is dedicated to supporting underrepresented founders.
For startups, seed and angel investments are crucial to growth. However, in the U.S., startups with at least one Black founder receive a lower percentage of deal counts and venture dollars.
Through the Start Path in Solidarity Program, Mastercard provides companies with stage-relevant support, including enterprise partnership readiness training, a dedicated mentor and introductions to investors and Mastercard customers.
The following fintechs have been welcomed to the program, joining 21 other companies:
- Allison (Birmingham, Ala.): Enables community banks and credit unions to onboard new deposits by launching regulatory-compliant products and services
- Binkey (Washington, D.C.): Unlocks the future of savings and payments for patients and healthcare consumers
- Cyvatar (Irvine, Calif.): Accelerates the future of cybersecurity through smart, measurable, managed security subscriptions that turbocharge compliance and fortify business defense
- Freeing Returns (Atlanta, Ga.): Offers nationwide retailers a total retail loss solution to maximize profitability and efficiency
- Gemini Energy Solutions (Washington, D.C.): Helps small business and nonprofits audit their energy usage to make positive change
- ShearShare (Buffalo, N.Y.): Provides space-as-a-service, usage-based insurance, and portable healthcare for the second largest industry for freelancers and independent contractors
The program is part of Mastercard’s commitment of $500 million to help close the racial wealth and opportunity gap in America.
