NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, September 4, 2015

MasterCard has launched Start Path Global, a globally available partnership programme for retail and fintech start-ups.

The six-month programme will provide start-ups in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America with operational support in bringing their products to market, including advice from over 60 MasterCard experts.

Chosen start-ups will have access to Start Path Partners, a network of over 20 leading banking, retail, and technology companies. This includes Rakuten, Samsung Card, TSYS, Target, Bank of Montreal, and Santander Innoventures.

Start Path Global represents a global expansion for Start Path, previously available in Europe, exactly a year after the announcement of the inaugural programme.

Previously participants were required to spend 4 months based onsite in Dublin, whereas now they will not have to relocate.

"Start Path thoughtfully connects the right partners with the right startups to build the future of commerce together," said Stephane Wyper, Global Lead of MasterCard Start Path. "And now with our global expansion we will be able to target a broader range of startups and help them achieve success."