Mastercard launches next phase of Built Small. Moving Strong. to power small business growth
Announced alongside Money20/20 Middle East, the platform brings together insights, partnerships and practical resources to help entrepreneurs compete in a fast-changing digital economy
Mastercard today announced the next phase of Built Small. Moving Strong. alongside its sponsorship of Money20/20 Middle East, strengthening its regional SME platform through new partnerships, market insights, targeted activations and practical resources that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) compete, grow and adapt in a fast-changing digital economy.
Launched earlier this year, Built Small. Moving Strong. brings together financial institutions, governments, technology providers and ecosystem partners to address the needs of entrepreneurs navigating disruption, rising costs and evolving market pressures. As a sponsor of Money20/20 Middle East, Mastercard will bring customers, partners and ecosystem stakeholders together around the tools and solutions small businesses need to grow, helping extend the platform’s impact across the region.
The latest phase focuses on areas where SMEs are seeking more support: sharper business insight, practical growth guidance, stronger access to working capital, business payment solutions and market activations that deliver tangible value.
Advancing the platform at Money20/20
At Money20/20 Middle East, Mastercard will convene customers, partners and ecosystem stakeholders around Built Small. Moving Strong., showing how insights, partnerships and solutions can translate SME needs into scalable impact. Through roundtables, customer meetings and live demonstrations, Mastercard will highlight practical ways to help small businesses access the tools and support they need to grow.
A growth framework for issuers and SMEs
Mastercard launched the SME Growth Playbook, providing issuers with a practical framework to better identify, acquire, engage and support small businesses, helping turn SME growth from a broad market opportunity into a more structured, scalable strategy. Bringing together Mastercard insights, market learnings and ecosystem best practices, the Playbook offers guidance that can be adapted across markets to help financial institutions deliver more relevant products, services and support for SMEs.
Research that captures the SME pulse
Mastercard launched the SME Confidence Index to examine the outlook, priorities and pressure points shaping small businesses across key markets. In Saudi Arabia, the latest findings show that 75% of small business leaders are confident about the year ahead, while 67% reported revenue growth over the past 12 months. The research also points to strong digital momentum, with 77% of SMEs accepting online payments and seamless, secure payment experiences seen as important drivers of future growth. Together, the findings highlight a resilient, forward-looking SME sector supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader ambitions around innovation, entrepreneurship and economic diversification.
Expanding SME payments with HyperPay
Mastercard and HyperPay launched an SME Business Card to help businesses simplify expense management, improve financial efficiency and support growth through secure, scalable and future-ready payment solutions. The collaboration strengthens business payments across Saudi Arabia, with planned expansion to the UAE and Qatar.
Market activations that deliver tangible value
Mastercard supported a first-of-its-kind initiative with Jarir, giving Mastercard SME cardholders access to discounts on essential products through Jarir’s e-commerce platform. The market-wide campaign delivered practical economic benefits to small businesses at scale, helping them boost productivity, strengthen resilience and operate more efficiently.
“SMEs are the backbone of inclusive economies, but they need more than ambition to grow. They need insight, access, tools and trusted partners,” said Onur Kursun, Executive Vice President, Commercial and New Payment Flows, EEMEA, Mastercard. “Through Built Small. Moving Strong., Mastercard is bringing together its technology, network and ecosystem partnerships to help small businesses unlock opportunities, strengthen resilience and scale with confidence.”
The expansion comes as SMEs across the region continue to invest in innovation and digital transformation while navigating evolving market conditions and rising customer expectations. By connecting insight with action, Mastercard is helping entrepreneurs access more of what they need to grow sustainably.
Through Built Small. Moving Strong., Mastercard will continue working with governments, financial institutions, technology providers and ecosystem partners to expand access to the capabilities, solutions and networks SMEs need to thrive. The platform also supports Mastercard’s commitment to bring 500 million people and small businesses onto their pathways to financial health by 2030. Building on this momentum, Mastercard will advance the platform through additional partnerships, market activations and entrepreneur-focused programs throughout the year.
About Mastercard
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
