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Mastercard and Boost, a leading business-to-business (B2B) commerce platform, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in last-mile fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution networks.

This collaboration will deliver digital payment options, embedded credit, and integrated supply chain finance solutions, equipping small businesses with the tools to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.

Aligned with Mastercard’s commitment to bringing one billion people and 50 million MSMEs into the digital economy by 2025, the partnership will initially focus on high-growth markets, including Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.

“Small businesses are the backbone of thriving economies, yet they often face significant barriers to growth,” said Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard. “Through our partnership with Boost, we are strengthening the support ecosystem for MSMEs in emerging markets by providing essential digital tools and financing solutions to help them succeed in today’s digital economy.”

The initiative is designed to empower FMCG distributors and retailers by digitizing payments through Boost’s digital commerce platform. This platform connects businesses to critical working capital and Mastercard’s robust acceptance solutions, enabling seamless transactions and fostering financial inclusion.

Mike Quinn, co-founder and CEO of Boost, shared his excitement about the collaboration: “We are thrilled to partner with Mastercard to advance our mission of enabling small businesses in last-mile global distribution networks to thrive in the digital economy. Our scalable platform, combined with our

WhatsApp ordering solution, has already demonstrated cost-effective growth across multiple channels in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. Mastercard’s support will help us elevate our model to create transformative value for customers and partners while advancing our global ambitions.”

Boost’s innovative platform simplifies end-to-end distribution in predominantly offline channels, providing direct-to-retailer digital engagement and embedded financing for distributors and retailers.

By enabling increased visibility, broader coverage, and digital promotions, Boost’s technology offers a comprehensive solution to challenges faced by small businesses in the last-mile distribution network.

According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), MSMEs account for over 90% of all companies globally, contributing an average of 60-70% to total employment and 50% of GDP.

Despite their critical role, a $5.7 trillion financing gap—equivalent to 1.4 times the current global MSME lending level—continues to hinder their growth, as highlighted by the SME Finance Forum.

This partnership between Mastercard and Boost is set to address these challenges, providing MSMEs with the resources they need to overcome barriers and drive sustainable growth in FMCG distribution across emerging markets.