“Driving Fintech Growth in EEMEA: Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President of Market Development at Mastercard, Leads Innovation and Collaboration”
EEMEA’s fintech sector is experiencing rapid acceleration, poised to surpass $2.5 billion this year, with startups across the region securing substantial investments. Mastercard, a global leader in payments and technology, is actively shaping the fintech landscape in EEMEA through a dynamic strategy that involves strategic acquisitions, robust collaboration, and a commitment to fostering innovation.
While Mastercard consistently strengthens its in-house capabilities, strategic acquisitions are pivotal to keeping pace with fintech advancements and meeting the evolving needs of customers in the EEMEA region. Recent acquisitions include SessionM, a loyalty provider for brands like Starbucks and L’Oreal, offering real-time personalization, and CipherTrace, a cryptocurrency intelligence business providing insights into 900 cryptocurrencies. Amnah Ajmal, Mastercard’s EVP of Market Development for EEMEA, emphasizes the transformative impact of integrating these capabilities with Mastercard’s data, network, and infrastructure on digital transformation and inclusion.
Beyond acquisitions, Mastercard collaborates with various industry players, including retailers, telcos, governments, banks, and established fintech companies, to address the needs of startups and SMEs. Providing fintech entities with loyalty solutions, artificial intelligence for data monetization, and cyber risk assets, Mastercard supports the vital growth of the fintech community. The company also plays a crucial role in helping startups and SMEs scale their businesses by connecting them with larger organizations and integrating them into Mastercard’s products and capabilities.
Mastercard’s commitment to fostering collaboration in the fintech space is further evident through its upcoming event, “Collaborate to Innovate,” scheduled for September 28th and 29th, 2022. The event will bring together leaders from various sectors across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to discuss leadership, digital landscapes, and business opportunities. Startups will have the chance to present their ideas to a judging panel, with winners gaining access to Mastercard’s product suites and a network of experts.
In EEMEA’s fintech realm, Mastercard plays a pivotal role in connecting people to possibilities and businesses to opportunities, driving innovation and collaboration for a thriving digital ecosystem.