Mastercard Selects India’s BharatPe For Start Path Fintech Accelerator

US-based payments giant Mastercard’s Start Path accelerator programme has brought on board BharatPe among seven fintech startups from across the world in its latest edition.

Besides the Delhi NCR-based B2B payments startup, the other selected startups include Cyberwrite, Eureka AI, Hydrogen, Kasha, Mmuze, and Ziosk. This group would be put through a personalised accelerator programme, given operational support and be offered business opportunities within the Mastercard ecosystem.

The Mastercard Start Path works with growth-stage tech startups and offers a six-month virtual programme, with opportunities to scale and secure strategic investments by leveraging the company’s technology, solutions expertise and partners across the world.

The seven startups selected from across the world works in various industry verticals, including ecommerce, payments solutions, and cybersecurity among others.

Founded in 2014, Mastercard Start Path accelerator programme evaluates thousands of startups around the world and carefully selects about 40 companies that offer the most promising technologies and show a readiness for scale. The company has selected more than 200 startups through its Start Path programme, collectively has raised over $1.5 Bn in funding.

7 Startups Under Mastercard Start Path Programme — 2019 

BharatPe: The B2B payments startup that offers UPI-based transactions for offline merchants in India was founded in 2018 by Ashneer Grover. The company has raised $67.5 Mn funding till date. BharatPe is backed by Insight Partners, Ribbit Capital, Steadview Capital, Sequoia Capital India, BEENEXT

Cyberwrite: San Francisco and Tel Aviv-based cybersecurity SaaS platform Cyberwrite discovers, quantifies and helps mitigate the financial impact of cyber risk on businesses worldwide. It was founded in 2016 by Nir Perry.

Eureka AI:  This Indonesian startup helps businesses reach customers more effectively by blending business data with mobile operator data using its proprietary AI algorithms. It works with companies across banking, insurance, transportation, consumer goods and more. Founded this year, Eureka AI has offices in Bengaluru, Seattle, Singapore and Jakarta.

Hydrogen: New York-based global fintech acceleration startup helps other fintech companies and solutions go to market in a faster and more efficient way. It claims to cut time and costs by 80%. Hydrogen was founded in 2017 by Matthew Kane and Mike Ross Kane.

Kasha: Nairobi-based ecommerce startup is bringing health and personal care products to women in low-income rural areas of emerging markets. It does this by enabling a digital commerce experience without internet or smartphones. The company was founded in 2016 by Amanda Arch and Joanna Bichsel.

Mmuze:  New York-based conversational AI platform that helps online retailers offer a more personalised shopping experience to customers with a virtual retail assistant. The company was founded in 2014 by Dorit Deddi, Efrat Blaier, Ran Zfoni.

Ziosk: Dallas-based Ziosk is a tablet plus software suite for diners at casual dining restaurants. It features a touchscreen, a card reader and entertainment apps along with proprietary software that also allows diners to rate the servers and restaurant. Ziosk was founded in 2007 by Jack Baum and Viren Balar.