Mastercard partners with FinTech start-up, Scale

By Gloria Methri

Mastercard has partnered with Scale, an issuer orchestration partner, to accelerate market deployment for FinTech companies across Africa and the Middle East.

The collaboration will alleviate key technical and commercial barriers to entry that FinTech companies, aggregators, enablers, payment service providers (PSPs) and telcos face when launching payment programs. The move will enable them to focus on their core business and launch new products and services efficiently.

“At Mastercard, we are committed to working with local ecosystem players to drive the growth of innovative payment solutions across the region with the aim of bridging the digital gap, enhancing financial inclusion and improving access to financial services. With its in-depth knowledge of the FinTech landscape, Scale is our ideal partner in achieving these goals,” said Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President of Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard.

Mastercard and Scale will support FinTech companies and other ecosystem players in securing BIN sponsorships, building sustainable unit economics, designing and commercializing their card and other payment programs, and productization. Together with their partners, they will co-create inclusive value propositions that are poised for long-term growth.

The collaboration will evolve into a technology proposition, enabling any tech company to acquire the Mastercard issuing capability through Scale.

Miranda Perumal, Co-Founder & CEO of Scale, said, “FinTech companies move at speed and require commercially viable collaborations with experienced companies that cater to a cost-sensitive market. Through our exciting partnership with Mastercard, we are solving a major pain point and providing a single point of contact while absorbing the complexities of seeking a bank BIN sponsor, third-party processor and other payment solution providers. This combined ecosystem service allows FinTech players to focus on their core business and us to focus on ours – streamlining processes, enabling payments and supporting the program’s growth to earn revenues faster.”

Mastercard will integrate its managed services into the partners’ systems and manage their card program implementation from start to finish. In the post-launch period, Scale will assist the partners in growing their portfolios, driving revenues and achieving profitability by understanding consumer behaviours, market dynamics and competitors.