Recipients receive a $10,000 CAD grant and access to a diverse
community of peers and experts to fuel their future growth
TORONTO, Feb. 5, 2025
/CNW/ - Mastercard has unveiled the newest recipients of the
Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund. The Fund grants
$10,000 CAD to 10 Canadian women
small business owners alongside support to grow and scale their
businesses. Recipients also receive a Priceless experience in
Toronto providing them with expert
mentorship, community building opportunities with fellow small
business owners and valuable insights to further develop their
businesses.
Mastercard recognizes that small business success is everyone's
success. Through initiatives like the Mastercard x Pier Five Small
Business Fund, Mastercard is reinforcing its dedication to small
businesses and the communities they serve, highlighting the
important role they play in strengthening our nation's overall
prosperity and growth.
"The Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund empowers
talented small business owners with resources and mentorship to
help them succeed well into the future," said Nishant Raina, Vice President, Small and Medium
Enterprises, Mastercard Canada. "More than just a financial
grant, it's a catalyst for growth and innovation, and an
opportunity to showcase the future of small business in
Canada."
This year's Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund
recipients join a distinguished group of past recipients from
across Canada, representing a
range of backgrounds and industries, from technology to wellness,
healthcare and more:
- Boco Boco (Montreal, QC): an
eco-friendly online gourmet grocery store on a mission to help
consumers make sustainable purchases.
- Bruized (Toronto, ON): a
sustainable snack company that rescues and upcycles perfectly good
surplus food into plant-based snacks, while inspiring discussions
about reducing food waste.
- Folds Wear Inc. (Calgary, AB):
a clothing company founded to bring innovation, style and
sustainability to healthcare uniforms using unique fabrics that
support the environment and care for the wearer's skin.
- ImaginAble Solutions (Hamilton,
ON): a social impact company creating assistive technology
to improve the quality of life for people with hand
disabilities.
- Lesley Hampton (Toronto, ON): an inclusive luxury and
Indigenous fashion brand that champions diverse beauty and empowers
all body types and backgrounds.
- Mahara Mindfulness (York, ON):
creators of The Human Being Journal, designed to help people manage
mental health, gain perspective and live fulfilled lives.
- Paintillio (Sechelt, BC): a
company creating custom paint-by-numbers projects that are high
quality, hands-on, collaborative and accessible to help communities
grow through artistic expression and creative initiatives.
- Remix Snacks (Vancouver, BC):
a dietitian-led company creating bean-based snacks with ingredients
that reduce food waste.
- Shawish Market (Toronto, ON):
an Indigenize custom-built and marketplace-style platform, designed
to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs by eliminating vendor
fees.
- The Magpie Cakery (Toronto,
ON): a collaborative community kitchen designed to help
local businesses thrive.
Building vital connection and community
Mastercard
recognizes that in addition to financial support, mentorship and
networking opportunities are crucial for small business owners to
expand their businesses. Along with a $10,000 CAD grant, recipients will enjoy a
Priceless experience in Toronto,
where they can meet with mentors, connect with Mastercard partners,
and gain valuable insights through networking with fellow
recipients.
"Initiatives like the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund
help to bridge the gap in access to funding, which has historically
been a significant barrier to success for women entrepreneurs,"
said Julian Golden, Pier Five
co-founder. "We're proud to be part of this initiative with
Mastercard that broadens access to funding and provides distinctive
mentorship opportunities to this year's cohort of deserving small
business owners."
Supporting small businesses at every stage of
growth
The Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund is
part of Mastercard's long-standing commitment to enhancing the
vitality of Canadian small businesses with innovative programs,
tools and solutions.
In addition to payment solutions and funding opportunities,
Mastercard offers safety and security solutions like a free cyber
assessment tool to help small businesses stay protected and tools
designed to facilitate seamless transactions and digital enablement
through the Mastercard Small Business Resource Centre. Mastercard
will also continue to support small businesses with innovative,
community-level support to drive sales and growth with initiatives
like the recent immersive shopping experience in Fort Langley, B.C.
Understanding that mentorship and support are at the heart of
small business success, the Mastercard Small Business
Community provides small business owners the opportunity to
learn, grow and connect with Mastercard and its partners
year-round, plus gain access to resources to help manage and expand
their business.
To find out more about the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business
Fund and this year's recipients,
visit www.mastercard.ca/supportsmallbusiness.
About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)
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.
www.mastercard.com
About Pier Five
Pier Five is a community driven organization that offers support to
creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. Our mission is to
empower those looking to turn their passions into full-time
businesses and careers by hosting unique networking events,
fundraising programs and content series across Canada. Pier Five's initiatives have connected
thousands of creatives and business owners and is building one
of the largest founder networks across the country, shaping culture
and driving economic growth.
SOURCE Mastercard
