With an investment in Kasha Global Incorporated, Mastercard has deepened its partnership with the purpose-driven ecommerce platform.
The companies will keep working together to ensure that women in emerging markets have essential access to health and personal care goods, as well as the knowledge they need to support their daily hygiene requirements.
Kasha’s network, which combines online and offline capabilities, enables women in rural and urban areas to place confidential personal care orders.
Women can search, order, and pay for hygiene products that are discreetly delivered to them by local micro-entrepreneurs using the full product catalogue available online or by placing orders using simple mobile handsets, thereby helping local store owners develop their business.
Since Kasha joined Mastercard StartPath in 2019, the organizations have been on a journey together, and Mastercard’s investment is the next step in that journey.
Mastercard has partnered with Kasha to incorporate digital payment through its ecommerce platform since joining the award-winning start-up engagement program, and the partners have joined forces to deliver hygiene products to families across Kenya in an attempt to help prevent the spread of COVID.
“Kasha’s goal is to ensure that women in emerging markets have access to the products, information, and services they need for their health, self-care, and well-being,” said Joanna Bichsel, Kasha’s Founder and CEO. “I am thrilled that we are continuing our collaboration with Mastercard and that we not only have a committed investor with shared values, but also an innovative partner as we continue to take Kasha’s development forward,” she added.
Mastercard’s collaboration with Kasha directly contributes to the company’s goal of bringing 1 billion people and 50 million small businesses into the digital economy by 2025, with an emphasis on delivering solutions to 25 million women entrepreneurs.
“Mastercard partners with governments, companies, and entrepreneurs to help them achieve their goals, and it is dedicated to putting its resources to work to promote sustainable and inclusive growth,” said Raghav Prasad, Mastercard’s Division President for Sub-Saharan Africa. “Through our work with Kasha, we’re leveraging Mastercard’s innovations, experience, and collaborations to support women’s and small business empowerment. This collaboration is a significant step forward in our efforts to meet women’s basic needs and promote development in African communities.”
Mastercard’s investment will allow Kasha to extend its current platform offering, reaching more women, communities, and small businesses than ever. It also builds on Mastercard’s efforts to support micro-entrepreneurs and women-owned small businesses in Africa through the Mastercard Track Micro Credit Program, dubbed “Jaza Duka” in Kenya (fill up your store in Swahili). The partners hope to have a meaningful effect on traditionally underserved communities across Africa and beyond by combining Mastercard and Kasha’s strengths in partnership with global consumer goods and banking partners.
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