Airtel Payments Bank, Frontier Markets and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth have joined forces to launch She Leads Bharat:Udyam. This initiative aims to support 100,000 women-owned small businesses in India by providing them with the resources, tools and opportunities to grow and diversify their incomes.
In the first phase of the initiative, 100,000 women-owned small businesses in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh will have the opportunity to learn and earn through Frontier Markets' Meri-Saheli platform. Out of these, 10,000 business owners will be given the chance to expand their businesses by becoming Airtel Payments Bank Business Correspondents (BCs) and unlock additional revenue streams.
The partners hope that She Leads Bharat:Udyam will improve access to financial services and create a new model for serving rural markets. The initiative aims to provide tailored support to women-owned small businesses, addressing their specific needs.
Frontier Markets will collaborate with Airtel Payments Bank to onboard eligible women-owned small businesses as business correspondents. They will utilize the Meri-Saheli network and platform to increase product and brand awareness as well as generate leads to maximize earning opportunities for these businesses.
Additionally, these businesses will gain access to a range of tools, resources, and market services available in the Meri-Saheli ecosystem, helping them learn how to run successful businesses and increase their revenue. The Mastercard Impact Fund will provide funding for She Leads Bharat:Udyam, while the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth will contribute its global expertise and catalytic capital to unlock tools, resources and networks for women-owned small businesses.
Airtel Payments Bank offers a wide range of banking solutions through its extensive network of 500,000 banking points across the country and digital platforms. Frontier Markets is a social enterprise that focuses on rural-assisted social commerce in India. The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth works towards promoting equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion worldwide.
She Leads Bharat:Udyam is powered by Mastercard Strive India, which aims to enable 500,000 small businesses to succeed in the digital economy by 2025.
