KARACHI: Pakistani fintech ABHI has been selected as one of only eight companies worldwide to join Mastercard’s Start Path Small Business program, a global initiative aimed at scaling innovative digital solutions for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the company said on Tuesday.
The selection marks a significant milestone in ABHI’s expansion strategy across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) region, where financial inclusion remains a pressing challenge.
Founded in 2021, ABHI provides credit-bridging tools such as Earned Wage Access (EWA), invoice factoring, payroll solutions and SME financing, and now operates across Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Since its launch, the company says it has served more than 1 million users in sectors ranging from textiles and manufacturing to health care and technology, onboarded over 5,000 businesses and processed around 5 million transactions worth more than $500 million.
“As part of the program, ABHI will have the opportunity to collaborate with Mastercard’s product and innovation teams, receive mentorship, and gain access to Mastercard’s extensive network of partners to accelerate the impact of its solutions for businesses and employees across emerging markets,” the company said in a statement.
Alongside ABHI, the latest Mastercard program cohort includes INI, SiFi, TogoAgro, TurnKey Lender, Conduiit, Tracflo, and Morado.
Omair Ansari, ABHI’s co-founder and CEO, said outdated financial infrastructure and poor access to credit had long constrained individuals and businesses in emerging markets, adding that his goal was to develop financial technology that gives people instant access to the resources they need to grow and succeed.
Pakistan, with a population of 240 million, is home to one of the world’s largest unbanked populations. Around 64 percent of adults have a bank account, according to the State Bank of Pakistan, which has set a target to raise that figure to 75 percent and cut the gender gap to 25 percent by 2028.
Recently, the fintech has also deepened its presence in Gulf markets.
Earlier this month, ABHI announced a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s TRAY platform to integrate EWA services into restaurants, cafés and cloud kitchens across the Kingdom, a move aligned with Vision 2030 goals on workforce empowerment and SME growth.
It also secured a $15 million credit facility in 2024 from UAE-based investors Shorooq Partners and Amplify Growth Partnership to expand its services in the Emirates.
