THE BLOG

Mastercard and Fundbot: A Strategic Partnership to Accelerate B2B Payments in the MENA Region

A Key Collaboration: Mastercard and Fundbot have joined forces to launch a B2B payment platform in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).
Advanced Features: Integrating dynamic discounting and virtual cards, the solution aims to streamline transactions between buyers and suppliers.
A Growth Context: Founded in Nice in 2020, Fundbot operates from the United Arab Emirates, coordinating its expansion across the region.

A Platform to Accelerate Payments

On November 21, 2024, in Dubai, Mastercard announced via press release its partnership with Fundbot, a Nice-based fintech specializing in supply chain financing.

This strategic collaboration seeks to transform B2B payments in the MENA region, starting with initial rollouts in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The jointly developed platform will allow businesses to optimize payments using features such as dynamic discounting and virtual cards.

The goal is to reduce days sales outstanding (DSO) while simplifying financial flows across industries.

Initially, the solution will focus on early payments in the healthcare sector.

Fundbot: A Nice-Based Fintech with Global Ambitions

Founded in 2020 in Nice, Fundbot has quickly become a key player in digitalizing financial processes for SMEs. From its strategic base in the UAE, the company now drives its expansion in the MENA region, targeting markets such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Egypt.

In early 2024, Fundbot raised $1.5 million in Seed funding from Hambro Perks Oryx Fund, Flat6Labs, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), PlusVC, and Aditum Investment Management Limited. This funding has bolstered its regional growth while enabling innovations in cash flow optimization solutions for SMEs.

A Collaboration for Innovative Solutions

The co-developed platform will feature Fundbot’s AI-powered dynamic discounting product, which calculates optimal discount rates using algorithms based on industry and geographic trends. Additionally, Mastercard will integrate its In Control for Commercial Payments (ICCP) solution, enabling the generation of virtual cards for suppliers in partnership with local banks.

Amnah Ajmal, EVP Market Development EEMEA at Mastercard, remarked:
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Fundbot to create a revolutionary platform that simplifies B2B transactions and expands the use of virtual cards.”

Karl Abouzeid, Founder and CEO of Fundbot, added:
“Fundbot’s mission is to revolutionize B2B payments, a critical component of any economy. Through our dynamic discounting product, we provide businesses with access to funds precisely when they need them most, enabling more efficient financial management and business growth. We are excited to work with Mastercard to drive digitized payment growth in this segment.“

Multilingual Support and Simplified Adoption

The platform includes features to facilitate its adoption, such as digital onboarding campaigns for suppliers and support in Arabic, English, and French. These enhancements make the solution accessible to businesses of all sizes across the MENA region.

Through this partnership, Fundbot solidifies its position as a key player in the FinTech sector, expanding its international influence while strengthening its strategic presence in the UAE.