Unlike conventional accelerators, Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV is a free program designed to support impact-driven tech companies in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals through strategic partnerships. By connecting high-potential Nordic and Baltic startups with major organizations, the program helps sustainable innovators scale globally. The 2025 spring cohort includes two startups focused on sustainability and three addressing global social challenges, reinforcing MASSIV’s reputation as a competitive platform for transformative impact.

Deedster – Founded in Sweden, Deedster is a premier provider of data and digital tools for measuring, reporting, and reducing carbon emissions. Their services are tailored for banks, payment providers, and card issuers, leveraging innovative methods to calculate emissions based on transactions.

“We’re so excited to join the Lighthouse MASSIV program, collaborating with leading partners to drive transformative climate and sustainability impact world-wide. Our platform is equipped with data and digital tools for measuring, reporting, and reducing carbon emissions. We aim to leverage the Lighthouse MASSIV program to forge impactful partnerships and scale our SaaS platform, ultimately contributing to the vision of creating impact for over one billion people by 2025”
– Monika Martinsson, Chief Growth Officer and Co-Founder at Deedster

Esgrid – Based in Tallinn, Estonia, Esgrid is a B2B SaaS startup that empowers medium-sized enterprises and financial institutions to manage their value chain sustainability on autopilot by fully automating end-to-end processes and reducing costs by 10x.

“We are excited to join Lighthouse MASSIV after being on the market for one year. As we expand in the Nordics, we see great potential in working with the program’s partners and advisors to unlock rapid growth and facilitate the much-needed adoption of sustainable procurement and finance in the region” – Oksana Tolmatshova, Co-founder & CEO at Esgrid

Trust Stamp Denmark – Trust Stamp delivers privacy-first, interoperable identity solutions that empower underserved communities to securely access essential services without compromising personal data. By irreversibly converting biometrics into tokens using proprietary technology, Trust Stamp enhances fraud prevention, operational efficiency, and digital inclusion while ensuring the highest standards of security and privacy.

“ We are excited to join the Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV program to collaborate with global partners and drive a transformation in digital identity solutions for the underserved. Our Mission is to accelerate secure financial and societal inclusion, and our strategic goal is to ensure secure, interoperable, and privacy-first solutions that protect individuals while enabling seamless and universal access to essential services. By advocating for open, adaptable identity solutions and breaking vendor lock-in, we empower governments and organizations to implement sustainable and future-proof digital identity systems that prioritize universality, security, and privacy.” – Scott Francis, CEO of Trust Stamp Denmark

Contribe – Founded in Denmark, Contribe is redefining loyalty by making every purchase an opportunity for real-world impact. Instead of earning points or discounts, consumers automatically earn Change – a new reward that supports social and environmental causes at no extra cost to them. By embedding good impact directly into shopping, Contribe empowers brands to connect with the next generation of conscious consumers, building deeper engagement and stronger loyalty. While users can track their contributions and see the tangible difference they make when shopping online or in-store – turning everyday purchases into a force for good.

“We are excited to join the Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV program as we work towards a future where impact is built into every transaction. Loyalty and payment systems need to evolve beyond discounts to meet the expectations of modern consumers – who want their spending to contribute to real change. The program gives us the opportunity to collaborate with financial leaders, explore integrations with Mastercard’s network, and establish key partnerships that will help us scale impact-driven loyalty globally.” Christoffer Bouet, CEO

Empower – a company born in Norway, Empower is a global leader in digital waste tracking and circular economy solutions, leveraging blockchain technology to bring transparency, traceability, and accountability to waste value chains. By incentivizing informal waste collectors and enabling businesses to verify and offset their plastic footprint, we are building a financial infrastructure for waste that ensures both environmental impact and economic empowerment.

“We are honored to be selected for the Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV program and excited about the opportunity to scale our impact. At Empower, we believe that traceability and financial inclusion are key to solving the global waste crisis. Through this program, we see a unique opportunity to collaborate with Mastercard and financial institutions, unlocking innovative funding mechanisms for waste collectors, recyclers, and businesses committed to circularity. By bridging digital payments and waste management, we can create scalable solutions that drive real, lasting change” – Lennard Hulsbos, CEO at Empower

The companies selected for the program were chosen for their commitment and capacity to scale sustainable partnerships. Mastercard aims to strengthen these collaborations in pursuit of its vision to create a more prosperous and secure world.

As part of the Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV program, startups receive feedback and support from UNDP, Swedbank, Danske Bank, Synch and individual advisory board members with diverse and impressive backgrounds from investment firms like VNTRS, First Fellow Partners and SKARP. These board members represent sustainability experts, investors, and executives, each with their own global network: 

“Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV is really one of the most impressive programs I have encountered, providing unparalleled support for impact-driven startups. By fostering strategic partnerships, the program empowers high-quality sustainability and social impact companies to scale globally and accelerate real change. I am excited to contribute as an advisor and to support the incredible companies selected for this year’s cohort.”
– Jim Runsten, CEO & Founder, Synch

“10 years ago, sustainability was fringe. Convincing mainstream businesses that the new BAU would be centered around impact, technology, data and sustainability was hard to imagine, but today it’s hard to imagine the opposite! We’ve seen progress, but we need more. I am inspired and honoured to be part of the MASSIV programme – I am also appreciative of Mastercard’s continued commitment to impact and sustainable change. This year’s cohort, like every year, is impressive and gives me renewed hope – with many leveraging AI for good. The world may have its challenges, but it also holds the solutions, I’m excited to see where this leads”
– Melanie Rideout, AI Process Manager, Shayp

“Honestly, the energy from the startups in Mastercard Lighthouse is amazing! It’s crystal clear that the magic formula for real, lasting impact is a blend of bold innovation and smart business sense. We’re talking about sparking truly groundbreaking ideas but also making sure they can actually thrive and scale. That’s where the real excitement is – building solutions that don’t just solve today’s real problems, but lay the groundwork for a brighter future. It’s about empowering positive change that ripples out, benefiting everyone and everything for years to come. That’s the kind of future we’re building together!”
– Kristaps Prusis, Founding Partner VNTRS & Outlast Fund

Press Contact: Karin Strand, Communications • Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (APEMEA), karin.strand@mastercard.com