Most small businesses can’t afford a full-time finance chief. So Mastercard is debuting a ‘virtual CFO’ built with AI

Large companies can rely on in-house finance chiefs for strategic guidance. Many small business owners, by contrast, must make CFO-level decisions on their own. Mastercard is betting a new “Virtual C-suite” can help fill that gap.

The new agentic AI offering will eventually span multiple digital “executives,” starting with a virtual CFO that helps owners manage cash flow, working capital, and financial risk.

Why now? “I consistently hear the same thing from small business owners...