As a venture capital fund and venture builder, we partner with visionary founders who are developing high-impact climate adaptation solutions to enhance the resilience of communities and the planet. Our investments span critical sectors including climate-smart agritech and food systems, climate insurance, land restoration, cold chain, waste management, clean energy, and water management.
What sets us apart is our active, hands-on venture-building approach at the pre-seed stage. Drawing from our extensive experience as founders and operators in emerging markets, we support startups with their tech, product, data, and marketing challenges, propelling them towards product-market fit and rapid growth.
Catalyst Fund began its journey in 2015 as a global accelerator managed by BFA Global, targeting early-stage inclusive fintech startups dedicated to improving the financial health of underserved communities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Our inaugural fund, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and JPMorgan Chase & Co., and fiscally sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, successfully backed 20 startups across 15 emerging markets.
In 2019, we scaled our accelerator with support from the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), PayPal, and Mastercard Foundation, expanding our reach to 36 additional inclusive tech startups in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, India, and Mexico.
The Catalyst Fund accelerator addressed critical gaps in emerging market innovation ecosystems, such as insufficient capital for early-stage product testing and iteration, a lack of necessary skills for building viable solutions for underserved customers, and limited connections between local founders and global investors and corporate partners. Our approach combined catalytic grant capital, bespoke venture-building support from seasoned operators and market experts, and access to a global network of investors and corporates, while also sharing valuable insights with the broader inclusive tech ecosystem.
Between 2015 and 2022, Catalyst Fund supported 61 companies across 15 emerging markets, constantly refining our model to guide startups to product-market fit and scale. Our portfolio companies have collectively raised over US$800 million in follow-on funding, with one unicorn, five successful exits, and a reach extending to over 14 million individuals and MSMEs globally.
Aligned with our mission to empower entrepreneurs addressing the most significant challenges of our time, we launched our first equity fund in 2022 to support founders tackling the urgent global issue of climate change. Our current fund continues our legacy investing in solutions that will shape a sustainable and resilient future for all.
Catalyst Fund launched as a global accelerator, managed by BFA Global, targeting early-stage inclusive fintech startups across emerging markets. Its mission was to improve the financial health of underserved communities. Fund I was launched with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Catalyst Fund launched as a global accelerator, managed by BFA Global, targeting early-stage inclusive fintech startups across emerging markets. Its mission was to improve the financial health of underserved communities. Fund I was launched with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Catalyst Fund successfully built a portfolio of 20 startups across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, driving innovation in inclusive fintech solutions.
Catalyst Fund successfully built a portfolio of 20 startups across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, driving innovation in inclusive fintech solutions.
Catalyst Fund expanded its accelerator into a $15M vehicle, with continued support from UKaid, JPMorgan Chase & Co, and later, PayPal. The accelerator now focused on embedded fintech startups across key markets: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, India, and Mexico.
Catalyst Fund launched as a global accelerator, managed by BFA Global, targeting early-stage inclusive fintech startups across emerging markets. Its mission was to improve the financial health of underserved communities. Fund I was launched with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Catalyst Fund launched the Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator, backing startups in Ghana that enable access to inclusive digital commerce solutions for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Catalyst Fund launched the Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator, backing startups in Ghana that enable access to inclusive digital commerce solutions for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Catalyst Fund Inclusive Tech Accelerator starts exploring the intersection of climate and fintech, increasing investments in climate-smart agri-fintech, cold chain solutions, climate insurance and more.
Catalyst Fund Inclusive Tech Accelerator starts exploring the intersection of climate and fintech, increasing investments in climate-smart agri-fintech, cold chain solutions, climate insurance and more.
By this time, Catalyst Fund had supported 61 startups across 15 emerging markets, reaching over 40 million underserved customers and MSMEs, significantly advancing financial health and access to essential services enabling resilience worldwide!
By this time, Catalyst Fund had supported 61 startups across 15 emerging markets, reaching over 40 million underserved customers and MSMEs, significantly advancing financial health and access to essential services enabling resilience worldwide!
Catalyst Fund entered a new phase, partnering with FSD Africa to launch its first venture fund focused on climate resilience and adaptation in Africa, driving impact in a critical new frontier!
Catalyst Fund Climate Resilience reaches its first close! Targeting a portfolio of 40 climate adaptation ventures across Africa.
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Catalyst Fund entered a new phase, partnering with FSD Africa to launch its first venture fund focused on climate resilience and adaptation in Africa, driving impact in a critical new frontier!
Catalyst Fund Climate Resilience reaches its first close! Targeting a portfolio of 40 climate adaptation ventures across Africa.
By 2024, Catalyst Fund invested in 22 pre-seed startups driving climate resilience across 8 African markets.
By 2024, Catalyst Fund invested in 22 pre-seed startups driving climate resilience across 8 African markets.
