Catalyst Fund

Exciting news from The Star: Catalyst Fund Secures USD 260K to Boost #Climate Startup in #Kenya: https://bit.ly/4j2yspF Village Capital #startups #ClimateInnovation #SustainableBusiness #RenewableEnergy #BlueEconomy #ClimateAction #FoodSecurity

How do accelerators and funds support founders on their journey to venture capital? Join our Managing Partner, Maelis Carraro, today from 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM GMT+3 for a fireside chat on what investors look for, how founders can navigate fundraising, and the role of accelerators in startup success. She’ll be joined by Sneha Mehta, CFA (Co-founder, Uncover), who will share her experience moving from early grants and incubators to securing venture capital. Sign up to attend: https://lu.ma/faxci6ti Maxime Bayen, Rasima Swarup, Sydney Thiam, Javier Linares, Ngetha Mwangi, Valiullah Hashmi, Maureen K., Charles I. Nweke, Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, Yemi A., Thabiso Foto

We're glad to have been featured by The Star, Kenya, for our work in accelerating climate-focused startups in Kenya! ??https://lnkd.in/dzeK6v3h With support from Norway through Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Catalyst Fund recently secured USD 260K under the 2025 Empowering Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Africa (ESEA) program, led by Village Capital, to support early-stage startups tackling Climate Adaptation, Renewable Energy, Blue Economy, and Food Security. As part of this initiative, Catalyst Fund is working alongside Ennovate Ventures (Tanzania), Emerge Livelihoods (Malawi), ideiaLab (Mozambique), and Reach for Change (Ghana) to build a strong pipeline of climate-focused startups across Africa. If you're an early-stage startup in Kenya developing a scalable climate solution, apply now to join our program and receive: ? Pre-acceleration support ? Tailored mentorship ? USD 25K grant funding for top-performing startups Deadline: April 30, 2025 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dAENZ9bm Maelis Carraro, Maxime Bayen, Rasima Swarup, Sydney Thiam, Javier Linares, Ngetha Mwangi, Valiullah Hashmi, Maureen K., Charles I. Nweke, Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, Yemi A., Thabiso Foto

Water insecurity is a growing crisis. 5.52 billion people worldwide lack reliable access to water, including 1.34 billion in Africa, accounting for over 90% of the continent's population. This #WorldWaterDay, we spotlight Catalyst Fund portfolio startups that are innovating for water security through precision irrigation, solar-powered desalination, and regenerative agriculture. Swipe through to see how NoorNation, Sand to Green, and Tolbi are driving impact! #WaterInnovation #ClimateResilience Wissal Ben Moussa, Benjamin Rombaut, Gautier de Carcou?t, Ragy Ramadan, REP?, Mohamed M. Khaled, Mouhamadou Lamine KEBE, Maelis Carraro, Maxime Bayen, Rasima Swarup, Sydney Thiam, Javier Linares, Ngetha Mwangi, Valiullah Hashmi, Maureen Koech, Charles I. Nweke, Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, Yemi A., Thabiso Foto

Are you building a climate-resilient future? At Catalyst Fund we're on a mission to back bold founders developing tech-driven solutions to tackle climate challenges in Africa. If your venture delivers real impact, scales efficiently, and is led by a strong local team, we want to hear from you! What we look for: ? Your solution should directly contribute to a more sustainable and resilient Africa ? We support high-growth ventures leveraging technology for impact ? We back founders who deeply understand their markets ? We provide pre-seed funding with follow-on support to help scale winners Our focus areas: ?? Climate Smart Essential Services - Water management, waste management, clean energy, cold storage, health ?? Fintech for Climate Resilience - Insurance, carbon finance, climate data ?? Sustainable Livelihoods - Agriculture and food systems, fishery management, land restoration If this sounds like you, submit your pitch today! ??https://lnkd.in/dMjUv4ga Maelis Carraro, Maxime Bayen, Rasima Swarup, Sydney Thiam, Javier Linares, Ngetha Mwangi, Valiullah Hashmi, Maureen K., Charles I. Nweke, Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, Yemi A., Thabiso Foto

Maxime Bayen is joining the jury at HackSummit! ????? Are you driving Africa's next big leap in healthy food innovation? Apply now to pitch at the FoodTech World Cup Semi-Finals for Sub-Saharan Africa! ?? More details here: https://lnkd.in/dYQPYSqR

Did you miss our latest episode of the Greenprint? Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/dPSxQTQw In this episode, we explore how young African innovators Wissal Ben Moussa (Sand to Green), Samuel Rigu (Safi Organics Ltd.), and Francis N. (Keep IT Cool | Earthshot Prize Winner 24) are transforming agriculture and creating new opportunities for rural communities. Farming is Africa's biggest employer, yet productivity remains the lowest globally. With 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land, the potential is immense—but rural communities still face economic challenges. These founders are building innovative solutions to tackle the problems affecting their families and communities: ?? Sand to Green (Morocco) – Turning deserts into fertile land with regenerative agroforestry and data-driven technology. ?? Safi Organics Ltd. (Kenya) – Locally producing organic fertilizers through a decentralized model to improve soil health and farm yields. ?? Keep IT Cool | Earthshot Prize Winner 24 (Kenya) – ?Providing cold chain storage to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food security. This episode is part of The Greenprint, our series on climate action in Africa, produced in partnership with The Flip, Delta40 Venture Studio, and Africa Climate Ventures. Maelis Carraro, Maxime Bayen, Justin Norman, Lyndsay Holley Handler, James Mwangi. Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, Rasima Swarup, Sydney Thiam, Javier Linares, Ngetha Mwangi, Valiullah Hashmi, Maureen K., Charles I. Nweke, Thabiso Foto, Yemi A.

"In just 18 months, we have supported 22 startups across 8 African markets and 10 climate adaptation sectors, with 35% of startups led by women founders. We plan to make an additional 18 pre-seed investments over the next two years in category leaders in climate innovation." – Maelis Carraro, Managing Partner, Catalyst Fund. In a recent interview with Adapt Unbound, Maelis discussed how we at Catalyst Fund are driving investment in Africa's most promising climate adaptation startups. She highlighted the urgent need for solutions that help vulnerable communities mitigate and adapt to climate shocks while creating jobs and economic growth opportunities on the continent —through climate-smart agriculture, energy, and water management solutions, and financial inclusion tools that protect livelihoods. With Africa bearing the brunt of climate change yet also possessing key assets to be a global leader in climate solutions, Maelis emphasized the importance of backing founders developing scalable, locally relevant innovations. Catalyst Fund's portfolio reflects this commitment, spanning solutions from regenerative agriculture to decentralized renewable energy, insurance, and water security. Read the full interview here:https://lnkd.in/ei-Rt4By Maelis Carraro, Maxime Bayen, Rasima Swarup, Sydney Thiam, Javier Linares, Ngetha Mwangi, Valiullah Hashmi, Maureen K., Charles I. Nweke, Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, Yemi A., Thabiso Foto

??? Thrilled to share! Catalyst Fund has been featured in Adapt Unbound’s list of 100+ top climate adaptation investors! We're proud to be among the most active investors driving innovation in energy resilience, climate intelligence, water, and the built environment, helping to build a more adaptive and resilient future. ?? Startups—this list could connect you to your next big investor! ?? Investors—find the right partners to scale your impact. Explore the full list here: https://lnkd.in/eAkqrqFH Maelis Carraro, Maxime Bayen, Rasima Swarup, Sydney Thiam, Javier Linares, Ngetha Mwangi, Valiullah Hashmi, Maureen K., Charles I. Nweke, Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, Yemi A., Thabiso Foto

?? African climate innovators, We're looking for you!?? Are you building a startup in any of these areas ??? We want to support and accelerate your work! ?? WaterTech & Water Intelligence Solutions ?? Financing for Regenerative Agriculture ?? Precision Reforestation ? Alternative Materials (plastic-free solutions) ?? Coastal Resilience Technologies We're actively scouting for pre-seed startups tackling these challenges. If you're an innovator driving climate impact—or know someone who is—connect with us today! ?? ?? https://lnkd.in/dMjUv4ga ?? Tag a founder making a difference! Maelis Carraro, Maxime Bayen, Rasima Swarup, Sydney Thiam, Javier Linares, Ngetha Mwangi, Valiullah Hashmi, Maureen K., Charles I. Nweke, Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, Yemi A., Thabiso Foto