Overview
The Catalyst Fund Resilience I is a USD 40 million venture capital fund investing in pre-seed climate adaptation startups in Africa, with follow-on investments at seed and Series A stages. The fund targets three key areas: fintech for climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and climate-smart essential services. Critically, Catalyst Fund pairs pre-seed capital with hands-on venture-building support from a team of operators and technical experts with deep market expertise, systematically derisking its investments while driving strategic and financial value for its portfolio companies.
Problem
Climate adaptation in Africa remains significantly underfunded, with early-stage solutions struggling to secure the necessary capital to scale their impact. Startups in this space face numerous challenges, including limited access to funding, technical support, and local market insights. This funding gap prevents the development of innovative solutions that can help communities adapt to climate change, affecting livelihoods and economic stability across the region.
Solution
Catalyst Fund Resilience I addresses these challenges by leveraging its robust local networks and targeted climate adaptation thesis to identify early-stage commercial solutions, then supporting these startups through a combination of venture capital and 5-7 months of hands-on venture-building support spanning operations, marketing, customer acquisition, and fundraising, among others. By leveraging its extensive network across Africa, Catalyst Fund connects startups with investors, technical experts, and local partners, ensuring they have the resources and expertise needed to succeed. This approach fosters a thriving ecosystem of climate-resilient enterprises, driving sustainable development, climate resilience, and local capacity building.
CC Facility Support
The CC Facility supports Catalyst Fund Resilience I by guiding the development of a comprehensive gender strategy and investor engagement strategy, which includes assistance with fundraising strategy and investor mapping. Additionally, the CC Facility is supporting Catalyst Fund to further develop its climate adaptation impact framework.
Website
Catalyst Fund - https://www.thecatalystfund.com/