Logo FASA avec des lettres brunes, un motif de grains dorés et une courbe verte, accompagné du texte "Managed by I&P".
Logo FASA avec des lettres brunes, un motif de grains dorés et une courbe verte, accompagné du texte "Managed by I&P".
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Panafricain Capitaux propres de démarrage Chaînes de valeur agricoles adaptées au changement climatique, Moyens de subsistance, Sécurité alimentaire et nutrition
Catalyst Fund

Drapeau du Royaume-Uni à gauche, texte "UK International Development" en bleu à droite, avec les mots "Partnership", "Progress", "Prosperity" en dessous.
Country / Region :

Pan-Africa

Asset class :

early-stage VC

Year of creation :

2022

Year of FASA investment :

2026

Target close :

$40M

Target portfolio :

40 SMEs, including 20 agri-SMEs

Investment ticket sizes :

$200k – $1,4M

Website :

thecatalystfund

About the Fund

Catalyst Fund is a venture capital fund contributing to the climate resilience of vulnerable people by investing in companies led by mission-driven, local and women founders, building climate adaptation and resilience solutions to manage climate risks, adapt livelihoods, and build long-term resilience to climate impacts across Africa.

Operating across the continent, Catalyst invests in fintech for resilience (including insurtech, carbon finance, climate risk and data solutions), sustainable livelihoods (climate-smart agritech and foodtech, fishery management and aquaculture, land restoration) and climate-smart essential services (water management, cooling and cold storage, clean energy, waste management and healthcare).

Catalyst typically invests in pre-seed stage startups with a standard ticket size of $200K, as a lead-investor and provides follow-ons at seed and series A stage, and additionally provides venture building services to the startups.

FASA’s investment and added value

FASA provides an investment of $5M in junior equity, alongside other active impact investors in the continent, including IFC and Trafigura. The fund had received initial support and commitments from investors such as FSD Africa (FSDA). By investing in Catalyst Fund, FASA contributes to consolidating and strengthening the fund’s junior tranche, increasing its capacity to attract additional investors and reach its target final close of USD 40 million.

Through this investment, FASA helps de-risk early-stage venture activity in Africa’s agri-food sector and catalyze private capital toward an innovative investment approach that addresses agricultural productivity, resilience, and inclusion.

Besides, FASA also provides a technical assistance budget to address targeted needs of the fund manager and of portfolio agri-SMEs.

FASA’s involvement further enhances the fund’s capacity to reach agri-SMEs, strengthen impact measurement, and connect with ecosystem partners across I&P’s network.

Why FASA invested?

  • A demonstration of blended finance at work, showing how public capital can mobilize private capital.
  • A highly additional investment strategy and a strong track record supporting early-stage businesses growth and impact with capital and a valued venture building approach.
  • A VC fund highly exposed to the agricultural sector with strong impact on livelihoods (including for small holder farmers) and promoting climate smart-agricultural value chains.

Expected Impact

  • Enhancing food security & nutrition
  • Improving livelihoods
  • Promoting climate-smart agricultural value chains

Over the next few years, Catalyst Fund aims to:

  • Improve the climate resilience of 200,000 smallholder farmers
  • Create 3,000 jobs
  • Help restore or sustainably manage 350,000 hectares of land

Fund management

Maelis Carraro

The fund Managing Partner is Maelis Carraro. She has 15 years of experience as an impact investor and entrepreneur working with high impact startups in emerging markets. She co-founded and managed the Catalyst Accelerator, led 60+ investments in tech startups in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Maxime Bayen

The operating manager is Maxime Bayen. He has more than 15 years of experience. as an investor and venture builder in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. He was formerly Head of Venture Building and Lead Venture Partner with the Catalyst Accelerator, and had led 20+ Venture Building engagements.

Oluwatoyin Olubake

Oluwatoyin Olubake is Chief Investment Officer of the fund. He has 14+ years of experience investing and advising in growth markets in Africa. He was formerly Investment Director at Novastar Ventures based in Lagos and had experience in the PE, debt investment, M&A and VC investing

 

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