CATALYST VENTURE FOUNDATION
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A thriving Africa where locally led innovation powers equitable economies, affordable access to life-enhancing essentials, and a just transition to clean energy—amplifying the creative potential and resilience of underserved communities across the continent
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To accelerate inclusive entrepreneurship and strengthen innovation ecosystems across Africa by supporting ventures that reduce the cost of key essentials, advance the clean energy transition, and build resilient, community-rooted economic models, particularly in the creative and informal sectors.
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At Catalyst Venture, we believe meaningful innovation must be grounded in the realities of the communities it serves. Our approach is built on deep ecosystem engagement, long-term partnership, and a commitment to equity at every stage of the innovation journey.
We take a systems-level, founder-first approach that combines nonprofit infrastructure with venture-building insight to unlock scalable, inclusive, and climate-conscious solutions across Africa.
Catalyst Venture Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Catalyst Venture, focused on building the infrastructure, capacity, and knowledge needed to unlock inclusive entrepreneurship across Africa. We work with founders, ecosystem builders, development partners, and public institutions to drive innovation that reduces the cost of key essentials, empowers underserved populations, and accelerates Africa’s development. Through programs, research, and convening, we strengthen the pipeline and environment for ventures solving for affordability, equity, and inclusive economies.
WHAT WE DO
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WHAT WE DO *
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We equip early-stage innovators—particularly women, youth, and founders from underserved communities—with the knowledge, skills, and networks to build sustainable ventures that improve lives.
Our programs include:
Pre-incubation Labs – Idea validation, prototyping, and business model design.
Venture Readiness Bootcamps – Business fundamentals, customer discovery, and go-to-market strategy.
Founder Resilience Training – Mental wellness, leadership coaching, and values-driven decision-making.
Thematic Accelerators – Cohorts focused on clean energy, climate-smart agri-tech, health access, and digital inclusion.
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Description text goes heWe generate actionable knowledge that enables smarter decisions across the ecosystem—from funders to founders.
Focus areas:
Affordability Innovation Landscape – Mapping scalable solutions tackling the cost of essentials.
Inclusive Capital Flows – Exploring how funding reaches (or misses) marginalized entrepreneurs.
Clean Energy & Livelihoods – Understanding the intersection of climate tech and community well-being.
Emerging Economic Models – Investigating co-ops, shared ownership, and alternative finance mechanisms.
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We catalyze collaboration between key stakeholders to amplify innovation and drive systemic change.
Activities include:
Cross-Sector Convenings – Roundtables, summits, and salons to align actors and mobilize resources.
Innovation Challenge Platforms – Sourcing and spotlighting high-potential ventures.
Community of Practice Hubs – Ongoing learning spaces for ecosystem actors.
Policy Engagement – Informing inclusive innovation policy at local and regional levels.
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We work with donors, NGOs, governments, and corporations to co-design inclusive innovation initiatives that have systemic impact.
Our services include:
Program Design & Delivery – Co-creating impactful incubator, accelerator, or youth innovation programs.
Inclusive Innovation Strategy – Helping funders and institutions integrate equity and affordability in their investment or development portfolios.
Capacity-Building for Hubs – Strengthening innovation intermediaries (incubators, accelerators, labs) to better serve marginalized groups.
Community-Led Model Development – Designing and piloting models that embed local ownership and decision-making.
WHO WE WORK WITH