Key Takeaways
- • Catalyst Fund has secured $30 million in second-close commitments for its Catalyst Climate Resilience Fund I, a pan-African venture fund targeting climate tech solutions across the continent.
- • The second close attracted major institutional backers including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Shell Foundation, Trafigura Foundation, Financing for Agricultural SMEs in Africa (FASA), Speedinvest, and Blink Impact, alongside high-net-worth individuals and prior investors FSD Africa and Cisco Foundation.
- • The fund targets early-stage climate tech founders building scalable solutions in agriculture, resilience infrastructure, and essential services across African markets, with Catalyst Fund providing both capital and hands-on venture-building support.
- • IFC's participation signals institutional commitment to channeling capital and expertise toward climate adaptation ventures in Africa, with expectation that successful early-stage exits will attract additional private investor interest.
- • Catalyst Fund plans to reach final close later in 2026, indicating the fund remains open for additional capital commitments before closing.
Summary
Catalyst Fund, a pan-African venture capital firm and venture builder, announced the second close of its debut Catalyst Climate Resilience Fund I, securing $30 million in total commitments to support early-stage climate technology entrepreneurs across Africa. The funding round expanded the investor base significantly, welcoming institutional and foundation backers alongside existing limited partners from the first close.
The second close's investor syndicate includes the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank subsidiary focused on disruptive technologies and emerging markets; Shell Foundation; Trafigura Foundation; Financing for Agricultural SMEs in Africa (FASA), which targets the agricultural funding gap across the continent; and venture capital firms Speedinvest and Blink Impact. These join first-close investors FSD Africa and Cisco Foundation. Maelis Carraro, founder and general partner of Catalyst Fund, characterized the round as enabling the fund to deepen its mission of backing founders building practical, scalable climate solutions while providing venture-building support beyond capital.
Farid Fezoua, global director for disruptive technologies, services, and funds at the IFC, emphasized that the partnership mobilizes both capital and technical expertise to help early-stage climate ventures scale sustainably and attract downstream private investors. FASA's participation reinforces the fund's agricultural focus, as the organization's mandate centers on reducing funding gaps for agricultural small and medium enterprises through catalytic capital deployment and investment manager support.
The fund's thesis centers on climate adaptation as a defining investment theme for the coming decade, particularly in Africa where climate impacts are immediate and homegrown entrepreneurial talent is substantial. Portfolio companies are reportedly strengthening livelihoods, expanding access to essential services, and creating quality employment in underserved communities. Catalyst Fund indicated it expects to achieve final close later in 2026, signaling the fund remains actively fundraising before closure.
The second close's investor syndicate includes the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank subsidiary focused on disruptive technologies and emerging markets; Shell Foundation; Trafigura Foundation; Financing for Agricultural SMEs in Africa (FASA), which targets the agricultural funding gap across the continent; and venture capital firms Speedinvest and Blink Impact. These join first-close investors FSD Africa and Cisco Foundation. Maelis Carraro, founder and general partner of Catalyst Fund, characterized the round as enabling the fund to deepen its mission of backing founders building practical, scalable climate solutions while providing venture-building support beyond capital.
Farid Fezoua, global director for disruptive technologies, services, and funds at the IFC, emphasized that the partnership mobilizes both capital and technical expertise to help early-stage climate ventures scale sustainably and attract downstream private investors. FASA's participation reinforces the fund's agricultural focus, as the organization's mandate centers on reducing funding gaps for agricultural small and medium enterprises through catalytic capital deployment and investment manager support.
The fund's thesis centers on climate adaptation as a defining investment theme for the coming decade, particularly in Africa where climate impacts are immediate and homegrown entrepreneurial talent is substantial. Portfolio companies are reportedly strengthening livelihoods, expanding access to essential services, and creating quality employment in underserved communities. Catalyst Fund indicated it expects to achieve final close later in 2026, signaling the fund remains actively fundraising before closure.
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