Catalyst Fund runs open calls for specific thematic areas (their current focus is climate resilience and financial inclusion). Check their website for the current open call — they run 1-2 per year. They provide non-equity grants of $2,500–$15,000 alongside technical assistance, which makes them the right first stop for pre-seed founders who want to preserve equity while validating the model.
Apply or learn more →Pre-seed grant and investment fund (typically $2,500–$15,000) backed by JPMorgan, Mastercard Foundation, and Rockefeller. Portfolio includes Turaco, Jetstream, Lami, and Wasoko.
Catalyst Fund provides non-dilutive funding and intensive technical assistance to early-stage startups building inclusive financial services and climate-resilient businesses in Africa and other emerging markets. Backed by JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation, their thesis targets non-consumption — founders serving customers currently excluded from formal financial and insurance systems.
Because they take no equity, they are an appropriate first round for founders at pre-seed who want validation without dilution. Their portfolio includes Turaco, Jetstream, Lami, Wasoko, and Indicina — all of which subsequently raised institutional equity rounds.
