Four African startups are among the six selected by Catalyst Fund for the 10th cohort of its accelerator for fintech companies building solutions designed to improve the resilience of underserved and climate vulnerable communities in emerging markets.
Catalyst Fund, managed by BFA Global, is supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), JPMorgan Chase & Co, and PayPal, and fiscally sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
The organisation explored the role of fintech innovation in increasing the resilience of climate-vulnerable populations, and based on these insights., it has chosen its next cohort. Six companies, four of which are from Africa, have been selected to participate.
They are Kenya’s AquaRech, a platform for fish farmers to source quality feed, reduce growth cycles by monitoring via sensor technology, find new routes to market, and access credit to enable growth; Nigeria’s ColdHubs, a “plug and play” modular, solar-powered walk-in cold room, for 24/7 off-grid storage and preservation of perishable foods, enabled through digital payments; Kenyan/Nigerian startup TopUp Mama, an online B2B platform for restaurants to purchase all inventory required at wholesale prices; and Kenya’s Tulix, a digital payment wallet to enhance visibility of funds and collaboration between African migrants and their beneficiaries back home.
The cohort is completed by companies from Mexico and Argentine, who will join Catalyst Fund’s existing portfolio of 55 companies and receive catalytic capital, bespoke and expert-led venture building support from BFA Global, and direct connections with investors, corporate innovators, and talent networks that can help them scale.
Catalyst Fund will continue to look at how inclusive fintech innovators can help vulnerable populations become more resilient.
“Low-income and underserved communities in emerging markets will bear the brunt of the climate crisis, yet contributed the least to it. The impacts of climate risks are predicted to be expansive, affecting communities in wide ranging and unforeseen ways. It’s fundamental to invest in solutions that build resilience to shocks and ensure these solutions are reaching the most vulnerable,” said Maelis Carraro, managing director of Catalyst Fund.
