Catalyst Fund has invested in OKOA, an African electric-mobility startup developing an interoperable battery-swapping network for electric motorcycles.
The investment will support OKOA’s rollout of battery-swapping infrastructure as the company moves toward commercial deployment in African markets.
Catalyst Fund did not disclose the size of its investment in OKOA in its July 2026 announcement but it’ll help OKOA initially expand in Tanzania and Cameroon, with the company also reporting a pipeline of about 30 cities across six African countries.
The startup’s model is built around battery interoperability, allowing batteries to be used across electric motorcycles from different manufacturers. Riders can exchange depleted batteries for charged units in about one minute rather than waiting for conventional charging.
OKOA was formed through the combination of electric-mobility company OKOA and Kenyan battery-management technology company Stima in 2024. The combined group is led by Alexandre Coster, who previously founded and led energy-access company Baobab+, alongside Stima co-founders Jason Gras, Emile Fulcheri and Ahmed Ali.
Catalyst Fund said the investment reflects its focus on startups addressing climate resilience and economic inclusion in emerging markets.
OKOA says its battery-swapping model is designed to reduce riders’ energy costs by 40% to 60% compared with petrol, while its asset-light franchise model allows existing businesses such as fuel stations, shops and car washes to host swapping points.
The company is preparing to demonstrate its first interoperable swaps in 2026 as it begins scaling the network beyond its initial markets.