Catalyst Fund

Enakl is a technology mobility company focused on providing bus-sharing solutions for commuting in Africa. Its platform utilizes data collection to predict demand, allowing for efficient pooling of users based on their destinations and the creation of optimal routes operated by professional drivers. By integrating ride-hailing technology with existing shared taxi services, Enakl offers residents in emerging cities affordable, reliable, and comfortable transport options tailored to their needs. The company's innovative business model emphasizes social inclusion and aims to alleviate issues related to congestion and access to transportation in the region, while promoting flexible, safe, and convenient travel solutions.

Octavia Carbon is the first Direct Air Capture (DAC) company in the Global South, focused on filtering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The company designs, builds, and deploys patented technology that utilizes Kenya's geothermal energy and geological resources to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of DAC technology. By capturing CO2 directly from the air, Octavia Carbon enables the conversion of this greenhouse gas into stable underground rock formations or repurposes it as an industrial gas, helping to replace polluting fossil fuels. This innovative approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also supports industrial power users in East Africa, contributing to the fight against energy poverty in the region.

Octavia Carbon is the first Direct Air Capture (DAC) company in the Global South, focused on filtering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The company designs, builds, and deploys patented technology that utilizes Kenya's geothermal energy and geological resources to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of DAC technology. By capturing CO2 directly from the air, Octavia Carbon enables the conversion of this greenhouse gas into stable underground rock formations or repurposes it as an industrial gas, helping to replace polluting fossil fuels. This innovative approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also supports industrial power users in East Africa, contributing to the fight against energy poverty in the region.

Assuraf is a prominent InsurTech company based in Dakar, Senegal, primarily serving the Francophone regions of Africa. It operates a digital broking platform that offers a wide range of insurance products, facilitating access to various insurance services from multiple providers in one location. By focusing on building essential infrastructure and tailored products, Assuraf aims to promote insurance inclusion and cater to the unique needs of individuals in emerging markets. The company’s approach seeks to simplify the insurance process, making it faster and more accessible for its users.

Brimore operates a social commerce platform that connects emerging brand owners with a network of resellers. These resellers market and sell the products of these brands using social media, providing nationwide coverage for the brands. The platform uses data analytics to facilitate this connection between emerging brands and individual distributors across Egypt's 27 governorates, enabling small local manufacturers to directly reach consumers through freelance sales agents.

Swoove is a logistics service aggregator that focuses on enhancing delivery experiences for businesses and their customers. It offers a comprehensive dispatch and fleet management solution that enables efficient and cost-effective operations. Swoove provides real-time monitoring, updates, and tracking of deliveries, allowing businesses to manage their shipping processes seamlessly. With services beginning at a competitive price point, Swoove supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, starting with Ghana, by facilitating reliable doorstep delivery and accurate pricing. This platform empowers businesses to expand their reach while ensuring quality service in both local and international markets.

Oze is a digital platform designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa by providing tools for managing sales, expenses, and customer data. The app enables entrepreneurs to track their financial activities efficiently and offers tailored recommendations, reports, and business education to enhance their operations. Oze also provides access to coaching for users seeking additional guidance. By leveraging data and machine learning, Oze can assess credit risk and facilitate affordable financing options through banking partners. With a user base exceeding 150,000, Oze has established itself as the largest online community of SMEs in West Africa, demonstrating significant impact as 97% of businesses using Oze for over nine months have reported growth or profitability.

Tendo is an online platform based in Accra, Ghana, that facilitates independent reselling by connecting resellers with businesses. Founded in 2019, the company allows individuals to start their own online businesses without the need for upfront capital investment. Tendo sources ready-to-ship products from various suppliers, which are then made available to resellers who can add their profit margins. The platform also provides access to social media tools and enables resellers to list products at wholesale prices, eliminating the challenges of inventory management and transportation. This innovative approach empowers small businesses and individuals to thrive in the digital e-commerce landscape.

KudiGo is a technology company that provides a mobile-based integrated solution designed for informal consumer retailers in Africa. Its platform offers a comprehensive suite that includes retail management, accounting, and non-cash payment processing, along with AI-powered analytics. By leveraging innovative technology, KudiGo helps users improve their business oversight and adopt efficient bookkeeping practices, promoting financial inclusion. Additionally, the company utilizes big data and blockchain technology to enhance transparency and facilitate real-time monitoring for manufacturers and distributors in the retail sector.

Indicina Technologies Limited is a Lagos-based company that offers a digitized credit analysis platform aimed at enhancing consumer finance strategies in Africa. The platform serves a variety of financial institutions, including banks, insurers, and consumer finance companies, by providing tools for creating credit rules and models, conducting credit assessments and scoring, managing loan portfolios, and facilitating loan collections. By leveraging analytics-driven insights, Indicina helps these institutions optimize their credit decision-making processes, improve application acceptance rates, and reduce default rates, thereby contributing to the development of a robust credit infrastructure in the region.

Jetstream Africa Limited is a cloud-based logistics platform based in Accra, Ghana, founded in 2018. The company specializes in providing cross-border marine logistics services, facilitating freight forwarding and global exports for African suppliers. By offering tools for booking, tracking, and consolidating shipments, Jetstream enhances access to international trade for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. The platform aims to simplify the shipping process, making it more accessible for businesses to engage in global commerce.

Kandua is an online marketplace based in South Africa that connects homeowners with vetted and rated independent contractors for various home services, including renovations, maintenance, and repairs. The platform facilitates all aspects of the hiring process, allowing users to communicate, manage invoicing, and make payments securely through its system. By providing comprehensive profiles of artisans, complete with personal details and reviews from previous clients, Kandua enables homeowners to make informed decisions when selecting service providers tailored to their specific needs. This approach aims to reduce the risks typically associated with hiring small contractors, ensuring a more reliable and efficient home service experience.

WellaHealth is a startup focused on improving healthcare access for low-income individuals and families in Nigeria. The company has developed a digital triage bot that provides guidance based on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control guidelines, allowing users to log their health responses for potential follow-up by public health authorities. In addition to this innovative tool, WellaHealth offers micro-health insurance plans that target prevalent diseases, providing affordable coverage for treatments and medications. Their platform connects users to a network of pharmacies and healthcare professionals, enabling them to manage their health needs without facing significant financial strain.

Flex Finance is a spend management platform tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa, addressing the critical issue of financial mismanagement that leads to high business failure rates. Recognizing that 90% of businesses on the continent may not survive past five years due to inadequate financial oversight, Flex provides tools to streamline expense management. The platform features an intuitive user interface that facilitates budgeting, expense tracking, digital requisitions, and bulk payment transfers. By offering these services through both mobile and web applications, Flex empowers businesses to digitize their financial operations, making them more efficient and better equipped to manage their spending in an increasingly digital environment.

Chipper Cash is a financial services company founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. It operates a software application platform that enables users to send and receive money instantly and for free across different currencies within Africa. The platform facilitates peer-to-peer cross-border money transfers in a simple manner, similar to sending a text message, enhancing financial inclusivity across the continent. Chipper Cash’s innovative approach allows users to make personal payments efficiently via their mobile devices, making it a key player in the African fintech landscape.

Wasoko is an e-commerce platform that connects small retail shops in Africa to the digital economy, enhancing their access to essential goods and services. By facilitating seamless transactions, the platform allows informal retailers to conveniently order products via SMS or a mobile app, ensuring they receive free same-day delivery to their stores. This approach not only simplifies the sourcing process for shopkeepers but also helps manufacturers maintain consistent product availability for consumers. Through this model, Wasoko aims to boost sales and market coverage for companies operating in emerging markets, thereby fostering trade and economic growth across the continent.

Kwara GmbH is a technology company that specializes in developing a digital banking platform tailored for savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOs). Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, Kwara aims to modernize credit unions by providing a comprehensive cloud-based solution. The platform facilitates loan application servicing and approval for members, while also offering integration services, customer support, real-time financial tracking, and compliance assistance. Kwara's offerings include Kwara Pronto, a tool for managing loans. Currently, the company serves over 200 SACCOs across Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines, enabling these financial institutions to enhance their operations and improve access to formal financial services.

PesaKit is a technology company based in Nairobi, Kenya, that specializes in providing a platform for last-mile agent networks in the mobile money and digital finance sectors. Established in 2018, PesaKit utilizes artificial intelligence to develop a virtual assistant that streamlines the management of liquidity and conversion processes for mobile money agents and merchants. The company's software application features an API-driven interface, enabling users to digitize distribution and access channels effectively. PesaKit aims to enhance financial inclusion by supporting mobile money agents with innovative tools that improve their operational efficiency.

Meerkat is a financial wellness company based in Cape Town, South Africa, founded in 2015. It aims to enhance the financial health of individuals by offering a range of services designed to improve their financial situations. The company provides debt counseling, debt consolidation, debt rescue, and credit risk cover, making it easier for clients to manage their finances and achieve their financial goals. Additionally, Meerkat's credit life business offers comprehensive coverage at lower premiums, all accessible through a mobile platform, facilitating convenient financial management for its customers.

CowryWise is a FinTech company based in Lagos, Nigeria, that offers a personal finance platform designed to automate savings and investments for users across the country. The platform allows users to set up automatic transfers from their bank accounts to their CowryWise accounts on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, with these savings earning interest through risk-free investments such as treasury bills and government bonds. By leveraging technology and investment management, CowryWise aims to democratize access to premium financial services at low costs, helping customers achieve their savings and investment goals in a simple, secure, and rewarding manner. The company also provides free wealth advisory and consumer education to promote financial inclusion among its users.

Chipper Cash is a financial services company founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. It operates a software application platform that enables users to send and receive money instantly and for free across different currencies within Africa. The platform facilitates peer-to-peer cross-border money transfers in a simple manner, similar to sending a text message, enhancing financial inclusivity across the continent. Chipper Cash’s innovative approach allows users to make personal payments efficiently via their mobile devices, making it a key player in the African fintech landscape.

Wasoko is an e-commerce platform that connects small retail shops in Africa to the digital economy, enhancing their access to essential goods and services. By facilitating seamless transactions, the platform allows informal retailers to conveniently order products via SMS or a mobile app, ensuring they receive free same-day delivery to their stores. This approach not only simplifies the sourcing process for shopkeepers but also helps manufacturers maintain consistent product availability for consumers. Through this model, Wasoko aims to boost sales and market coverage for companies operating in emerging markets, thereby fostering trade and economic growth across the continent.

Chipper Cash is a financial services company founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. It operates a software application platform that enables users to send and receive money instantly and for free across different currencies within Africa. The platform facilitates peer-to-peer cross-border money transfers in a simple manner, similar to sending a text message, enhancing financial inclusivity across the continent. Chipper Cash’s innovative approach allows users to make personal payments efficiently via their mobile devices, making it a key player in the African fintech landscape.

Wasoko is an e-commerce platform that connects small retail shops in Africa to the digital economy, enhancing their access to essential goods and services. By facilitating seamless transactions, the platform allows informal retailers to conveniently order products via SMS or a mobile app, ensuring they receive free same-day delivery to their stores. This approach not only simplifies the sourcing process for shopkeepers but also helps manufacturers maintain consistent product availability for consumers. Through this model, Wasoko aims to boost sales and market coverage for companies operating in emerging markets, thereby fostering trade and economic growth across the continent.

MobiLife is an insurance provider established in 2015 and headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company focuses on transforming the micro-insurance sector by offering insurance products and processes that are fully accessible through smartphones. MobiLife aims to support South African families by providing financial protection, ensuring they do not face hunger due to the loss of a primary income earner. Through its innovative approach, MobiLife seeks to make insurance more accessible and relevant to the needs of its customers.

At Smile ID they believe anyone should be able to prove their identity easily, anywhere in the world. Their team is made up of American and African engineers and financial services professionals with experience across global markets in highly regulated environments. They have built encryption, authentication and security solutions. They have developed image processing technology from the chip level up. They have been part of security investigations and have pursued fraudsters. Having worked with, or for, telecoms, lenders, banks and startups, they know the challenges of building world class technology and they understand the needs of the African consumer and enterprise customer. They are backed by leading Silicon Valley & African investors and they have pan-African reach, with representation in the United States, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda.

At Smile ID they believe anyone should be able to prove their identity easily, anywhere in the world. Their team is made up of American and African engineers and financial services professionals with experience across global markets in highly regulated environments. They have built encryption, authentication and security solutions. They have developed image processing technology from the chip level up. They have been part of security investigations and have pursued fraudsters. Having worked with, or for, telecoms, lenders, banks and startups, they know the challenges of building world class technology and they understand the needs of the African consumer and enterprise customer. They are backed by leading Silicon Valley & African investors and they have pan-African reach, with representation in the United States, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda.