Catalyst
Catalyst is a matched funding mechanism that increases the pool of capital available to promising African growth-stage entrepreneurs. Catalyst helps to de-risk investments for funders, supports the start-up ecosystem at-large, and increases the impact visibility for institutional partners.
Matching angel investments in African startups
Catalyst operates as a co-investment fund that will match investments from angel investors into African growth-stage companies
How does Catalyst work?

Matching Angels
Funds from Catalyst will be released after startups have received investments from Angel investors that are part of an angel network registered with ABAN.

Funding startups
To be eligible, startups are required to register on the Catalyst platform through hubs that are members of the AfriLabs network.

Tracking Progress
For each equity investment of a business angel in a start-up, funding will be provided in the form of a grant to the start-up in order to de-risk the investment of the business angel.
How does Catalyst change the game?
Catalyst facilitates the development of those relationships as the first initiative of what we expect to be a highly valuable and long-lasting collaboration between AfriLabs and ABAN.
― Tomi Davies, President African Business Angels Network ABAN
Catalyst helps to structure the ecosystem, supports collaboration, and provides actionable insights into the early-stage funding landscape, all the while strengthening our hubs and our angel networks.
― Rebecca Enonchong, Chair of the Board AfriLabs
Connecting startups from the AfriLabs network ..
.. with Angel investors from ABAN
Our Objective
35+
Catalyst will facilitate 35 investments
1M
Catalyst makes 1 million USD available to angel investors.
5
Catalyst will realize 5 startup exits.
Ready to engage?
Want to know if your investment qualifies for matched funding from Catalyst?
Our Initiators

Promoting technology and innovation in Africa
AfriLabs was founded in 2011 to build a community around rapidly emerging tech hubs―innovation spaces that serve as meeting points and communities for developers, entrepreneurs, and investors. Our mission is to support the growth of technology hubs and their communities to raise high potential entrepreneurs that will stimulate economic growth and social development in Africa

Promoting an African culture of Angel Investing
The African Business Angel Network (ABAN) is a Pan-African non-profit association. ABAN was founded in early 2015 to support the development of early stage investor networks across the continent and to grow the cohort of early stage investors excited about the opportunities in Africa.
We believe that supporting the development of the African technology and innovation ecosystem enables Africa to participate in the global knowledge and innovation market place thereby stimulating economic growth.
Our Partners





About Us
We are Catalyst
Matching angel investors Catalyst operates as a co-investment fund that will match investments from angel investors into African growth-stage companies Matching angel investors