African countries are among the most affected by climate change. In that context, initiatives contributing to resilience are important for the continent.

Last Tuesday, VC fund and accelerator Catalyst Fund unveiled a list of 10 African start-ups that will benefit from its new US$30 million VC fund backed by development agency FSD Africa. The ten startups represent the inaugural cohort of that fund.

The selected start-ups are from Egypt, Uganda, Morocco, Kenya, and Nigeria and were chosen for the innovative technologies they have developed to help communities better adapt to climate impacts and increase their resilience.

Each of them will receive "$100K of equity investments as well as $100K of hands-on venture-building support," and "join Catalyst Fund’s existing portfolio of 61 startups across emerging markets and receive capital, bespoke and expert-led venture-building support, and direct connections with investors, corporate innovators and talent networks that can help them scale."

Catalyst Fund's portfolio companies have raised more than US$640 million in follow-up financing to date. They currently serve more than 14 million people and MSMEs worldwide. According to Maelis Carraro, Managing Partner of Catalyst Fund, the aim is to support motivated founders who share the VC fund's "vision of a world where every individual has the tools and opportunities they need to thrive."

Samira Njoya