Katapult VC
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Leadership Team
Key people at Katapult VC.
Key people at Katapult VC.
Katapult VC is a Norway-based impact investment platform that combines venture capital with a hands-on accelerator to back early-stage tech startups tackling the world’s most pressing environmental and societal challenges. Its mission is to make impact investing mainstream by mobilizing capital toward ventures that deliver measurable, scalable positive outcomes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The firm operates with a dual conviction: that the biggest global problems also represent the largest business opportunities, and that startups can be both profitable and profoundly impactful.
Katapult focuses its investment philosophy on climate tech, ocean innovation, and African food & agri-tech, backing startups that address climate change, ocean sustainability, and food security in emerging markets. Through its two main strategies—Katapult Ocean and Katapult Africa—it targets pre-seed, seed, and Series A startups with scalable technologies and strong teams. With over 169 investments across 47 countries, Katapult has become a significant force in the global climate-tech ecosystem, particularly in ocean impact and African climate ventures, where it combines capital, acceleration, and a global network to help startups grow and scale.
Founded in 2017, Katapult VC emerged from a vision to bridge the gap between impact and venture returns by building a platform that could systematically identify, accelerate, and fund high-potential startups solving planetary-scale challenges. Based in Oslo, Norway, the firm was shaped by a growing recognition that climate and sustainability issues required not just policy and philanthropy, but also scalable, market-driven solutions.
Katapult evolved from a single accelerator program into a multi-strategy impact VC with dedicated funds and regional focus. Its two core investment arms crystallized over time: Katapult Ocean, launched in 2018, became the world’s most active ocean impact venture fund, investing globally in startups improving ocean health and operations. Katapult Africa, based in Kigali and Nairobi, was established to back food, agri, and climate tech startups across the African continent, where rapid urbanization, climate vulnerability, and innovation create fertile ground for impact-driven ventures. The firm later launched the Katapult Foundation to expand its network of impact investors and hosts the annual Katapult Future Fest in Oslo, reinforcing its role as a connector in the global impact ecosystem.
Katapult VC sits at the intersection of three powerful trends: the rise of climate tech, the mainstreaming of impact investing, and the emergence of Africa as a major innovation hub for climate and food resilience. As climate urgency accelerates, investors and founders are increasingly focused on solutions that can scale rapidly while delivering measurable environmental and social outcomes—precisely the niche Katapult has carved out.
The firm is riding the wave of institutional and LP appetite for climate-aligned assets, particularly in underfunded but high-impact areas like ocean health and African agri-tech. By focusing on early-stage ventures in these domains, Katapult helps de-risk and validate business models that larger funds later back, effectively acting as a “first institutional check” for many climate founders. Its accelerator model also addresses a critical gap: many climate and impact startups struggle with commercialization, impact measurement, and fundraising—areas where Katapult provides structured support.
Moreover, Katapult’s pan-African and ocean-specific focus positions it as a key enabler of geographic and sectoral diversification in climate tech. As global capital seeks exposure to emerging markets and nature-based solutions, Katapult’s portfolio and network become increasingly valuable as a gateway to high-impact, high-growth opportunities outside traditional tech hubs.
Katapult VC is well-positioned to deepen its influence as climate tech matures and impact investing becomes more sophisticated. The next phase will likely see further fundraise activity (with a fund open as of late 2025), expansion of its Africa and ocean portfolios, and stronger integration between its accelerator, venture, and foundation arms to create a more cohesive impact ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Katapult’s success will depend on its ability to:
As climate urgency grows and LPs demand more than just ESG box-ticking, firms like Katapult that combine rigorous venture discipline with deep impact expertise will play an outsized role in shaping the next generation of climate champions. In that sense, Katapult isn’t just funding startups—it’s helping to build the infrastructure of a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable global economy.
Key people at Katapult VC.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2024 | Mira | $9.0M Seed | — | Defined, NFX, Polychain Capital, Polygon, Susa Ventures, Symbolic Capital, Abe Burns, Adam Jackson, Gil Elbaz |
| Nov 1, 2023 | Mocean Energy | $3.0M Venture Round | — | — |
| Oct 1, 2023 | Arteria AI | $30.0M Series B | — | AXA Strategic Ventures, Defined, Greylock, Illuminate Financial Management, Chelcie Taylor, Jeff Richards, Notable Capital, Ajit Tripathi |
| May 1, 2023 | Figorr | $2.0M Seed | — | — |
| Feb 1, 2023 | Deeptune | $3.0M Seed | — | Rainfall Ventures, Seven Seven Six, Vayner RSE, Elias Aalto |
| Nov 1, 2022 | Afrikamart | $150K Seed | — | — |
| Nov 1, 2022 | Sand to Green | $150K Seed | — | — |
| Nov 1, 2022 | Legendary Foods Africa | $150K Seed | — | — |
| Nov 1, 2022 | Vetsark | $150K Seed | — | — |
| Nov 1, 2022 | AquaRech | $150K Seed | — | — |
| Apr 1, 2022 | HerVest | $150K Seed | — | — |
| Nov 1, 2018 | FCB.ai | $560K Seed | — | — |
| Sep 1, 2018 | Think-it | $150K it - Seed | — | — |
| Sep 1, 2018 | Praxilabs | $150K Seed | — | — |
| Sep 1, 2018 | FinAccess | $150K Seed | — | — |
| Oct 1, 2016 | TikkTalk - powered by Skiwo | $850K Seed | — | — |
| Jun 1, 2016 | Differ | $200K Seed | — | — |
