Catalyst Investors
Catalyst Investors is a New York-based growth equity firm founded in 2000 that invests $10-20M+ in B2B companies with $5M+ ARR, managing $1B+ AUM across five funds and 50+ portfolio companies focused on vertical SaaS, healthcare technology, and vertical AI.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Catalyst Investors does
Catalyst Investors is a New York-based growth equity firm founded in 2000 (the firm's own website states 1999) that provides expansion capital to B2B companies at the inflection point from product-market fit to scale. The firm invests $10 million to $20 million+ in companies with $5 million or more in ARR, with a target holding period of 5+ years, and concentrates on vertical SaaS, healthcare technology, HR tech, and what the firm brands as "vertical AI." It has invested more than $1 billion across five funds in 50+ portfolio companies, and its track record includes Mobileye (acquired by Intel for $15.3 billion), Mindbody (2015 IPO), Weave (2021 NYSE IPO, WEAV), and BrightFarms (acquired by Cox Enterprises in 2021). The firm is controlled by its founding partners and led today by Managing Partners Brian Rich and Tyler Newton, alongside Partner Kapil Desai and Co-Founder & Senior Advisor Ryan McNally, with a team of approximately 14.
The firm does not develop proprietary technology; its core product is capital plus a value-add platform that includes strategic, tactical, and financial support for portfolio management teams. Catalyst supplements its investment activity with a relationship-driven marketing apparatus — an Advisory Group of operators, the annual GoForIsrael Conference, the Ignition newsletter, and a regular cadence of thematic research publications covering topics such as vertical AI, compliance-native software, and the AI infrastructure buildout. The firm's revenue is generated through conventional private-equity economics: management fees on committed capital, plus carried interest realized via M&A exits and IPOs, with revenue inherently lumpy relative to calendar quarters because exits are event-driven. Sourcing is primarily referral-based through the firm's network of founders, executives, and advisors, with the New York office (261 5th Avenue) serving as the only disclosed location.
Catalyst Investors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catalyst Investors
- Legal name
- Catalyst Investors
- Website
- https://catalyst.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Catalyst Investors is a New York-based growth equity firm founded in 2000 that invests $10-20M+ in B2B companies with $5M+ ARR, managing $1B+ AUM across five funds and 50+ portfolio companies focused on vertical SaaS, healthcare technology, and vertical AI.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catalyst Investors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity / Growth Equity
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Style Equity — Growth (Active) (FSAAAIAI)
Keywords
Where Catalyst Investors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Catalyst Investors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Returns / Fund Management: Catalyst generates returns through equity appreciation in portfolio companies, realized through M&A exits and IPOs. Notable exits include Mobileye (acquired by Intel for $15.3B), Taboola, Arbe Robotics, Addionics, BrightFarms (acquired by Cox Enterprises 2021), Mindbody (IPO 2015), Weave (IPO 2021), and WeddingWire.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Catalyst Investors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catalyst Investors is a growth equity firm that provides expansion-stage capital ($10mm-$20mm+) to B2B companies that have achieved product-market fit with $5mm+ ARR. The firm invests from five funds totaling over $1 billion, targeting a 5+ year holding period and supporting portfolio companies through strategic, tactical, and financial value-add resources.
Product overview
Catalyst Investors is a growth equity firm that provides capital and strategic support to B2B technology companies. The firm does not offer its own software products, platforms, or services. Rather, it invests in portfolio companies that develop technology products across sectors including vertical SaaS, healthcare technology, AI, and robotics. Notable portfolio companies include Breezeway (vacation rental operations), Tava Health (behavioral health platform), Procurement Sciences (AI for government contracting), and FieldPulse (field service software).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Mobileye acquired by Intel for $15.3 billion - largest Israeli tech exit
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Catalyst Investors
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Catalyst Investors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Catalyst Investors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Catalyst Investors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- JMI Equity: JMI Equity is a Baltimore-based growth equity firm focused on B2B software and vertical SaaS companies at the growth stage — near-perfect overlap with Catalyst's stated strategy of investing $10M-$20M+ in B2B companies with $5mm+ ARR. Highly comparable in check size, sector, and stage.
- Centana Growth Partners: Centana Growth Partners is a New York-based growth equity firm focused on fintech and enterprise software — directly comparable to Catalyst in geography, check size, and B2B software mandate. Has co-invested with Catalyst in Tava Health Series C.
- Mainsail Partners: Mainsail Partners is a growth equity firm exclusively focused on vertical SaaS companies — a tightly overlapping mandate with Catalyst's B2B SaaS focus. Similar check size range and stage.
- Edison Partners: Edison Partners is a Princeton-based growth equity firm investing in B2B software, healthcare IT, and fintech at the growth stage — closely matching Catalyst's B2B SaaS focus and check size. Frequently competes on the same SMB-software deals.
Broad incumbents
- TA Associates: TA Associates is a Boston-based growth equity firm with multi-decade history investing in B2B software, healthcare, and financial services — directly overlapping Catalyst's B2B SaaS and healthcare technology focus. Comparable check sizes ($15M-$150M) make it a frequent co-bidder on Catalyst-sized opportunities.
- General Atlantic: General Atlantic is a global growth equity firm with deep B2B SaaS and healthcare exposure (e.g., Adyen, Klarna, Oak Street Health). Comparable in stage and sector to Catalyst but at much larger scale and check size — competes on growth-stage rounds in Catalyst's wheelhouse.
- Bessemer Venture Partners: Bessemer Venture Partners is one of the oldest and largest venture/growth firms, with deep B2B SaaS exposure (Twilio, Shopify, LinkedIn). Overlaps with Catalyst at the growth-stage B2B end of its mandate, though typically earlier-stage and larger-AUM than Catalyst.
- Insight Partners: Insight Partners is a leading global growth equity and venture investor in B2B software, directly comparable to Catalyst in sector focus (vertical SaaS, vertical AI) and stage (growth equity), but at much larger scale ($90B+ AUM). It competes head-to-head on the same Catalyst target deals (e.g., Weave-like SMB SaaS winners).
- Summit Partners: Summit Partners is a longstanding growth equity firm investing across technology, healthcare, and business services — overlapping Catalyst's healthcare and B2B software verticals. Comparable growth-stage mandate with broader sector breadth.
Others
- Resurgens Technology Partners: Resurgens Technology Partners is a technology-focused growth equity firm that recently co-invested with Catalyst in Breezeway. Operates a similar B2B software growth equity model with $800M third fund, making it a direct functional peer and ecosystem partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Catalyst Investors social profiles
Digital presenceCatalyst Investors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catalyst Investors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Catalyst Investors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catalyst Investors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments74 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Catalyst Investors
What does Catalyst Investors do?
Catalyst Investors is a growth equity firm that provides expansion-stage capital ($10mm-$20mm+) to B2B companies that have achieved product-market fit with $5mm+ ARR. The firm invests from five funds totaling over $1 billion, targeting a 5+ year holding period and supporting portfolio companies through strategic, tactical, and financial value-add resources.
Is Catalyst Investors a public or private company?
Catalyst Investors is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Catalyst Investors founded?
Catalyst Investors was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Catalyst Investors based?
Catalyst Investors is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Catalyst Investors make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Returns / Fund Management.
Who are Catalyst Investors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JMI Equity, Centana Growth Partners, Mainsail Partners and Edison Partners. Broad incumbents are TA Associates, General Atlantic, Bessemer Venture Partners, Insight Partners and Summit Partners. Resurgens Technology Partners is listed as an others.
Does Catalyst Investors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catalyst Investors.
What industry is Catalyst Investors in?
Catalyst Investors's product category is Private Equity / Growth Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAO, Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity, with a secondary code of FSAAAIAI, Style Equity — Growth (Active). Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.