Katapult
Katapult is a Norwegian impact investment ecosystem founded in 2015, operating venture funds, accelerators, a foundation, and an annual event to back early-stage ocean tech, climate, and agritech startups across 50+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Katapult does
Katapult is a Norway-based impact investment ecosystem founded in Oslo in 2015 by Tharald Nustad, operating across venture capital, accelerators, a non-profit foundation, and an annual industry event. Its core functional activity is deploying capital and infrastructure into early-stage startups at the intersection of technology and planetary resilience, with particular focus on ocean impact, climate solutions, and — through the Katapult Africa Accelerator — agritech and foodtech across the African continent. The organization backs founders across transportation, circularity, ocean data, energy, food, and water sub-sectors, and has invested in founders from 50+ countries through 200+ portfolio company relationships.
The operating structure is a four-pillar ecosystem under Katapult Holdco AS: Katapult Ocean (the world's most active ocean impact investor with 15 water tech deals), Katapult Impact Platform (an early-stage impact platform built on sector insight and AI-driven tooling serving both funders and founders), Katapult Foundation (non-profit arm stewarding mission and incubating system-layer initiatives), and Katapult Future Fest (an annual event gathering the global impact community). The organization is governed by a board chaired by Sindre Østgård, with operational leadership from CEO Linn-Cecilie Linnemann, Group CEO Fredrik Winther, and CIO Jonas Skattum Svegaarden. Strategic partnerships with CMA CGM's Zebox, Tony Blair Institute, Norrsken, Smart Africa Alliance, and Norad extend distribution and deal flow.
Revenue mechanics follow standard venture capital economics — management fees and carried interest from fund management — augmented by accelerator program fees (where applicable) and event sponsorship. Katapult does not publicly disclose AUM, fund sizes, or revenue figures. Marketing and deal sourcing rely on ecosystem-driven channels: LinkedIn (@katapultimpact), email newsletters, Future Fest as a flagship community event, and earned media coverage as a recognized global accelerator. The organization is GDPR-compliant and headquartered at Universitetsgata 2, Oslo.
Katapult firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Katapult
- Legal name
- Katapult Holdco AS
- Website
- https://katapult.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Katapult is a Norwegian impact investment ecosystem founded in 2015, operating venture funds, accelerators, a foundation, and an annual event to back early-stage ocean tech, climate, and agritech startups across 50+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Katapult industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Impact Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Impact Investing (Intentional, Measurable Social/Environmental Outcomes) (FSAAALAC)
Keywords
Where Katapult is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Katapult business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Fund Management: Katapult manages venture funds that invest in impact-driven startups across ocean tech, climate tech, and related sectors. Revenue generated through traditional VC mechanisms including management fees and carried interest from portfolio company exits.
- Accelerator Programs: Katapult Africa Accelerator provides intensive workshops, mentorship, and capital support to selected startups in exchange for equity or program fees.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Katapult product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Katapult is an impact investment firm that mobilizes people, technology, and capital through a family of venture funds, accelerators, and platforms targeting early-stage startups in ocean technology, climate tech, agritech, and foodtech. Its primary offerings include direct venture investment via Katapult Ocean and the Impact Platform, the Katapult Africa Accelerator program, and the Katapult Impact Platform providing AI-driven tooling and sector insight to founders and funders.
Product overview
Katapult is an impact investment ecosystem organization that operates as a multi-pillar structure under Katapult Holdco AS (Oslo, Norway, founded 2015). The ecosystem consists of four interconnected pillars: Katapult Ocean (investment fund focused on ocean and blue economy startups), Katapult Impact Platform (investment platform supporting early-stage impact ecosystem with AI-driven tooling), Katapult Foundation (non-profit arm for system-layer initiatives and knowledge sharing), and Katapult Future Fest (annual industry event for the global impact community). The organization mobilizes people, technology, and capital toward a regenerative future, backing founders at the intersection of technology and planetary impact.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Katapult Ocean: The world's most active ocean impact investor. Backs founders building technologies across transportation, circularity, ocean data, energy, and food and water.
- Katapult Impact Platform
- Katapult Foundation
- Katapult Future Fest
Products and services
- Katapult Ocean
Quantifiable outcome
- 200+ portfolio companies backed across funds and accelerators
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Katapult
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Katapult technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Katapult partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Zebox (CMA CGM)flagshipCMA CGM's innovation unit Zebox partnered with Katapult to support ocean start-ups. The partnership aims to connect emerging companies in the maritime and ocean economy with industrial players and investors. This collaboration represents a strategic initiative to foster innovation within the shipping and ocean industries.
- Tony Blair InstitutecoreKatapult Africa Accelerator partners with the Tony Blair Institute to provide startups with global insights and resources as part of the accelerator program supporting African startups in agritech, foodtech, and climate tech.
- NorrskencoreNorrsken partners with Katapult Africa Accelerator to provide startups with global insights and resources, supporting the acceleration of high-impact African startups in agritech, foodtech, and climate tech sectors.
- Smart Africa AlliancecoreSmart Africa Alliance collaborates with Katapult Africa Accelerator to provide startups with global insights and resources, focusing on digital transformation and impact in Africa.
- Water tech portfolio companiesminorKatapult has made 15 water technology investments, positioning it among the leading VC investors in water tech alongside Breakthrough Energy Ventures and SOSV (both with 12 deals each).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Katapult competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Y Combinator: The largest global startup accelerator, with broad sector mandate and massive alumni network. Listed alongside Katapult in recognized lists of top accelerators. Not a direct climate/ocean competitor, but the benchmark accelerator business model.
Regional players
- Summa Equity: Norway-based impact/ESG-focused private equity firm investing in theme-driven opportunities aligned with SDGs. Regional Nordic peer with comparable intentional-impact thesis and Norwegian roots, though typically larger growth-stage tickets.
- Norrsken Foundation: Sweden-based impact ecosystem organization running Norrsken House, founder programs, and impact funds. Explicitly partnered with Katapult Africa Accelerator. Regional European peer in impact venture-building with comparable ecosystem-plus-fund structure.
Direct peers
- Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator backing founders at the earliest stages across geographies, with strong presence in Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Comparable in cohort-based accelerator model and global founder-sourcing operation.
- Obvious Ventures: Impact-driven VC backing founders addressing planetary, health, and economic problems. Comparable thesis of "world's most valuable businesses will solve the hardest problems," aligning closely with Katapult's stated investment philosophy.
- Acumen: Long-standing impact investing firm backing entrepreneurs addressing poverty across Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. Highly comparable in intentional, measurable-impact thesis and emerging-market focus (e.g., Katapult Africa Accelerator in agritech/climate).
- Techstars: Global accelerator network running cohort-based programs with equity-for-mentorship model and dedicated industry verticals. Comparable operating model to Katapult Africa Accelerator and recognized alongside Katapult in lists of top 100 startup accelerators.
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures: Bill Gates-backed climate-focused VC investing across multiple climate sub-sectors including water. Explicitly named in the data alongside Katapult as top water tech investors (12 deals vs Katapult's 15). Direct competitor for climate/ocean deeptech deals.
- SOSV: Global multi-stage VC and accelerator operating programs like HAX, IndieBio, and dlab. Direct comparison point cited in the data: both rank among the top water tech VCs (SOSV at 12 deals, Katapult at 15). Highly comparable in accelerator-plus-fund structure and climate/deeptech focus.
- Elemental Excelerator: Climate-focused accelerator and investor deploying non-dilutive and dilutive capital into climate infrastructure, water, and ocean-adjacent startups. Comparable in climate-impact thesis and accelerator-plus-fund structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Katapult social profiles
Digital presenceKatapult compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Katapult financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Katapult leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Katapult subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Katapult funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Katapult M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments121 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Katapult
What does Katapult do?
Katapult is an impact investment firm that mobilizes people, technology, and capital through a family of venture funds, accelerators, and platforms targeting early-stage startups in ocean technology, climate tech, agritech, and foodtech. Its primary offerings include direct venture investment via Katapult Ocean and the Impact Platform, the Katapult Africa Accelerator program, and the Katapult Impact Platform providing AI-driven tooling and sector insight to founders and funders.
Is Katapult a public or private company?
Katapult is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Katapult founded?
Katapult was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Katapult based?
Katapult is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Katapult make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Venture Capital Fund Management is the primary driver. The others are accelerator Programs.
Who are Katapult's main competitors?
Y Combinator is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Summa Equity and Norrsken Foundation. Direct peers are Antler, Obvious Ventures, Acumen, Techstars, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, SOSV and Elemental Excelerator.
Does Katapult have an API?
No public API is recorded for Katapult.
What industry is Katapult in?
Katapult's product category is Impact Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAA, Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance), with a secondary code of FSAAALAC, Impact Investing (Intentional, Measurable Social/Environmental Outcomes). Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.