Katapult

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.

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

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

• Venture capital
• Impact investing
• Ocean technology
• Startup accelerator
• Climate tech

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Zebox (CMA CGM)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2026CMA 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 InstitutecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKatapult 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.
• NorrskencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNorrsken 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 AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSmart 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 companiesminorOthersKatapult 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

Broad 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/katapultimpact
• Xx.com/katapultimpact

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments121 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Katapult