Catalyst 2030
Catalyst Now (formerly Catalyst 2030) is a member-driven global movement founded in 2019 that connects 7,331+ social innovators, 4,885 organizations, funders and NGOs across 153 countries to drive collaborative systems change toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals, operating as a non-profit umbrella rather than a service provider.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Catalyst 2030 does
Catalyst Now (formerly Catalyst 2030) is a member-driven global movement founded in 2019 and co-founded by Ashoka, Echoing Green, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, and the Skoll Foundation. It serves as the umbrella alignment layer for the world's social innovation ecosystem, connecting social entrepreneurs, NGOs, funders, government intermediaries, and corporate entities across 153 countries and 115 chapters to drive collaborative systems change toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The movement positions itself explicitly as connective tissue rather than a project operator, acting as an "honest broker" that brokers introductions across silos of capital, policy, and leadership.
The organization's product surface is built around digital infrastructure supporting a distributed membership: a Member Portal with profiles, forums, event registration and engagement tools; a Member Forum for collaborative calls to action; the Catalyst Now Collaborations platform hosting 75 active member-led cross-sectoral initiatives; Catalyst Market, a next-generation marketplace for physical products, services, events, online courses and crowdfunding; Tendrel Forums for small-group peer learning; and working groups covering communications, selection & onboarding, engaging the private sector, donors, and impact assessment. Annual signature programs include Catalyzing Change Week (the world's largest virtual gathering for social innovation, with 5,100+ leaders from 125 countries in 2025) and the Catalyst Now Awards recognizing funders. The Secretariat is housed at One Family Foundation in Amsterdam, with Panorama Global serving as a second fiscal sponsor for US-based donors; the organization is in the process of incorporating as a financially-independent non-profit.
Revenue mechanics are non-commercial: membership is free with no fees, and members are asked to contribute in-kind rather than in cash. Operating and programmatic funding flows through philanthropic grants from at least 17 major foundations and corporate donors (including Gates, MacArthur, Rockefeller, Mastercard, Hilton, Packard, Motsepe, and SAP) under the 2019–2025 cohort. Distribution is community-led and self-serve, with members joining through an online application and engagement scaling through word-of-mouth, chapters, events, and referral. The revenue model is therefore best characterized as philanthropic grant-funded rather than transactional, making the organization uninvestable in a venture or conventional M&A sense.
Catalyst 2030 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catalyst 2030
- Legal name
- Catalyst 2030
- Website
- https://catalyst2030.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Catalyst Now (formerly Catalyst 2030) is a member-driven global movement founded in 2019 that connects 7,331+ social innovators, 4,885 organizations, funders and NGOs across 153 countries to drive collaborative systems change toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals, operating as a non-profit umbrella rather than a service provider.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catalyst 2030 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Innovation Movement Platform
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Business Associations (81391)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environment, Climate & Sustainability Congresses (THAHAJAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
Keywords
Where Catalyst 2030 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Catalyst 2030 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation and Philanthropic Funding: Catalyst 2030 is funded through grants and donations from foundations and philanthropic organizations. The movement is not a funding organization itself but receives operational and programmatic support from donors. Financial accounts are managed through fiscal sponsors One Family Foundation (Netherlands) and Panorama Global (US).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Free Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Catalyst 2030 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catalyst 2030, operating as Catalyst Now, is a member-driven global movement that connects social entrepreneurs, NGOs, funders, and corporate actors through 115 country, regional and city chapters, cross-sectoral collaborations, working groups, virtual events such as Catalyzing Change Week, and digital platforms including a Member Portal, Member Forum, Catalyst Collaborations platform, Tendrel Forums, and the Catalyst Market online marketplace for conscious producers and consumers, all aimed at accelerating collective action toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Product overview
Catalyst Now (formerly Catalyst 2030) is a global movement platform rather than a single product. It consists of a Member Portal with online profiles, forums, and event registration; the Catalyst Now Awards celebrating social innovation; Catalyzing Change Week as the world's largest virtual social innovation gathering; Catalyst Market as a next-generation marketplace for members; and various collaboration initiatives including Africa Forward, Tendrel Forums, and Working Groups. The organization also provides Systems Change Learning resources, Fundraising Resources, and Impact Reports. The ecosystem is supported by fiscal sponsors One Family Foundation and Panorama Global.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Member Portal Online platform for members to manage profiles, connect with other members, view engagement groups, register for events, and access resources. Available to members of Catalyst Now.
- Member Forum Online forum space for Catalyst Now members to share initiatives, calls to action, and collaborative efforts, used by individual and organizational members to coordinate activity within the movement.
- Catalyst Now Membership Free online membership offering for individual and organizational members of the global Catalyst Now social innovation movement, with comprehensive intake covering personal information, organizational details, focus areas and engagement preferences.
- Catalyst Market Next-generation marketplace connecting conscious producers and consumers to accelerate transition to an inclusive, regenerative economy; features listings for physical products, services, events, online courses and crowdfunding campaigns, built for Catalyst Now members.
- Catalyst Now Collaborations Platform Platform showcasing member-driven collaborations including Africa Forward, Disasters Group, Education Collaboration, Mental Health Collaboration and other thematic cross-sectoral initiatives, with 72 social innovation collaborations and 4,881 participating organizations listed.
- Tendrel Forums Small group forums where social impact leaders meet regularly in safe, confidential spaces to learn from peers' experiences, operated as a working group within Catalyst Now.
- Africa Forward Initiative Initiative focused on social entrepreneurs and innovation in Africa to accelerate achievement of the SDGs on the continent; operates as a member-led collaboration under Catalyst Now.
Quantifiable outcome
- 89.42% member satisfaction rate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Catalyst 2030
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Catalyst 2030 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Catalyst 2030 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Panorama GlobalcoreAppointed as fiscal sponsor for Catalyst 2030 in November 2021. Supports with US-based financial management and accounting under US GAAP. Part of the social impact nonprofit ecosystem empowering changemakers.
- AshokacoreCo-founding partner of Catalyst Now. Ashoka is the global organization identifying and supporting leading social entrepreneurs. Contributed founding members and continues as an ecosystem partner providing strategic guidance through the Governing Council.
- Echoing GreencoreCo-founding partner contributing social entrepreneurs and innovators to the movement. Representation on the Governing Council and Ecosystem Council. Provides fellowship network access and leadership development resources.
- Schwab Foundation for Social EntrepreneurshipcoreCo-founding partner of Catalyst Now. Part of the World Economic Forum ecosystem. Provides high-impact social entrepreneurs and contributes to strategic direction through the Governing Council.
- Skoll FoundationcoreCo-founding partner and major funder. Contributed founding social entrepreneurs and continues as an ecosystem partner. Representation through the Skoll Foundation on the Governing Council.
- One Family FoundationcoreOriginal incubator of Catalyst 2030. Houses the Catalyst 2030 secretariat in Amsterdam. Continues as fiscal sponsor and provides operational support. Founding partner with representation on the Governing Council.
- Social Innovation HousecoreCo-hosts events with Catalyst Now including at UNGA 2025. Social Innovation House lifts up the experience of local changemakers and cultivates alliances across diverse communities.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Catalyst 2030 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Acumen: Global organization supporting social entrepreneurs and impact-driven capital. Runs fellowship programs, Academy for social entrepreneurs, and convening events — a comparable membership/networking infrastructure in the social innovation space.
- One Family Foundation: The original incubator and current fiscal sponsor of Catalyst Now. Operates an 'honest broker' model connecting social entrepreneurs, funders, and policymakers — directly comparable in mission and ecosystem-building role.
- Ashoka: The largest global network of leading social entrepreneurs and co-founder of Catalyst Now. Operates a parallel fellowship/membership model and ecosystem of country offices, making it the closest comparable organization in mission and structure.
- Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN): Global SDG-focused network engaging academic, civil society, and business stakeholders. Operates with similar convening and advocacy functions aimed at SDG implementation — closely parallel to Catalyst Now's systems-change mandate.
- Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: Co-founder of Catalyst Now, operating under the World Economic Forum ecosystem. Maintains a community of high-impact social entrepreneurs and convenes at Davos — sharing Catalyst Now's convening and network-building role.
- Echoing Green: Co-founder of Catalyst Now and operator of a global fellowship program identifying and supporting emerging social entrepreneurs — a near-identical target audience and engagement model.
- Skoll Foundation: Major philanthropic funder of social entrepreneurs and co-founder of Catalyst Now. Runs the annual Skoll World Forum and provides large-scale grants — a directly comparable convening-and-funding role in the social innovation ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Social Innovation House: Strategic partner that co-hosts Catalyst Now events at UNGA and beyond. Lifts up local changemakers and cultivates alliances across civil society, philanthropy, business, and government — a focused peer in the convening-and-advocacy niche.
- GSG Impact: Global steering group convening stakeholders across the impact-investing ecosystem and advocating for the impact economy. Plays a parallel 'systems orchestrator' role focused on capital flows rather than grassroots social innovation.
Broad incumbents
- World Economic Forum: The platform at which Catalyst Now was launched in 2020. Operates as a much larger, broader convening and agenda-setting body that overlaps with Catalyst Now on multi-stakeholder social innovation engagement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Catalyst 2030 social profiles
Digital presenceCatalyst 2030 compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Catalyst 2030 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catalyst 2030 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Catalyst 2030 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catalyst 2030 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Catalyst 2030
What does Catalyst 2030 do?
Catalyst 2030, operating as Catalyst Now, is a member-driven global movement that connects social entrepreneurs, NGOs, funders, and corporate actors through 115 country, regional and city chapters, cross-sectoral collaborations, working groups, virtual events such as Catalyzing Change Week, and digital platforms including a Member Portal, Member Forum, Catalyst Collaborations platform, Tendrel Forums, and the Catalyst Market online marketplace for conscious producers and consumers, all aimed at accelerating collective action toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Is Catalyst 2030 a public or private company?
Catalyst 2030 is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Catalyst 2030 founded?
Catalyst 2030 was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Catalyst 2030 based?
Catalyst 2030 is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Catalyst 2030 make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation and Philanthropic Funding.
Who are Catalyst 2030's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Acumen, One Family Foundation, Ashoka, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Echoing Green and Skoll Foundation. Emerging players are Social Innovation House and GSG Impact. World Economic Forum is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Catalyst 2030 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catalyst 2030.
What industry is Catalyst 2030 in?
Catalyst 2030's product category is Social Innovation Movement Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAJAH, Environment, Climate & Sustainability Congresses, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 81331.