What Catalyste+ does

Catalyste+ is a Canadian non-profit economic development organization founded in 1967 as SACO (Service d'assistance canadienne aux organismes outre-mer) and rebranded to Catalyste+ in December 2022. It connects a roster of 1,837 Canadian senior-level volunteer Advisors, averaging 20 years of industry experience, with businesses, governments, and community organizations across 30 countries and Indigenous communities across Canada. Core delivery is short-term, strategic mentorship and advisory assignments, supported by an internal web portal called myCatalyste+ that manages opportunities and documents for Advisors. The organization operates seven international programs (AWE, CCEDM, ELEVaTE, i-LEAD, MERIT, Ministry of Mines, Natural Resources Management) plus Indigenous and Northern Services, and organizes its work around focus areas including Agribusiness, Environment and Climate Action, Gender Equality, Governance, MSME Development and Value Chains, and Tourism and Hospitality.

The business model is grant-driven rather than commercial. Catalyste+ is one of 15 organizations funded by the Government of Canada through the Volunteer Cooperation Program administered by Global Affairs Canada, which underwrites the volunteer-advisor delivery model. Secondary revenue comes from public donations (suggested tiers of $25, $50, $100, or other amounts) and a one-time $100 advisor administration fee; the organization does not charge partner clients for services. Its go-to-market is relationship- and program-based: partners request services through the website, and Catalyste+ matches Advisor expertise to partner needs through strategic short-term assignments rather than a transactional sales motion.

Catalyste+ is not a technology company. No proprietary platform, API, SDK, or AI/ML system is described in available sources; the myCatalyste+ portal is an operational tool rather than a commercial product. Documented outcomes include 1,816 clients and partners supported, 4,426 assignments completed, and 110,650+ direct beneficiaries, with cumulative reach across more than 120 countries over 50+ years. Day-to-day operations are led by President and CEO Wendy Harris, with governance provided by a board that includes former Canadian ambassadors, senior Global Affairs Canada officials, and Indigenous leaders.

Name

Catalyste+

Legal name

Catalyste+

Website

https://catalysteplus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Catalyste+ is a Canadian non-profit economic development organization, founded in 1967 and rebranded in 2022, that deploys 1,837 senior-level volunteer Advisors to deliver mentorship and advisory services to businesses, governments, and Indigenous communities across 30 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Volunteer mentorship programs
• International development advisory
• Capacity building consulting
• MSME advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Global Affairs Canada): Catalyste+ is funded by the Government of Canada through the Volunteer Cooperation Program. The organization receives funding to facilitate volunteer assignments connecting Canadian expertise with international and Indigenous partners for economic development.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations from the public. Donation options of $25, $50, $100 or other amounts are available through the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Catalyste+ is a Canadian non-profit economic development organization that connects senior-level Canadian volunteer professionals (Advisors) with businesses, governments, and community organizations in emerging countries and Indigenous communities in Canada. The organization delivers short-term, strategic mentorship and advisory assignments across focus areas including agribusiness, environment and climate action, gender equality, governance, MSME development, and tourism, funded primarily through the Government of Canada's Volunteer Cooperation Program.

Product overview

Catalyste+ is a Canadian economic development organization offering mentorship and advisory services through a network of volunteer Catalyste+ Advisors. The organization operates a platform of international programs (AWE, CCEDM, ELEVaTE, i-LEAD, MERIT, Ministry of Mines, Natural Resources Management) and Indigenous and Northern Services. Core services include connecting Canadian senior-level professionals with businesses, governments, and community organizations through short-term strategic assignments. The organization also provides the AIMf (AWE Innovation Micro Fund) for equipment support. Services are delivered across multiple focus areas including Agribusiness, Environment and Climate Action, Gender Equality, Governance, MSME Development and Value Chains, Natural Resources Management, and Tourism and Hospitality. An internal web portal (myCatalyste+) supports advisor operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AWE (Accelerating Women's Empowerment) A gender equality international program that strengthens the economic power of women in partner countries through technical assistance and the AWE Innovation Micro Fund (AIMf) for acquiring supplies or equipment. Targeted at women entrepreneurs, women's cooperatives, and partner organizations in emerging economies.
• CCEDM (Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism) An international program connecting Canadian expertise with CARICOM partners to support economic development across Caribbean nations. Targeted at public and private sector organizations in CARICOM member countries.
• ELEVaTE An international program focused on supporting economic growth and development in partner countries through Catalyste+ Advisor assignments. Targeted at partner organizations, businesses, and governments in emerging economies.
• i-LEAD An international leadership and development program supporting capacity building for organizations in partner countries. Targeted at partner organizations, government institutions, and businesses in emerging economies.
• MERIT (Resource Management through Institutional Transformation) A program focused on resource management and institutional transformation for sustainable development in partner countries. Targeted at government institutions, resource regulators, and partner organizations.
• Ministry of Mines Program An international program supporting a Ministry of Mines with technical expertise and advisory services for natural resource governance. Targeted at government ministries and natural resource sector institutions.
• Natural Resources Management Program Program supporting sustainable and equitable governance, management and use of natural resources for protecting livelihoods and ecosystem health in partner countries. Targeted at government bodies, resource managers, and partner organizations.
• Indigenous and Northern Services Services supporting Indigenous communities across Canada, including reconciliation efforts, economic development, and capacity building in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in Alberta, Atlantic, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and The North.
• Mentorship and Advisory Services Core service connecting Canadian senior-level professionals (Catalyste+ Advisors) with partners and clients through short-term strategic assignments. Advisors bring expertise from various sectors with an average of 20 years of industry experience. Targeted at businesses, governments, and community organizations in emerging countries and Indigenous communities in Canada.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,816 clients and partners supported
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Techį́q Development LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Techį́q Development Limited is an economic development organization for the Délı̨nę Got'ı̨nę government. Catalyste+ partnered with them as part of a project to strengthen Indigenous participation in major remediation projects in the Northwest Territories (2023-2026), supported by the Strategic Partnerships Initiative, CanNor, and the Northwest Territories government.
• Cooperativa Apícola Pionera de Honduras Limitada (COAPIHL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017COAPIHL partnered with Catalyste+ in 2017 and joined the AWE project in 2020. Over nine years, the partnership strengthened cooperative capacities, fostered innovation through pneumatic tools and new product development, and expanded market opportunities. Resulted in 40% productivity increase and 70% improvement in apiary health.
• Miel Maya Honing (MMH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MMH is a non-profit association working to improve living conditions for marginalized rural communities in Bolivia through apiculture. They partnered with Catalyste+ in 2015 to address challenges in the apiculture sector including high entry costs, male-dominated industry, and limited market access for women producers.
• AFRICOLMENAS (Asociación de Apicultores Biológicos del Municipio de San Carlos)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFRICOLMENAS is a Colombian beekeeping association formed in 2013. They partnered with Catalyste+ to develop educational materials on beekeeping and environmental awareness for children. Catalyste+ Advisor Barb Shackel-Hardman worked with AFRICOLMENAS to create a six-module course for elementary students.
• SENA (National Training Service - Colombia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombia's National Training Service (SENA) partnered with AFRICOLMENAS to provide training in sustainable beekeeping. Catalyste+ worked with AFRICOLMENAS which had received SENA training.
• APAEC (Association of Parents and Adoptees in Colombia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPAEC partnered with AFRICOLMENAS to implement the educational program at a rural education center in Dosquebradas, Colombia. Catalyste+ supported the educational initiative developed with this local ally.
• Indigenous and Northern Communities (Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalyste+ provides services to Indigenous communities across Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in Alberta, Atlantic, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and The North. The organization has a dedicated Indigenous Services program and Reconciliation Statement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CUSO International: Canadian international development organization that places volunteer professionals with partners in the Global South. Directly comparable as a fellow Canadian Volunteer Cooperation Program participant delivering volunteer-driven capacity-building services.
• Crossroads International: Canadian organization engaging volunteers and partners to advance gender equality and economic development in Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada. Comparable volunteer-driven capacity-building model with overlap in gender-equality and Indigenous engagement programs.
• Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO): Canadian non-profit deploying experienced volunteer professionals (often retired executives) to support partners in developing countries and Indigenous communities. Highly comparable talent profile and assignment model to Catalyste+.
• WUSC (World University Service of Canada): Canadian non-profit focused on education, refugee resettlement, and international development. Comparable as a co-funded Canadian VCP organization with overlapping international development and youth-capacity mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Cowater International: Canadian international development consultancy delivering technical advisory and project implementation across governance, economic growth, and inclusion. Comparable Canadian-led development delivery model, but with paid consultants rather than volunteers.
• Aga Khan Foundation Canada: Canadian branch of an international development network funding and delivering programs in health, education, and economic inclusion across Asia and Africa. Overlapping Canadian donor-backed international development mission with broader institutional backing.
• Peace Corps: U.S. government volunteer-sending agency placing American professionals in developing countries. Overlapping model of volunteer-driven capacity-building for international development, though government-operated and far larger scale.
• VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas): UK-headquartered international development organization that sends volunteer professionals to emerging markets. Comparable volunteer-cooperation model and sector mix, but at significantly larger global scale.

Emerging players

• Engineers Without Borders Canada: Canadian non-profit deploying volunteer engineers and business professionals to address poverty in Africa and Asia. Comparable volunteer-deployment model and Canadian donor base, though narrower sector focus on engineering and systems change.
• Taking Root: Canadian non-profit combining reforestation with economic development for smallholder farmers. Partially comparable as a smaller Canadian development organization, though focused on a narrower environmental/agribusiness niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4wlr8PA566n_4OmCtcUjDg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Catalysteplus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catalysteplus
• Xx.com/Catalysteplus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Catalyste+