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IFC Startup Catalyst is sponsored by International Finance Corporation (IFC). IFC Startup Catalyst is a platform that invests in accelerators and seed funds supporting innovative early-stage startups in emerging markets. The program aims to help close the gap in access to capital and expertise for entrepreneurs in nascent venture ecosystems.
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IFC is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. By encouraging growth, IFC advances economic development, creates jobs and improves the lives of people. * Learn more about accountability IFC advances economic development and improves the lives of people by encouraging the growth of the private sector in developing countries.
We achieve this by investing in impactful projects, mobilizing other investors, and sharing expertise.
* Our products and services * Fragile & Conflict Afflicted Situations * Mobilizing Private Capital * Agribusiness & Forestry * Public-Private Partnerships * Tourism, Retail & Property * Trade & Supply Chain Finance As the largest global development institution focused on the private sector, IFC operates in more than 100 countries around the globe. We apply lessons learned in one region to solve problems in another.
* Latin America and the Caribbean * Middle East and Central Asia Our impact improves lives. IFC brings a clear set of advantages to the world’s most challenging markets. Including a history of innovation, a global mandate, and a determination to achieve measurable development impact.
* Impact Investing at IFC * Measuring and Monitoring (AIMM) * Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Owned by 186 member countries and consistently rated AAA/Aaa. IFC aims to achieve our mission of promoting development by providing debt and equity to the private sector, through a range of benchmark and bespoke products. * Funding Program & Investor Relations * World Bank Group Careers [](https://www.
ifc.
org/en/what-we-do/sector-expertise/venture-capital/startup-catalyst#) Back Who We Are More About Us * Learn more about accountability Back What We Do What We Do Overview * Our products and services * Fragile & Conflict Afflicted Situations * Mobilizing Private Capital * Agribusiness & Forestry * Public-Private Partnerships * Tourism, Retail & Property * Trade & Supply Chain Finance * Latin America and the Caribbean * Middle East and Central Asia Back Our Impact Our Impact Overview * Impact Investing at IFC * Measuring and Monitoring (AIMM) * Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) * Work with us On selection, leaving this page Work With Us 1.
[](https://www. ifc. org/en/home) [](https://www.
ifc. org/en/what-we-do/sector-expertise/venture-capital/startup-catalyst#) [](https://www. ifc.
org/en/what-we-do/sector-expertise/venture-capital/startup-catalyst#) Investing in Accelerators and Seed Funds Select a Region Sub navigation page selecting option, jump to that section > Access to early-stage capital and expertise plays a key role in building tech ecosystems that drive entrepreneurship, boost innovation, and create jobs.
Emerging startups have the potential to innovate critical sectors in emerging markets by developing and scaling new technologies and tech-enabled business models that can solve pressing challenges, such as those linked to climate change, access to finance, healthcare, and education.
Despite their potential, early-stage entrepreneurs in nascent venture ecosystems face significant challenges in accessing the capital and expertise they need to launch and grow their businesses. To help close this gap, in 2016 IFC launched Startup Catalyst - a platform designed to invest in accelerators and seed funds supporting innovative early-stage startups.
The program allows IFC to make relatively small investments, usually $4-6 million, in accelerators and seed funds focused on markets with nascent VC ecosystems. In addition to investment capital, IFC Startup Catalyst provides funds and accelerators with access to networks, training, and sector expertise through its Booster program.
## Results (as of March 15, 2025) * 25+accelerators and seed funds supported * 768 Startups in 55 emerging markets received funding ### A Women-Led Startup Innovates Health Care in Egypt [](https://www. ifc. org/en/what-we-do/sector-expertise/venture-capital/startup-catalyst) ### Flat6Labs Accelerates Transformation in Middle East and North Africa [](https://www.
ifc. org/en/what-we-do/sector-expertise/venture-capital/startup-catalyst) https://webapi. worldbank.
org/aemsite/ifc/search {"search": "*","filter": "(language eq 'English') and (((program/any(program: program eq 'Startup Catalyst Platform'))) and (contentType eq 'Story' or contentType eq 'Audio'))","count": true,"top": 3,"skip": 0,"orderby": "contentDate desc"} ## Startup Catalyst by Region IFC invested in Antler East Africa (“Antler EA”) in 2022.
Antler EA is a Kenya-based venture builder that invests primarily in pre-seed opportunities across East Africa. IFC invested in DisrupTech Fund I (“Disruptech”) in 2022. DisrupTech is an Egypt-based seed fund that invests in fintech and fintech-enabled startups in Egypt.
IFC invested in Flat6Labs Accelerator for IT and Project Management SAE (“FAC Seed Fund”, previously “Flat6Labs Cairo”) in 2017. FAC Seed Fund is a Cairo-based accelerator and seed fund that invests in seed and early-stage startups in Egypt. IFC Invested in Flat6Labs Anava Seed Fund (previously, “Flat6Labs Tunis”) in 2020.
Flat6Labs Tunis is a Tunis-based startup accelerator and venture capital fund that invests in early-stage companies in Tunisia. IFC invested in Janngo Capital Startup Fund (“Janngo Capital”) in 2024. Janngo Capital is a Paris-based multi-stage venture capital fund that invests in tech and tech-enabled startups across West and North Africa.
IFC invested in Pamoja Ventures, LP (“P1 Ventures”) in 2024. P1 Ventures is a Nigeria-based early-stage venture capital fund with a pan-Africa mandate, that invests in artificial intelligence, machine learning, e-commerce, fintech, healthtech, insurtech, and SaaS sectors. IFC invested in Savannah Fund Technology Fund II, LP (“Savannah Fund”) in 2021.
Savannah Fund is a Kenya-based venture capital fund that invests in early-stage technology companies across Eastern and Southern Africa. IFC invested in Ventures Platform Fund IV (“Ventures Platform”) in 2022. Ventures Platform is a Lagos-based seed fund that invests in tech and tech-enabled startups across Africa, with emphasis on Nigeria.
### Central Asia and Türkiye IFC invested in 500 Emerging Europe Fund II (formerly “500 Istanbul”) in 2022. 500 Emerging Europe is a Türkiye-based seed fund that invests in early-stage technology companies in Türkiye and across Eastern Europe. IFC invested in Sturgeon Emerging Opportunities II LP, L.
P (“Sturgeon Capital”) in 2024. Sturgeon Capital is a London-headquartered fund that invests in early-stage technology companies in Central Asia and Bangladesh. ### East Asia and the Pacific IFC invested in AVV Alpha, L.
P. , (“AVV” or “Ascend Vietnam Ventures”) in 2022. AVV is a Ho Chi Minh City-based fund that invests in idea to pre-product market fit, technology-driven opportunities in Viet Nam.
IFC invested in SeedPlus Singapore L. P. (“SeedPlus”) in 2017.
SeedPlus is a Singapore-based accelerator and seed fund that invests primarily in early-stage companies in the ICT sector, across Southeast Asia and India. IFC invested in 500 Georgia LLC (previously “500 Georgia”, now rebranded as “500 Eurasia”) in 2024.
500 Eurasia is a Georgia-based a fund that invests in companies from the 500 Eurasia accelerator program and tech startups that have direct or indirect operations in countries across Europe and Asia. ### Latin America and the Caribbean IFC invested in 500 LatAm (previously “500 Mexico”) in 2017. 500 LatAm is a Mexico-based accelerator and seed fund that invests in startups across Latin American countries.
IFC invested in Carao Ventures Fund I (“Carao Ventures”) in 2021. Carao Ventures is a Costa Rica-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage startups in Latin America with emphasis on Central America, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, and Perú. IFC invested in EWA Ventures Fund II (“EWA”) in 2023.
EWA is a Colombia-based early-stage fund that invests in companies in Latin America with emphasis on Colombia. IFC invested in Certo S. A.
(“NXTP labs”) in 2017. NXTP Labs is an Argentina-based accelerator and early-stage seed fund that invests in high growth tech-enabled companies across Latin America. ### Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Flat6Labs Mashreq (“Flat6Labs Jordan Seed Fund LP”) is an Amman-based startup accelerator and venture capital fund that invests in early-stage, tech-enabled companies in Jordan, West Bank and Gaza, Lebanon and Iraq.
IFC invested in Ibtikar Fund L. P. (“Ibtikar”) in 2017.
Ibtikar is an early-stage venture capital fund that invests in pre-seed and seed-stage Palestinian startups. IFC invested in Ibtikar Fund II, L. P.
(“Ibtikar Fund II”) in 2022. Ibtikar Fund II is an early-stage venture capital fund that invests in pre-seed and seed stage Palestinian startups. IFC invested in Sarmayacar Ventures Coopreatif U.
A. (“Sarmayacar”) in 2019. Sarmayacar is a Lahore-based early-stage venture capital fund that invests in tech-based companies in Pakistan.
IFC Invested in Pi Ventures Fund 1 (“Pi Ventures”) in 2018. Pi Ventures is a Mumbai-based early-stage fund that invests in deep tech companies in India. IFC invested in Seedstars International Ventures II (“Seedstars”) in 2022.
Seedstars is a Geneva-headquartered accelerator and seed fund that invests across emerging markets, globally. IFC invested in SOSV III, L. P.
(“SOSV”) in 2017. SOSV is a Princeton, New Jersey-headquartered global startup accelerator that invests in early-stage companies through its accelerator network in Asia, the U.S., and Europe. **For investment inquiries:** Senior Communications Officer, Private Equity and Venture Capital _Last updated: August 2025_ Global language toggler English Global language toggler English
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Accelerators and seed funds focused on markets with nascent VC ecosystems. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
IFC Startup Catalyst is funded by International Finance Corporation (IFC). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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