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Let's keep global warming close to 1.5 °C – by supporting & funding climate start-ups

We catalyse exceptional start-ups and young companies to scale climate technologies sustainably in developing and emerging markets.

The CATAL1.5°T [ˈkætəlɪst] Initiative’s ambition is to boost investments in promising early-stage climate ventures from the Global South.

Climate tech alone won’t save the world, but without tech solutions, we don’t stand a chance. That’s why we promote climate tech innovations by providing grant funding, know-how and access to networks of domain experts, mentors and investors.

To ensure long-lasting impact, we also strengthen regional climate tech innovation ecosystems. In all of what we do, we promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). And we pay close attention to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts of the climate tech solutions we support.

We start in Latin America and West Africa.

What’s new at CATAL1.5°T?

VC Training Post 2
News

Seven venture capitalists successfully completed their CATAL1.5°T training

10.11.2024Josué García, GIZ

The programme focused on providing tools and strategies to incorporate ESG criteria at each stage of the investment process.

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News

Empowering women entrepreneurs in West Africa

04.11.2024Fatou Doumbia, GIZ

UX in Climate program launched in Senegal, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire and Benin.

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“We must act now” – the Launch of the “Forum on Climate Tech Investments” at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference

25.10.2024Severin Peters, GIZ

CATAL1.5°T hosted a high-level discussion on how to empower emerging markets to attract investments.

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News

Powering climate innovation: local partners fuel West Africa's climate tech pipeline

25.10.2024Rosina Naab, GIZ

From ideas to impact – how CATAL1.5°T's network is continuously supporting start-ups

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The CATAL1.5°T Initiative celebrates its first Demo Day for the accelerator programme

25.10.2024Josué García, GIZ

September 19 was a milestone for the CATAL1.5°T Initiative and its accelerator programme in Latin America: the first cohort’s Demo Day.

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News

Subscribe to CATAL1.5°T’s newsletter!

16.10.2024Angeli "Ann" Regala, GIZ

Introducing the CATAL1.5°T Newsletter: a quarterly resource for climate tech ecosystem in the Global South.

Felipe presenting at the demo day of the first batch of the accelerator programme
News

Building a better planet: insights from Tec de Monterrey’s Felipe González Rosas

04.10.2024

In an interview, Felipe González Rosas, Climate Entrepreneurship Director at Tecnológico de Monterrey, shares his experiences working with the first cohort of CATAL1.5°T’s Accelerator programme.

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Event
West Africa

CATAL1.5°T Climathons in West Africa

18.09.2024 - 07:00 UTC-7

Are you an entrepreneur passionate about climate innovation? Do you believe in the potential of green technologies to reshape our future? Now is the time to take action!

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West Africa

CATAL1.5°T Pre-Accelerator in West Africa

16.09.2024 - 07:00 UTC-7

The CATAL1.5°T Initiative Pre-Accelerator Programme is now open for climate-focused pre-seed ventures in West Africa. During a period of 3 to 4 months, 40 selected startups will receive expert training, mentoring, professional coaching, and technical support to develop their businesses. Participants will also have the chance to secure up to €15,000 in funding to help accelerate their growth. Apply now to take your climate innovation to the next level!

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Event
West Africa

Launch of the UX in Climate Training

24.09.2024 - 07:00 UTC-7

The call for applications for the UX in Climate program is now open. This project aims to support and empower women entrepreneurs in the climate tech sector in West Africa.

Plants nurtured and protected by Vexxel
News

Accelerator finalist Vexxel uses biotech for a more sustainable agriculture

09.09.2024

The Argentinian start-up Vexxel is revolutionising the agriculture sector in Latin America with their innovative approach to reducing chemical fertiliser use through biodegradable nano-capsules.

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News

Discover how our accelerator finalist, Cirkula, addresses food waste

23.08.2024

The start-up Cirkula is making a significant impact in the food sector by helping businesses manage food waste and reduce CO2 emissions through easily accessible technology.

All members of the CATAL1.5°T Initiative gather in front of GIZ building in Berlin.
News

Get to know the CATAL1.5°T Initiative team

08.08.2024Angeli "Ann" Regala, GIZ

Meet the CATAL1.5°T staff and learn about the vital role of climate tech start-ups in achieving a net-zero future.

The batch 1 of the Pre-accelerator programme in Latin America gathered for a group photo during their bootcamp
News

CATAL1.5°T Initiative in Latin America Launches the First Bootcamp for its Pre-Accelerator Program

11.08.2024Josué García, GIZ

The CATAL1.5°T initiative's Pre-Accelerator Program bootcamp for Latin America was held on July 29 to July 31 in Monterrey, Mexico. The program selected 20 promising climate tech start-ups from the region to receive funding, training, and mentorship. The bootcamp included sessions on ESG criteria and business development, and featured outstanding speakers from the ecosystem. The program aims to support start-ups in their growth and innovation efforts, with two more cohorts to follow.

microTERRA staff showing their innovative approach to agricultural wastewater treatment
News

microTERRA’s impact on water sustainability & health – meet our accelerator finalist

12.08.2024

The start-up microTERRA is making waves in the climate tech sector with their innovative approach to agricultural wastewater treatment and sustainable food ingredients.

The speakers and facilitators of the ESG training in Senegal for VCs during a session discussion
News

ESG Training for Venture Capital funds held in West Africa

18.07.2024Leon Pelt and Milena Stolz, GIZ

Seven selected West African Venture Capital (VC) firms participated in a training on best practices in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles tailored to the needs of VCs. The training was provided by VentureESG and hosted by the CATAL1.5°T Initiative. The training was all about how the VC firms can succeed in aligning their operational processes and investment decisions with best practices in ESG and become regional leaders in the field.

Sofía Elizalde, Technical Advisor for NAMA PyME; Erika Sánchez, Technical Advisor for the CATAL1.5°T Initiative; Bianca Corona, Technical Advisor for Recuperación Verde; and Itzel Alcérreca, Technical Advisor for the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance at Impact Days in Mexico
News

CATAL1.5°T Initiative present at Impact Days in Mexico City

15.07.2024Josué García, GIZ

On June 20 Erika Sanchez from the CATAL1.5°T Initiative took part in the panel "Are Social and Economic Development at Odds?", which was held during the Impact Days – an event organized by Impact Hub in Mexico City. The panel looked at different perspectives on challenges and opportunities identified in green economy businesses, climate financing, and climate and technology entrepreneurship. The CATAL1.5°T Initiative also confirmed future calls for its Accelerator and Pre-Accelerator programs, along with a series of 'climathons' (climate hackathons) in Latin America.

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Event
West Africa

ESG Training for West African Venture Capital Investors

18.07.2024 - 07:00 UTC-7

The West African CATAL1.5°T platform will offer an intensive two-day training on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles in Senegal to which selected West African Venture Capital (VC) investors have been invited.

Participants from the first Bootcamp for the Acceleration Programme of the CATAL1.5°T Initiative
News

First CATAL1.5°T Bootcamp for the Accelerator Program Bootcamp held in Latin America

25.05.2024Josué García Pérez, GIZ

Ten Climate Tech start-ups from four Latin American countries have begun their acceleration process with the first CATAL1.5°T Acceleration Bootcamp. During the program they will have access to funding of 100K euros, mentoring and networking sessions to enhance their development.

Radiant smiles light up the Global Workshop of the CATAL1.5°T Initiative as participants come together in a spirit of collaboration and innovation.
News

Empowering Climate-Tech Start-ups: Insights from the CATAL1.5°T Global Workshop 

28.05.2024Angeli "Ann" Regala, GIZ

CATAL1.5°T Initiative to advance efforts in supporting climate tech start-ups

a group of men discussing their climate tech solutions in the field, showing their commitment to sustainability
News

CATAL1.5°T launches its acceleration program dedicated to SMEs and start-ups in West Africa

24.04.2024Morgane Awu, Communication Officer, Investisseurs & Partenaires

The CATAL1.5°T acceleration program is officially launched in West Africa. 30 companies in the climate sector will benefit from technical and financial support to accelerate their growth.

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News

Launch of the CATAL1.5°T video

26.10.2023The catalist-Team

This video explains the CATAL1.5°T Initiative's purpose in less than three minutes

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News

CATAL1.5°T at the UNCCC Climate week in Panama

01.11.2023Milena Stolz, GIZ

The CATAL1.5°T Latin American platform hosted a one-hour panel discussion on opportunities & challenges for Climate Tech entrepreneurship promotion in Latin America on October 23rd, 2023.

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News

Launch of CATAL1.5°T Acceleration program for Latin American climate-tech startups

01.11.2023Milena Stolz, GIZ

Start-ups can now apply to receive access to workshops, experts, and the opportunity to receive funding up to €100,000 euros.

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Event

Launch of the CATAL1.5°T Platform West Africa

23.11.2023 - 13:00 UTC+1

GIZ and Climate-KIC present CATAL1.5°T at the Africa Start-up Connect Week in Berlin

CATAL1.5°T for start-ups

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Climathons

You've got an innovative idea to tackle climate change? Develop it at our Climathons (climate hackathons) – together with other innovators and entrepreneurs from your region!

Pre-accelerator

Your climate solution needs a boost to hit the market? No problem with our pre-accelerator programme: Get from early stage to market readiness with technical support and grants!

Accelerator

You already have a MVP and first users? Our accelerator programme provides you with tailored coaching and mentoring and repayable grants. Let's find a way through the "valley of death" and scale your business!
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For incubators & accelerators

Your organisation is interested in a deep dive into climate tech and sustainability? We have the know-how and tools for you: learn more about climate tech, ESG and DEI in start-up programmes and strengthen your network. Be part of our trainings and dialogues with other incubators and accelerators, the VC community and policymakers.
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For investors

We connect you with investment-ready climate ventures, that take ESG seriously and have expert-validated impact forecasts. So no worries about greenwashing. You can also take part in pioneering trainings on climate performance projections and ESG in venture capital. Join our network and add climate tech to your portfolio.

Applications are open!

We're looking for founders with transformative ideas, solutions and business models that tackle global warming. With our Climathons and pre-accelerator and accelerator programmes, you get the financial, technical and mentoring support you need.

About the CATAL1.5°T Initiative

The Initiative is is funded by the international Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with top-tier global and regional partners.

Learn about us
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Get insights and inspiration

Dive into insights from our ongoing and completed programmes, best practices and lessons learned as we work together to build climate ventures for a net-zero world.
Go to insights

The network behind the Initiative

Where is CATAL1.5°T active?

The CATAL1.5°T Initiative is operated by a network of global and regional partners. Latin America and West Africa are the first markets where we’re starting.

  • Map peru

    Peru

    Map dominican republic

    Dominican Republic

    Map togo

    Togo

    Map guinea

    Guinea

  • Map mexico

    Mexico

    Map costa rica

    Costa Rica

    Senegal

    Senegal

    Map cote d ivoire

    Côte d’Ivoire

  • Map honduras

    Honduras

    Map colombia

    Colombia

    Map niger

    Niger

    Map burkina faso

    Burkina Faso

  • Map el salvador

    El Salvador

    Map argentina

    Argentina

    Map mauretanien

    Mauritania

    Map benin

    Benin

Frequently asked questions

You’ve got questions? Here you can find answers. If you have further questions, contact us via the contact form below.
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Get all the facts and numbers

Find information on our regional platforms and programmes, as well as insightful reports and publications about our impact and more in our download section.
Go to downloads