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Direct Deal:

Early-stage Super Agile Micro Fund (EUR 3M–5M per SPV)

Location:

Vancouver, Canada / Boston, US / London, UK / Oslo, Norway / Stockholm, Sweden

Impact Geography:

75% Europe & US, 25% Global (Opportunistic)

Fund Name: Catalyst Food Fund (CFF1)

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Food will be a defining issue of the 21st century since it is the single strongest lever for optimizing human health and environmental sustainability.

Summary:

Catalyst Food Fund 1 (CFF1) applies systems investing to scalable technologies leveraging AI and science-driven innovation to transform the food system. These solutions are designed to solve real operational bottlenecks across the supply chain - from shortening product development cycles to improving ingredient performance - enabling systems-wide efficiency and resilience.

It is the first in a series of pre-seed and seed-stage funds backed by Katapult's eight-year track record in early-stage impact tech investing and scientific thought leadership guided by Dr. Parneet Pal and the EAT-Lancet Commission's groundbreaking research.

Opportunity:

Massive Market and Impact: The fund focuses on several growing markets within the global food tech market, which is projected to reach USD 354B by 2030. B2B “drop-in” solutions are increasingly in demand from major food producers, with the plant-based ingredients market projected to reach USD 95B by 2030 and the precision fermentation market to reach USD 100B by 2034. The food traceability market, driven by regulatory compliance pulls, is projected to reach USD 32B by 2032. Manufacturing retrofit and distributed processing innovations are also positioned for rapid growth; the regional food processing market is projected to reach USD 70B by 2030, propelled by rising demand for local supply chain solutions and an increasing focus on nutrient retention and transportation efficiency.


System-Change Potential: A shift to plant-rich consumption unlocks powerful co-benefits to climate emissions, improved public health outcomes, and reduced environmental footprint. Investing in plant-rich systems offers an outsized climate ROI (28 MtCO2e reduced per $1B invested - Tilt Collective Report, 2024).

Direct Deal:

Early-stage Super Agile Micro AI Fund (EUR 3M–5M per SPV)

Location:

Vancouver, Canada/ London, UK/ Oslo, Norway/ Stockholm, Sweden.

Impact Geography:

Global, with emphasis on Europe/US.

Fund Name: Catalyst Food Fund (CFF1)

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Food will be a defining issue of the 21st century since it is the single strongest lever for optimizing human health and environmental sustainability.

Summary:

Catalyst Food Fund 1 (CFF1) applies systems investing to scalable technologies that transform the food system through ingredient innovation, regenerative food inputs, and waste-reducing infrastructure. These solutions are designed to optimize the supply chain - from growing to initial processing - while lowering environmental impact and accelerating climate resilience.

It is the first in a series of pre-seed and seed-stage funds backed by Katapult's eight-year track record in early-stage impact tech investing and scientific thought leadership guided by Dr. Parneet Pal and the EAT-Lancet Commission's groundbreaking research.

Opportunity:

Massive Market and Impact: The global plant-based food market is projected to reach USD 160–170B by 2030, driven by consumer demand, sustainability imperatives, and health considerations. B2B “drop-in” solutions and distributed processing innovations are positioned for rapid growth.
System-Change Potential: A shift to plant-rich consumption unlocks powerful co-benefits to climate emissions, improved public health outcomes, and reduced environmental footprint. Investing in plant-rich systems offers an outsized climate ROI (28 MtCO2e reduced per $1B invested - Tilt Collective Report, 2024).

Timing

The first wave of dietary innovations through plant-based food tech has paved the way. Lessons learned from what didn’t work will enable faster scaling and better product-market fit moving forward. The EAT-Lancet Commission’s second report (Oct. 2025) will intensify the focus on food system transformation, opening new policies, capital, and collaboration channels.

Team

Dr. Parneet Pal

Fund Manager / Partner

Harvard-trained physician-educator and globally recognized advocate for a systems approach to personal and planetary wellbeing; preventive lifestyles and food-as-medicine; health and environmental impacts of food systems.

Julia Paino

Investment Committee

Brings over a decade of experience as both an investor and entrepreneur in the regenerative food space, specializing in board leadership, investment committee participation, strategic sourcing, and ecosystem development.

Marissa Siefkes

Operating Partner / Program Director

Brings a decade of operational leadership experience in food/agritech and AI-powered technology startups; launched USA's first undergraduate-run social entrepreneurship fellowship and venture incubator at Georgetown University.

Fredrik Winther

Investment Director / Partner

Brings a decade of investment experience, investing and leadership positions, and has been nominated as a global thought leader in AI for VC for the last years.

Katapult - The Impact Platform Extended Team

Eirik Svendsen

CEO, The Impact Platform

Long term food-tech experience, foodie, and supports the fund with strategic guidance, IC participation, and operational efforts.

Humberto Treviño

Data & Analytics Director

Leads AI and analytics tooling for the fund, maintaining Katapult’s Northstar platform and our AI operational toolbase. Brewer and grill master.

Fund Highlights

  • Size as Strategy: Instead of the traditional long-term, fixed 10+3 year fund structure, Catalyst Food Funds adopt an agile, modular approach: a series of EUR 3–5M vehicles with a 5+3 year horizon. This setup is designed to move fast, stay lean, and adapt to the evolving dynamics of the food-tech landscape. With a focus on scalable business models, it also enables early meaningful exits.
  • Leading Deal Flow: Global leading deal flow from research partners; collaborative global call for startups with Norrsken, Antler and EAT Foundations, and Katapult’s AI driven Northstar platform (1,000+ startups screened annually)
  • AI-Enhanced: Applying best AI tools for all investment operations, from scouting to exit
  • Unique Training Program: 90-day intensive portfolio IGC support program (Impact, Growth, Capital)
  • Global Visibility: Partnerships and connections into the leading research communities, foundations funding them, top-tier corporations, and partnering VC funds
  • Exit Pathways: Early corporate acquisitions, industry consolidation, and secondary sales

Track Record

  • 8 SPV funds launched
  • 10 accelerators completed
  • 200 portfolio companies
  • 50 countries represented in portfolio
  • MOIC: 5.6x average across Katapult SPVs (two Unicorns) Including food- and agritech pilots on the African continent
  • 3.9x estimated TPVI
  • 73% portfolio survival rate and 4.9 years average lifetime
  • First-in-class and long-term foodtech positioning through team, partners, and Katapult

Current Progress

Fund Strategy & Pipeline: Comprehensive investment thesis, strong deal flow through Northstar, and an active pipeline of innovative B2B and distributed processing startups

Partnerships: Engaged with EAT-Lancet Commission’s research ecosystem, Good Food Institute, corporate food players, and institutional co-investors seeking transformative climate solutions

Impact & Scaling: Established digital and AI-based tools and frameworks to measure and optimize impact and impact metrics

Deal Flow Examples:

Selection Criteria - Team first.

Founder Quality & Intentionality: Deep sector knowledge, capacity for large-scale impact, and strong execution track record


Scalable Tech: Clear path to mass adoption and impact

Measurable Impact: Strategies where the business model and impact are aligned

Get our shortlist

De-risking through a modern accelerator program

TIP equips every investment vehicle with a state-of-the-art accelerator, refined over eight years of Katapult’s award-winning program experience. The program helps founders:

  • 1. Design an impact plan to measure and report impact metrics.
  • 2. Adopt the right tools for rapid, sustainable scaling.
  • 3. Master fundraising skills and strategy to secure the capital they need.
  • Built on Katapult’s eight-year track record of running one of the world’s leading impact accelerators

Get in contact if this resonates and you want to learn more.

Our team is happy to share what's on their mind.

Disclaimer - Catalyst Food Fund

Catalyst Food Fund is a prospective venture capital fund currently under development, focused on scaling high-impact innovations in food and agriculture. The information presented on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any fund interests.
This communication is intended exclusively for professional investors as defined under the AIFMD and applicable local regulations. It does not constitute marketing of an alternative investment fund (AIF) within the EU/EEA. Any expression of interest does not create any obligation or constitute a subscription or commitment. No investment may be made until the fund has been duly registered and all relevant legal documentation has been made available. Further distribution to retail investors is prohibited, and inquiries from such parties will not be considered.