During the last years, Katapult has developed several close partnerships in Mauritius and the region. Katapult is now launching the Katapult MauritiusAccelerator at Ferney Agri-hub in partnership with CIEL, IBL Group, Currimjee Group and MCB Group.
The Katapult Mauritius Accelerator is an impact accelerator program focusing on Regenerative Food- and Agri-Tech for regional and international startups targeting the African markets.
The accelerator is part of a larger plan to strengthen Mauritius as a focal point for sustainable innovation and transformation.
Following COP26 in Glasgow, cities and countries across the globe are now looking for tangible examples of how sustainable transformation can be achieved and what a thriving society looks and feels like.
Since 2019, Katapult has been in a dialogue with the Mauritian government, private sector, academia and entrepreneurial scene in
Mauritius to learn and explore how Mauritius could become such an example.
As an island nation, situated strategically between India and the African continent, with a stable democracy, strong financial sector and an increased focus on food sovereignty and sustainability Mauritius can quickly become an example for change.
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This is a journey Katapult is committed to be part of and has therefore established a separate entity in Mauritius as part of its wider strategy for Africa. The launch of a Katapult Mauritius Accelerator is a concrete step on this journey.
The Katapult Mauritius accelerator programme will accelerate and invest in about 10 regional and international startups.
The startups will leverage the network of Katapult and our Mauritian partners, connect with the Mauritius innovation ecosystem and use Mauritius as an access point to the African markets.
The startups will live and work on the island during the three-month program, and be connected to both national and
international mentors. A coworking space will be set up for the accelerator at Ferney Agri Hub located on the southern part of Mauritius.
“Mauritius is a country that can become a global example for meaningful sustainable transformation. One part of this transformation will be to strengthen Mauritius as a connector and test site for regional and international start-ups who develop solutions that can spur regenerative change in our food systems,” says Katapult Mauritius Country Director Thomas Berman.
“Currently accounting for 15% of the continent’s GDP, Africa’s food ecosystem still greatly suffers from unstructured markets and inefficient value chains.
However, a population prone to adopt innovative solutions, an increasing global supply of talents, and a rise of technologies improving the quality of early-stage opportunities, are all indicators of the huge potential of foodtech in Africa.” says Katapult Mauritius Investment Director Fabrice Boullé.
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