
THE CATALYTIC IMPACT FOUNDATION (CIF)
Description
The Catalytic Impact Foundation (CIF) is a distinctive 501(c)(3) public charity based in New York, dedicated to deploying philanthropic capital into early-stage health and life science companies. Operating with an impact investing mandate, CIF targets innovative solutions addressing unmet medical needs, with a particular focus on diseases that disproportionately affect underserved populations globally. Their unique model bridges the gap between traditional philanthropy and venture capital, providing crucial early-stage funding that often de-risks companies for subsequent, larger investments from conventional investors.
CIF manages specific 'Impact Funds,' such as Catalytic Impact Fund I and II, through which they execute their investment strategy. Fund I, for instance, successfully invested in 10 companies, demonstrating their commitment to building a diverse portfolio of impactful ventures. The foundation's approach emphasizes 'patient capital,' recognizing that breakthrough medical innovations often require longer development timelines than typical venture investments. This strategic patience allows portfolio companies to mature and achieve critical milestones necessary for attracting follow-on funding.
To date, CIF has deployed over $10 million in capital across its portfolio, showcasing a significant commitment to its mission. This initial catalytic funding has proven highly effective, as CIF's portfolio companies have collectively gone on to raise over $500 million in follow-on capital from other investors. This impressive leverage highlights CIF's crucial role in validating and accelerating promising health and life science innovations. Their typical initial investments range from $250,000 to $1 million, positioning them as a vital early-stage partner for companies developing solutions in areas like oncology, rare diseases, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders.
Investor Profile
THE CATALYTIC IMPACT FOUNDATION (CIF) has backed more than 47 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 2 rounds, about 4% of its total and boasts 5 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series Unknown, Series B, Series C rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, India.
- Strong thematic focus on Biotechnology, Health Care, Medical.
- Typical check size: $250K – $1M.
Stage Focus
- Series Unknown (43%)
- Series B (15%)
- Series C (13%)
- Seed (13%)
- Series A (13%)
- Pre Seed (4%)
Country Focus
- United States (94%)
- United Kingdom (2%)
- India (2%)
- Australia (2%)
Industry Focus
- Biotechnology
- Health Care
- Medical
- Therapeutics
- Life Science
- Pharmaceutical
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Biopharma
- Oncology
- Wellness
Frequently Asked Questions
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