CataCap in Action: Stories of Impact

Discover how CataCap empowers Donors, Investors, Group Leaders, and Investments to make a meaningful difference. Explore real stories of passion, purpose, and positive change driven by impact leaders shaping the future.

We’re continually inspired by the incredible work of our community, and we’ll be adding new case studies soon. Check back regularly to explore fresh insights and impactful stories.

CataCap wins Impact investing platform of the year from Environmental Finance

“CataCap is a technology platform that enables foundations, donor-advised funds (DAFs), family offices, and others to channel a portion of their capital into high-impact, mission-aligned investments in climate, health, and equity, alongside financial returns.”

Park Rangers Capital: Erica Wenger on elephants, branding in VC, and her first fund

Park Rangers Capital quietly closed their first fund earlier this year: a $4.3M debut fund backed by 130 LPs.

Park Rangers Capital believes capital, content, and conviction compound together. Distribution is the moat, and they’re building their own every day.

Park Rangers Capital completed an investment on CataCap. successfully raising $28,900.00.

Philanthropic Investing: Reimagining how capital creates change

There’s a paradox at the heart of modern philanthropy: a gap between mission and intent. Each year, billions of dollars flow into charitable vehicles such as foundations, trusts, and donor-advised funds (DAFs). Yet an estimated 95% of that money is parked in traditional public markets — stocks, mutual funds, and bonds — often invested in companies whose activities directly contradict the donor’s stated mission or values.

 

How To Unlock Mission- Driven Investing With Your Donations

Billions of dollars intended for good are stuck in limbo, rather than flowing toward mission-driven investing. Donor-advised funds (DAFs)—charitable vehicles where donors receive an immediate tax deduction but can decide later where the money goes—hold more than $250 billion in assets. Yet most of this capital sits in traditional stock and bond portfolios rather than supporting entrepreneurs who are tackling climate change, healthcare inequities, and other pressing social problems. This represents a massive missed opportunity.

Sea Forward Joins CataCap to Make Ocean Impact Investing More Accessible

Sea Forward Joins CataCap to Make Ocean Impact Investing More Accessible

Sea Forward is proud to announce a new opportunity for individuals to ‘donate to invest’ in ocean health, made possible through a launch on CataCap, a first-of-its-kind platform democratizing access to impact investing with philanthropic assets.

Individuals can now contribute as little as $250 to support ocean health in high-impact areas with the potential to see returns to reinvest or grant out again. These donor investments, previously available only to major funders, can now be made into the Global Fund for Coral Reefs or across the broader Sea Forward portfolio, which includes a diverse set of investments into select ocean impact funds.

Why the smartest money in philanthropy isn’t being used

What if our capital actually reflected the future we want?

For decades, capital in the social sector has been trapped in a binary: grants on one end, venture capital on the other. But that split has left too many visionary founders stranded in between – too early for VC, too catalytic for traditional philanthropy.

The solution may lie in a quietly growing model: *philanthropic impact investing*. It’s not new, but it’s finally gaining the visibility – and urgency – it deserves.

Female Founders Shaping the Future with Purpose

What happens when visionary women lead with bold ideas and unapologetic purpose? Real change.

In this empowering conversation, Dr. Sophia Yen, CEO of Pandia Health, and Brook Dougherty, Founder of JustUs Skincare, share personal stories, hard-won lessons, and actionable insights about what it really takes to close health equity gaps – and how catalytic capital and community can accelerate women-led innovation.

This is more than a founder talk. It’s a rallying cry for values-aligned investors, impact-driven donors, and anyone who believes that investing in women is investing in the future.

Hosted by CataCap, a platform helping individuals with philanthropic capital move from good intentions to high-impact action.

What you’ll learn:

  • The systemic barriers female founders face—and how they push through
  • Why women-led health ventures are reshaping the future of care
  • How catalytic capital unlocks opportunity and shifts the narrative
  • Ways you can support or invest in bold women building equitable systems

Impact Showcase with Cooler + Investor Circle

Join Investors Circle and CataCap, with Charlie Crystle of Cooler, the climate tech startup helping businesses take real, scalable action against global warming.

We’ll explore:

  • How Cooler’s API enables businesses to embed climate action into everyday operations
  • Why philanthropic investors are rallying behind Cooler’s mission
  • What it means to be “Cooler Certified” – and why it matters
  • How a diverse founding team is turning systems thinking into climate solutions

What Investors Want: Reimagining Returns Beyond Profit

As the world changes, so do the priorities of modern investors. Today’s most visionary investors are looking beyond just financial returns—they’re investing in purpose, people, and planetary impact.

In this live conversation, we’ll explore:

  • What “return” really means in 2025
  • How to identify companies that do good and perform well
  • The role of values, mission, and brand in investment decisions
  • How founders can confidently communicate impact alongside profit
  • Real-world stories of bold investors choosing purpose over short-term gain

Whether you’re a founder raising capital, an investor evolving your thesis, or a leader rethinking value—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Founder Spotlight: Navajo Power + Clean Energy Investing

Join us for an inspiring conversation with the founders of Navajo Power, a trailblazing clean energy company led by Native visionaries and committed to a just, inclusive transition.

We’ll explore:

  • How Navajo Power’s model redefines ownership and justice in energy.
  • Why now is the moment to back Indigenous-led infrastructure.
  • The catalytic role of philanthropic capital in unlocking long-term self-determination.
  • Challenges in raising traditional capital—and how Navajo Power is forging a new path.
  • What’s at stake in the broader clean energy transition if we don’t center equity.

Whether you’re an investor, funder, or advocate, this is your chance to hear directly from Navajo Power’s leadership and deepen your understanding of what it means to back transformative founders.

Rethinking Capital: DAFs as Catalysts for Change

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are often seen as passive vehicles – but what if they became engines for real change?

Join us for an energizing conversation with investors Diane Keefe and Babbie Jacobs, as we explore how DAFs can be activated to fuel bold, catalytic impact.

We’ll unpack emerging strategies for deploying DAF capital, stories from those challenging the status quo, and why unlocking this capital is key to powering climate, justice, and community-led solutions.

Sea Forward Joins CataCap to Make Ocean Impact Investing More Accessible

Sea Forward supports innovative and effective solutions in the ocean space with a focus on sustainable aquaculture, science-based monitoring tools, biodiversity, climate and regenerative nature-based solutions.

This press release covers their collaboration with CataCap to support Global Fund for Coral Reefs or across the broader Sea Forward portfolio, which includes a diverse set of investments into select ocean impact funds.

What Is Philanthropic Investing? Live with Investors Circle + CataCap

What exactly is philanthropic investing – and why are so many change-makers saying it’s time for a new model? Join us for a LinkedIn Live conversation with two pioneers in purpose-driven capital Babbie Jacobs & Annarie Lyles We’ll explore:

  • Their personal journeys from philanthropy to investment
  • Why the old models aren’t enough
  • How the Impact Showcase is spotlighting what comes next

Impact with Upside: Play Money

Play Money makes angel investing “deliciously easy for everyone,” and is built on over a decade of data and math on how to optimize for angel returns.

This video conversation, or fireside chat, includes Cheryl Kellond, Founder at Play Money and Ken Kurtzig, Founder at CataCap. They address four key concepts, along with open questions:

  1. Why charitable dollars for startup investing?
  2. What kinds of investments qualify?
  3. How does it work and who can help me do this?
  4. Where do I start and what are the gotchas?

Enjoy this informative discussion to delve into the value and benefits of using capital dollars for startup investments.

Advancing Women’s Hormonal Health

In this episode of Catalytic Capital, host Ken Kurtzig dives into the transformative world of Pandida Health, a company revolutionizing women’s healthcare by making birth control, reproductive care, and menopause treatment more accessible, affordable, and stigma free.

Today, Pandia is the highest-rated women’s online hormonal health clinic with 4.9/5 stars from >3K women, offering telemedicine and pharmacy services under one roof.

By addressing the $28B US birth control and menopause market, we are building “The Online Health Brand Women Trust” offering expert, evidence-based treatments, 90% of which is still untapped by telemedicine services.

Pandia Health currently operates at $2.5M ARR, and is forecast to grow to $2.3B ARR within 5 years. Revenue streams to date include: Online consultations with specialist doctors in hormonal care who write prescriptions to insured and uninsured women, delivery of birth control, emergency contraception and mHT to all 50 states.

Raising Funds for Climate Impact through CataCap

Carbon Counts is a trailblazer in the “Play-to-Plant” gaming sector, leveraging mobile gaming to inspire and empower players to combat climate change. Their flagship game, EverForest, transforms reforestation into an engaging gaming experience, allowing users to actively participate in global tree-planting efforts with every level they complete. By merging entertainment with environmental impact, Carbon Counts brings climate action to the fingertips of gamers worldwide.

Empower Her: Transforming Capital For Women-Led Ventures

In this episode of Catalytic Capital, host Ken Kurtzig dives into the transformative world of women-led ventures with Lily Kanter and Beth Stelluto, co-founders of the groundbreaking Empower Her initiative on the CataCap platform. Together, they explore the unique challenges women face in raising capital, the game-changing mission of Empower Her, and the vision to fund and support female founders through mission-aligned and patient capital. Learn from Lily, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Serena & Lily, as she shares candid insights into the highs and hurdles of fundraising as a female founder. Hear from Beth, an impact investing expert, on how Empower Her curates opportunities for donors and investors to make meaningful, lasting change. Whether you’re an investor, philanthropist, or simply passionate about supporting women entrepreneurs, this episode offers inspiration, actionable insights, and a closer look at how Empower Her is reshaping the future of gender equity in business. Don’t miss this powerful conversation!

QBE Blazes the Trail for Employee Impact Investing

QBE North America has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative in the US that gives employees a vehicle to participate in philanthropic impact investments made through the CataCap platform.