Catalyst Fund Backs OKOA to Expand Electric Motorcycle Battery Swapping in Africa

Catalyst Fund has invested in African electric-mobility startup OKOA as the company prepares to expand its battery-swapping network for electric motorcycles across the continent.

The investment amount has not been disclosed. Catalyst Fund announced the investment in July, saying the funding will help OKOA move towards commercial deployment, starting in Tanzania and Cameroon. OKOA also has a pipeline of about 30 cities across six African countries.

OKOA is developing a battery network that can serve electric motorcycles from different manufacturers. This allows riders to swap a depleted battery for a charged one in about a minute, avoiding the waiting time associated with conventional charging.

From battery software to swapping stations

The battery-swapping network builds on technology OKOA has already developed through its work with electric motorcycle companies. The startup was formed in 2024 through the combination of electric-mobility company OKOA and Kenyan battery-management technology company Stima.

The combined business is led by Alexandre Coster, who previously founded energy-access company Baobab+, alongside Stima co-founders Jason Gras, Emile Fulcheri and Ahmed Ali.

OKOA says its software has already managed more than 200,000 battery swaps through more than 50 stations across four markets. Its technology is also integrated with 10 electric motorcycle OEM platforms.

That experience is now being used to build a larger network that can operate across different motorcycle brands. The company plans to launch its own interoperable swapping infrastructure in Tanzania, Cameroon and Zambia during 2026.

OKOA is also using a franchise model to expand the network. Fuel stations, shops, car washes and other existing businesses can host swapping points, while OKOA provides the batteries, charging equipment and software.

This approach gives the company access to existing commercial locations as it expands, while local businesses can add battery swapping as another service.

Cutting the cost of electric motorcycles

The model is aimed at one of the main costs faced by commercial motorcycle riders: energy.

OKOA says its battery-swapping system can reduce energy costs by between 40% and 60% compared with petrol. This could be important for motorcycle-taxi and delivery riders who use their vehicles throughout the day and need a quick way to keep them running.

The company also uses a battery-as-a-service model, allowing riders to access batteries without buying them outright. This reduces the upfront cost of switching from petrol motorcycles to electric models.

Interoperability is also central to OKOA's expansion plans. As more motorcycle manufacturers connect to the network, riders using different electric motorcycle brands can access the same swapping infrastructure.

The company is preparing to demonstrate its first fully interoperable swaps in 2026 as it expands beyond its initial markets.

Catalyst Fund's investment gives OKOA additional funding as it moves from technology development and pilot activity into commercial deployment. The company now needs to expand its station network, attract riders and motorcycle manufacturers, and prove that the battery-swapping model can operate at scale across African cities.