The Catalyst Fund

Fueling the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs in Philadelphia.

About

The Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst Fund provides direct capital to help growth-minded small businesses scale operations, increase production or service capacity, and expand to meet growing market demand.

Grants of up to $50,000 along with advisory services per eligible business will be awarded based on demonstrated need, growth potential, and economic impact. The Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst Fund is an initiative of the Department of Commerce fueling collaboration and business growth citywide.

Connect

Address	Department of Commerce 1515 Arch St., 12th floor Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email	catalyst@phila.gov
Social	Facebook Twitter Instagram

Eligibility

The Small Business Catalyst Fund program has a highly competitive selection process. Businesses that generated under $2 million in revenue from previous year can apply for funding. The business must also:

Be located in Philadelphia.
Be up to date on City taxes or have an approved tax payment agreement.
Be registered and licensed with the City of Philadelphia.
Be able to accelerate business goals with targeted funding and support.
Have generated an annual revenue of at least $10,000.
Have at least two years of tax returns.
Be able to demonstrate measurable year-over-year growth potential.

To learn more about what businesses are eligible to apply, see our FAQs.

Applicants need to show:

A clear and metric-driven strategic growth plan.
Contribution to local economic impact, such as strengthening Philadelphia neighborhoods and creating jobs.
Resilience and innovation despite challenges accessing traditional funding.

Eligible expenses

This grant is designed to support most capital and operating expenses including:

Capital equipment and infrastructure upgrades.
Technology investments that expand operational capacity.
Marketing and customer acquisition initiatives.
Facility improvements tied to expansion.

Examples of growth might include, but are not limited to:

The business owner is outfitting their space to accommodate increased foot traffic and growing demand. To expand operational capacity, they are seeking funding to purchase commercial-grade equipment that will increase product output while reducing costs. This investment will allow the business to transition from dinner-only service to full-day operations and launch catering services. As a result of the expansion, the business anticipates creating two (2) new jobs to support increased operations and customer demand.

You cannot use this funding for expenses including, but not limited to:

Routine operating costs, such as rent, payroll, past-due bills, or debt payments.
Real estate acquisition.

To learn more about what you can use this funding for, see our FAQs.

Apply for funding

You can apply to the Catalyst Fund using the online form and see if you qualify.

External link Go to the form

Resources

Financial support programs