An economic catalyst is an entrepreneur or company that precipitates a fundamental change in business or technology.
A more precise definition of a catalyst is based on the new economics of multi-sided platforms.
In this literature an "economic catalyst" is an entity that has (a) two or more groups of customers; (b) who need each other in some way; but (c) can't capture the value from their mutual attraction on their own; and (d) rely on the catalyst to facilitate value-reaction reactions between them.
For-profit businesses, joint ventures, cooperatives, standard-setting bodies, and governments operate catalysts.
To create this product Diners Club had to get two groups of customers on board.