Do you manage a tech start-up and want to change the way things are done in the agriculture and food tech sectors?
Do you have a solution that can empower value chain participants and increase industry sustainability and profitability?
Do you want assistance discovering ways to increase investment, contact more consumers, and make a bigger impact?
The SAIS Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) provides African digital start-ups in the food, agricultural, and livestock sectors with a year of specialized support to help them become investor-ready and develop their businesses.
Personalized coaching with local and international experts to help you develop your start-up further, e.g., Pitch Training, Growth Strategy, Data Analytics & Management, Term Sheet, Valuation, Market Analysis, Marketing & Sales, and so on. Access to the GIZ network with a global presence, local expertise, and years of experience working with the private sector, investors, and business partners. Add-on for female founders and women in leading positions. A bi-annual Female Founders Award recognizes the achievement of a female founder.
A project called “Scaling Digital Agriculture Innovations via Startups” (SAIS) is being carried out on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.
The project’s overarching objective is to assist African businesses in growing their digital breakthroughs, which should allow users in the food or agriculture industries to earn more money. Each year, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development chooses up to 18 entrepreneurs to take part in a nine-month Investment Readiness Program that is entirely sponsored by the German government. The Investment Readiness Program’s mission is to assist more African businesses in strengthening their business plans, obtaining access to financiers and business partners, and making a bigger impact.
Up to 20 start-ups will be chosen to take part in an investment readiness program that lasts a full year in 2023. SAIS has propelled more than 51 exceptional African start-ups since 2019.
While your start-up is participating in the IRP, seven investment readiness criteria are utilized to evaluate and track its development.
- The founding team’s abilities are enhanced, including pitch training, operations management, leadership, start-up valuation (“pre-money”), and the definition of the management team’s roles and responsibilities.
- The startup’s data room has been upgraded, and all relevant papers (such as the pitch deck, yearly balance sheet, accounting, bank accounts, predictions, and exit strategy) are ready for successful due diligence.
- A digital system is built and data is provided (“data analytics”) for tracking the startup’s user base.
- The startup has access to a market study and competitiveness report for its domestic market as well as potential growth areas.
- The founding team’s actions for growing the start-up are guided by a strategy and a list of measures for marketing and sales.
- The startup’s product is ready for the market (e.g., customer-driven product development, product-market fit, data security, suitable for national regulations).
Please apply online until October 31, 2022.
Start early with the process and pay attention to your video pitch (max. 2 minutes) and pitch deck.
Please provide all the information requested to avoid your exclusion during the pre-selection process.
You can apply in English or French.
