The GIZ ‘Scaling digital agriculture innovations through start-ups’ (SAIS) Investment Readiness Programme seeks to scale digital innovations developed by African startups that enable their users in the agricultural or food sector to increase their income. Participating startups will receive virtual coaching and training sessions, in-person workshops, and access to service providers.

This opportunity is aimed at startups (for-profit businesses) registered in Africa with scalable digital solutions with a clear positive impact on income in the agricultural and/or food sector. Applications have to be received online by 28 October 2019

Benefits

  • A six-month Investment Readiness Programme fully funded by GIZ-SAIS beginning in December 2019. The programme is built around regular virtual coaching and training sessions with experienced company developers and growth managers.
  • Access to additional service providers to optimise certain segments of your venture (e.g. legal, cash flow, marketing, coding etc.).
  • Three in-person meet-ups complete the programme: a kick-off workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2019, followed by a mid-term check-in in the third or fourth month and a link-up event with investors and business partners will conclude the programme.
  • Throughout the duration of the programme, the GIZ-SAIS team will facilitate contacts and interactions with potential investors and business partners using the global investor cloud services. Further follow-up growth measures in close dialogue with committed investors and business partners are planned for those start-ups that successfully complete the Investment Readiness Programme.

Eligibility criteria:

You can apply if your business:

  • is a start-up registered in Africa, a for-profit business with a team of at least two people,
  • is offering scalable digital solutions with a clear positive impact on income in the agricultural and/or food sector (e.g. through savings, business opportunities, added value, etc.),
  • and is in the post-seed stage (i.e. have launched a minimum viable product, have an existing customer base, have evidence of revenue).
Selection criteria:

Projects will be selected on the basis of an application that showcases:

  • a convincing business model,
  • a highly-motivated team that ideally reflects gender equality and diversity,
  • and presents a digital product that is scalable, demonstrably functional, user-oriented, commercially viable and makes use of sustainable technical solutions while also, ideally, promoting gender equality in the agriculture and food sector.

Application

1) Online application

Please apply online by October 28, 2019, via the VC4A website and upload a short pitch video (max. 2 minutes) via an unlisted (i.e. hidden to the public) YouTube link. The video should clearly convey your vision, the problem you are addressing and how your product resolves it as well as the user experience. Please provide all requested information in order to ensure your inclusion in the selection process.

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2) Virtual pitch

Based on the eligibility and selection criteria presented above, GIZ-SAIS will pre-select convincing start-ups that will be invited to a virtual pitch:

  • The virtual pitch event will be held in November 2019, during calendar week 47 (November 18-22, 2019).
  • Invitations to the pitch event including your time slot will be sent out by November 11, 2019.
3) Kick-off event in Nairobi

The most promising start-ups selected in the wake of the virtual pitch will be invited to Nairobi, Kenya, on December 12-13, 2019 for the GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Programme kick-off event. Please make sure that you are available at that time.

For more details,please visit  GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Programme

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