African Entrepreneurs Investment Readiness Programme GIZ-SAIS for 2022

Application Deadline: 31st August 2021

Eligible Countries: African countries

To be Taken at (Country): Nairobi, Kenya

About the Award: Have you successfully developed innovative digital solutions for the agricultural and food sector with a positive impact on income generation? Are you still looking for company development support to scale your business and increase your impact?

The GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Programme provides tailor-made company development measures aimed at improving your investment readiness and gaining access to investment and business opportunities.

Type: Entrepreneurship

Eligibility: 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.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award:

• 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.

What is expected?

• A willingness by team members and ability to take part in all training measures, including physical presence during the kick-off, mid-term check-in and link-up event.
• Team members exhibit willingness to agree on individual milestones as well as serious ambition to achieve them within the timeframe of the GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Programme.
• The willingness to regularly communicate and share business information with GIZ-SAIS.

How to Apply: Apply

APPLY HERE