The programme is implemented by Scaling Agriculture Innovations through Start-ups (SAIS), managed by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with co-funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Its mission is to accelerate African start-ups in the agriculture and adjacent sectors, equipping them with the skills, tools, and networks needed to become attractive to investors and sustainable in their operations.
Eligibility Criteria
The GIZ SAIS Investment Readiness Program 2026 is open to:
For-profit start-ups legally registered in an African country (excluding South Africa).
Start-ups with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and demonstrated traction (paying customers and/or revenue).
Businesses at pre-seed to Series A stage.
Teams with at least two members in management.
Founders must be African, with preference given to local founders and gender-diverse teams.
Eligible start-ups may come from agri-tech or related fields, including climate tech, livestock, energy, biotech, fintech, circular economy, logistics, and beyond.
Benefits of the Programme
Selected start-ups will gain access to a wide range of benefits, including:
Technical Assistance: Up to €20,000 for consulting, legal support, marketing, ESG governance, and certifications.
Revolving Working Capital Loans: Up to €50,000 (9-month maturity, 1.5% interest).
Digital Agency Advisory: Services worth up to €10,000 from an international IT consultancy to boost marketing, analytics, and digital capacity.
Fully Sponsored Trips: Participation in two in-person community events (aligned with Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi) and one additional sector conference.
Investment Facilitation: Investor introductions, pitch sessions, and fundraising strategy support.
Community Network: Inclusion in a thriving network of more than 100 portfolio companies across Africa.
Start-up Commitments
Selected start-ups must commit to:
Assigning a team member to dedicate at least 2 hours per week to SAIS activities.
Sending one employee to both in-person events in Nairobi (February 2026 and February 2027).
Sharing key performance data (revenue, customers, funds raised, and staff growth) during and one year after the programme.
Facilitating access to customers for impact evaluation surveys.
Collaborating with contracted experts by providing relevant documents and business data.
Selection Process & Timeline
Here’s a breakdown of the key dates for the GIZ SAIS Investment Readiness Program 2026:
Application Deadline: 28 September 2025
Interviews (long-listed applicants): 20 – 31 October 2025
Selection Notification: 14 November 2025
Virtual Kick-off & Onboarding: End of November 2025
Advisor Engagement / On-site Visits: December 2025 – February 2026
First In-person Event: February 2026 in Nairobi (back-to-back with Africa Tech Summit)
Programme Duration: March 2026 – February 2027
Graduation (SAIStival 2027): February 2027 in Nairobi
