Are you running a tech start-up with a positive impact on agriculture, livestock, food or climate in Africa? Do you need support to raise investment, reach more customers, and increase your impact?
Then this free investment readiness program is for you!
The SAIS Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) offers a year-long, tailor-made company development program for African tech start-ups in agriculture, livestock, food, and climate. The IRP – available in French and English – aims to support you in raising investments and scaling up your business!
Apply until 2 September by completing the application form and sign up to one of our info sessions where we will answer questions related to the program and the application process.
What we offer
Selected start-ups receive services worth up to 35,000 EUR including:
Mentorship and coaching with local and international experts tailored to your specific needs to develop and implement strategies for rapid growth.
Additional services & technical resources to optimize certain key areas of your business, e.g. legal advice, online marketing, digital product optimization, design, and coding.
Individual training, e.g. pitch training, growth strategy, data analytics & management, term sheet, valuation, market analysis, marketing & sales.
Investment and partnership facilitation, e.g. guidance on fundraising strategy, preparation of fundraising rounds, support for due-diligence processes, introduction to investors & funds.
Networking and showcasing opportunities at two in-person community events scheduled back-to-back with the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi, and one additional sector conference (travel costs for one representative from each start-up are covered by the programme).
Community exchanges and peer learning, e.g. virtual group training and workshops, company visits, deal rooms, topical exchanges and inputs from external speakers and guests.
Add-ons on an as-needed basis:
Program for Female Leaders: networking, peer-to-peer learning, and increased visibility for female founders and women in leading positions.
Cash2Start-ups: access to working capital loans of up to 50,000 EUR for up to 9 months, designed to support your growth.
Digital Agency Support: targeted technical assistance to start-ups to work on their digital components and become more data-driven.
Who can apply
To be eligible for the program, your company must meet the following minimum requirements:
Be registered in Africa
Be for-profit
Have a minimum viable product
Have a digital or tech-enabled solution for the agriculture, food or livestock value chain
Have a management team of at least two people
Have evidence of traction (paying customers, first revenue)
Contribute to climate change adaptation, income generation and/or food & nutrition security
August to November 2024 | Selection Process
SAIS and VC4A will host two info sessions-webinars aiming to answer your questions about the program and the eligibility criteria, criteria of selection, program overview, timeline, and more.
The session will be held on August 15, 2024, in both English and French, you can select and register to the sessions here.
Complete the online application form in English or in French to apply to the program by Monday, 2 September 2024 at 23:59 CET (German time). SAIS will review the online applications and invite long-listed applicants for interviews which will take place in October. SAIS aims to notify selected start-ups by mid-November 2024.
December 2024 to March 2025 | Needs Assessment and Development Planning
We will conduct a virtual onboarding session in December where you will e-meet your fellow innovators. You will be paired with a navigator from the SAIS team who serves as your main point of contact during the program. Together with your navigator, you will draft a development plan specifying your support needs and planning for the deployment of the SAIS IRP services. Where possible, your navigator will conduct a field visit to better understand your business model, operations, and customers.
February 2025 | In-person Kick-off at SAIStival 2025
The SAIStival is our program’s unique community & networking event where we bring together portfolio and alumni start-ups. SAIStival 2025 will take place from 9 to 11 February 2025 (tbc) in Nairobi, Kenya, back-to-back with the Africa Tech Summit 2025 (12 to 13 February).
March to September 2025 | Execution of Development Plans
During this period, you and your navigator will implement the activities and tasks defined in your development plan and deploy targeted support measures together with the SAIS network of mentors, experts, and partners. Regular virtual check-ins with your navigator will help you stay on track. We also organize monthly community and peer-learning events on a range of topics and through a mix of formats, also inviting external speakers and guests. In September 2025, we convene for a virtual midterm check-in to reflect on your progress and set milestones for the next stage.
September 2025 to February 2026 | Investment Exposure & Deal Facilitation
For the last stretch of the program, we focus helping you raise additional capital and investment to scale your impact. For start-ups that are actively fundraising, we provide strategic support and guidance for outreach to investors & funds. Where suitable, we sponsor trips to selected sector conferences or exhibitions.
February 2026 | In-person Graduation from the Programme at SAIStival 2026
SAIStival 2026 marks your official graduation from the SAIS Investment Readiness Programme while we also welcome the new cohort.
