The SAIS Investment Readiness Programme 2026 is a free, year-long, equity-free support program for African startups using technology to transform agriculture, food systems, and climate resilience. Implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the program provides bespoke advisory, capital access, and technical support to help African tech startups scale their impact and become investor-ready.

Program Benefits

Technical Assistance Budget: Up to €20,000 in zero-equity funding for legal advisory, product optimization, ESG governance, marketing/PR, licenses, and sales campaigns.

Working Capital Loans: Access to revolving working capital loans of up to €50,000 (9-month maturity at 1.5% interest).

Digital Advisory: Up to €10,000 in specialized digital agency support from an international IT consultancy.

Sponsored Event Travel: Fully funded trips to two in-person community events, including attendance at the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

Investment Facilitation: Tailored fundraising strategy, due diligence support, and direct investor introductions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Sector: AgTech or tech-enabled solutions in agriculture-adjacent fields (Climate, Energy, Livestock, Biotech, Fintech, Circular Economy, Logistics).
• Location: Operating in Africa (registered in any African country except South Africa; startups with multiple legal entities can apply via a non-South African registration).
• Stage: High-growth African tech startups demonstrating clear market traction, a scalable business model, and a strong core team. Applications open until September 28