GIZ-SAIS Investment Readiness Program is an African AgriTech and FoodTech program for startups entering the scaling stage.
About the GIZ-SAIS Initiative
SAIS (Scaling Digital Agricultural Innovations through Startups) is a program plan implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The aim of the program plan is to:
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Assist African startups to scale digital innovations that will aid income increase for users in the agriculture or food sectors.
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Support African startups in improving business models, access investors and business partners, and achieve more impact.
About 18 startups are to partake in the 9-month investment readiness program.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) handles the funding of the program
The following investment readiness criteria/readiness output indicators track and assess selected startups.
First Indicator (1): Competency of the founding team has grown (through pitch, leadership, operations management)
Furthermore, included are the startup valuation(“pre-money”), clear roles, and responsibility of the management team.
Second Indicator (2): How the startup’s data room has improved and if all necessary papers for effective due diligence are available(such as bank statements, forecasts, pitch deck, annual balance sheet, accounting, and exit strategy).
Third Indicator (3): If there’s an established digital system for keeping track of the startup’s user base and providing data(data analytics).
Fourth Indicator (4): Availability of analysis on market research and competitiveness of the startup’s national market possible expansion.
Fifth Indicator (5): Having a sales & marketing strategy catalog of measures that guides the founding team for scaling the startup.
Sixth Indicator (6): The startup’s digital agricultural innovation (product) is ready for the market.
Products such as customer-driven product development, data security, product-market-fit, and products suitable for national regulations.
Seventh Indicator (7): Improved customer acquisition i.e the startup’s customer growth rate has increased.
Benefits of the Program
Startups will have access to the following:
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Weekly coachings and advisory sessions
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Hub integration of successful startups in partner hubs in their home country
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Business partners and investors from the GIZ-SAIS network.
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Add-on services (extended services) for female entrepreneurs.
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Meet-ups
Application Process Investment Readiness Program
Eligibility: innovative startups that are willing to scale and apply digital solutions to the agricultural and food sector.
Startups with digital Agricultural products/services that help lessen the impact of covid-19 is a plus and will be considered.
Selection Criteria:
Mandatory criteria include Legal representation, Team, Digital product, and access to market and traction.
Competitive criteria include Business model, Level of innovation, and Customer data.
Innovations Sought for Investment Readiness Program
Do take advantage and apply if your innovation meets one of the following categories or technologies listed.
Categories: Here are the required categories of selection;
Digital storytelling, eLearning, food delivery, digital payment, building digital expertise for farmers (eSkills, e-Literacy), precision farming, access to finance, and access to market.
Furthermore, the following categories are also allowed supply chain management, animal and crops health, logistics and transport, soil fertility, and e-commerce.
Also, categories such as open data, gamification, data analysis, data analysis, cybersecurity, data protection, open data, data security, and crowdsourcing are not exempted
Technologies: Below is a list of required technologies
Digital learning software (eLearning system, MOOC platforms, open educational resources), precision farming (chipcards, sensors, drones, remote sensing system), Internet of things, artificial intelligence (AI), GIS (Geo-Information Systems) /Mapping, virtual/augmented reality, robotics, SMS-services, social media, web platforms, big data analysis systems, control systems, 3D-printer, blockchain, monitoring, database, information-management systems (IMS).
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