Scaling Agriculture Innovations through Start-ups (SAIS) invites applications from African technology-driven start-ups developing innovative solutions for the dairy and aquaculture value chains.

The one-year SAIS Investment Readiness Programme provides tailored business support to help start-ups strengthen their products, improve market access, prepare for investment and establish partnerships that support growth. The programme is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with co-funding from the Gates Foundation.

The programme does not take equity in participating start-ups and focuses on practical, tailored support rather than a standard accelerator curriculum.

Funding and Support

Selected start-ups receive a one-year package of investment-readiness support, including:

• Technical assistance: Up to €15,000 for consultancies and expert support, legal advice, licensing, certifications, product optimisation, ESG governance, market-entry strategies, customer acquisition, sales campaigns, marketing, public relations and employee training.
• Investor and partnership facilitation: Access to curated investor networks, invitation-only pitch sessions, introductions to investors and funds, and guidance on fundraising strategy and due diligence.
• Sponsored participation in events: Travel support for two in-person SAIS community events associated with the Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi, plus one additional sector conference.
• Business development support: Tailored guidance from a dedicated SAIS Navigator to address each start-up's growth and investment-readiness needs.

Additional opportunities for eligible SAIS community start-ups:

• SAIS Scale-up Grant: Up to €40,000 for eligible community start-ups ready to expand market reach and deepen their impact.
• Working capital loans: Access to revolving loans of up to €50,000, with a nine-month maturity and an interest rate of 1.5%.

The additional grant and loan facilities are separate opportunities and are not guaranteed benefits for every applicant or selected start-up.

Priority Areas

The programme seeks technology-driven innovations that strengthen livestock value chains, with a particular focus on:

Dairy — especially relevant to East Africa

• Animal health.
• Genetics.
• Feed and forage innovations.
• Technologies that improve productivity and strengthen dairy value chains, particularly in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Aquaculture — especially relevant to West Africa

• Genetics.
• Feed innovations.
• Technologies that improve aquaculture productivity and strengthen value chains, particularly in Nigeria and Senegal.

Start-ups based in other African countries are also encouraged to apply, provided they can demonstrate how their innovations, solutions or business models offer relevant learning or opportunities to strengthen these priority value chains.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Geography and legal status: A for-profit start-up legally registered in an African country.
• Management team: At least two people in the management team.
• Fundraising stage: Pre-seed through Series A.
• Product development: At least a minimum viable product (MVP).
• Commercial traction: Recurring revenue, paying customers and established partnerships are desirable.
• Impact alignment: A demonstrable contribution to strengthening dairy or aquaculture value chains.
• Technology: A technology-driven solution with potential to scale.

Participation Requirements

Selected start-ups are expected to:

• Appoint a management-team member as the main SAIS contact, committing an average of two hours per week throughout the programme.
• Send at least one team member to two in-person SAIS community events.
• Provide regular business-performance data, including revenue, users, customers, funding raised and employment, throughout the programme and for at least one year afterwards.
• Facilitate access to customers or clients for impact assessments.
• Work with assigned experts and service providers, sharing relevant business information and documents as needed.

Programme Timeline

• Application deadline: 15 November 2026.
• Screening and interviews: 16–30 November 2026.
• Selection decisions communicated: December 2026.
• Virtual onboarding: January 2027.
• SAIStival 2027: 22 February 2027, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Sankalp Africa Summit: 24–25 February 2027, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Investment-readiness support: March 2027–February 2028.
• Programme graduation: February 2028.

Application Process

Eligible start-ups should complete the online application form by 15 November 2026.

Applicants should demonstrate how their technology addresses relevant dairy or aquaculture value-chain challenges, their current product development and commercial traction, their growth potential, and their ability to benefit from investment-readiness support.

Industry / Sector

Agricultural technology (AgriTech), livestock technology, dairy, aquaculture, animal health, agricultural biotechnology and feed technology.

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