SAIS Livestock Investment Readiness Programme 2027

Scaling Agriculture Innovations through Start-ups (SAIS) is inviting African technology ventures in dairy and aquaculture to join its 2027 Livestock Investment Readiness Programme. The one-year programme is designed to help start-ups scale their impact, strengthen their businesses and become ready for investment. It is 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 Gates Foundation. Selected start-ups receive up to €15,000 in technical assistance. This is a support budget rather than a cash grant and may be used for consultancies, expert support, legal advice, online marketing, licences, certifications, ESG governance, product optimisation, market-entry work, customer acquisition, sales campaigns, marketing and PR, graphic design, and employee training. The programme also covers travel to two in-person SAIS community events held alongside the Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi, plus one additional sector conference. Participants receive investment and partnership support through invite-only pitch sessions, tailored introductions to investors and funds, and guidance on fundraising strategy and due diligence. They also join a community of more than 100 SAIS portfolio companies. Eligible SAIS start-ups may later access separate opportunities for a scale-up grant of up to €40,000 and revolving working-capital loans of up to €50,000, with a nine-month maturity and 1.5% interest. These additional grants and loans are subject to separate eligibility and selection and are not guaranteed. The programme focuses on dairy technologies involving animal health, genetics, feed and forage, particularly where they can strengthen value chains in Kenya and Ethiopia. Its aquaculture priorities are genetics and feed innovations, particularly for Nigeria and Senegal. Start-ups elsewhere in Africa are also encouraged to apply if they can show that their technology, business model or learning is relevant to these priority value chains. Selected companies must nominate a management-team member as the main SAIS contact and commit an average of two hours per week. At least one team member must attend two in-person SAIStival community events. Participants must provide regular updates on revenue, users, customers, funding and employees during the programme and for at least one year afterwards, support customer impact surveys, and work actively with assigned experts and service providers. Applications close on 15 November 2026. Screening and interviews are scheduled for 16 to 30 November, with selection decisions in December. Virtual onboarding begins in January 2027. SAIStival takes place in Nairobi on 22 February 2027, followed by the Sankalp Africa Summit on 24 and 25 February. Tailored programme support runs from March 2027 to February 2028, with graduation planned for February 2028. The organiser has not stated a deadline timezone.

Applicants must be for-profit start-ups legally registered in Africa, with a management team of at least two people. Ventures should be at pre-seed to Series A stage and have at least a minimum viable product; recurring revenue, paying customers and established partnerships are preferred. The business must use technology to scale and strengthen dairy or aquaculture value chains. Start-ups outside the four priority markets may apply, but must demonstrate relevant learning or opportunities for the priority dairy and aquaculture value chains.