The SAIS Livestock Investment Readiness Programme 2027 for African start-ups.

Application Deadline: 15 November 2026

Applications are actually open for the 2027 SAIS Livestock Investment Readiness Programme. The SAIS Investment Readiness Programme is obtainable by ‘Scaling Agriculture Innovations through Start-ups (SAIS)’, a challenge carried out by the 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.

Requirements

SAIS is wanting for progressive, technology-driven start-ups strengthening livestock worth chains throughout Africa, with a specific give attention to:

• Dairy: Animal well being, genetics, feed and forage, significantly related to dairy worth chains in East Africa (Kenya and Ethiopia
• Aquaculture: Genetics and feed improvements, significantly related to aquaculture worth chains in West Africa (Nigeria and Senegal).

Start-ups based mostly in different African nations are equally inspired to apply, these should show that their improvements, options or enterprise fashions supply related learnings or Opportunities to strengthen these precedence worth chains.

Eligibility Requirements

Geography & Legal-Entity

For-profit and registered in Africa

Team

Management workforce of no less than two individuals

Fundraising Stage

Pre-seed by way of Series A

Traction

At least MVP, ideally recurring income, paying clients and established partnerships

Impact Alignment

Strengthening worth chains in dairy and aquaculture

Tech Angle

Use tech to scale

Benefits

A one-year, tailored assist programme together with:

• Up to €15,000 in technical help price range for consultancies, professional assist, authorized recommendation, on-line advertising and marketing, licenses, certifications, ESG governance, product optimisation, market entry methods, buyer acquisition & gross sales campaigns, advertising and marketing & PR, graphic design, worker coaching, and extra.
• Fully sponsored journeys to 2 in-person group occasions back-to-back with the Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi (February of every 12 months), and one further sector convention.
• Investment and partnership facilitation by way of invite-only pitch classes with a curated community of buyers, bespoke introductions to buyers & funds, steerage on fundraising technique and due diligence.
• A group of 100+ portfolio companies.

Additional Opportunities for eligible start-ups:

• SAIS Scale-up Grant of as much as €40,000 that helps start-ups from the SAIS group which are able to scale their market attain and deepen their affect.
• Access to revolving working capital loans of as much as €50,000 with 9-month maturity at 1.5% curiosity.

Programme Timeline:

• 15 November 2026: Deadline to apply(opens in new tab).
• 16 – 30 November 2026: Screening and interviews with candidates.
• December 2026: Communication of choice choice.
• January 2027: Virtual kick-off and onboarding.
• 22. February 2027: SAIStival 2027, Nairobi, Kenya.
• 24 – 25 February 2027: Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
• March 2027 to February 2028:  Deployment of the funding readiness programme companies & price range for your assist wants, a further convention go to and digital check-ins together with your SAIS advisor.
• February 2028: Graduation at SAIStival 2028.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the SAIS Livestock Investment Readiness Programme