The German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) is now accepting applications for the 2023 edition of its “Scaling Digital Agriculture Innovations through Startups (SAIS)” programme. This programme provides training to start-ups in Africa that are working in the fields of agriculture, food, and livestock. E-commerce, financial technology, logistics, and educational technology are also eligible to apply.
These start-up companies must have created digital solutions that make the sector more lucrative and sustainable while also empowering the actors along the value chain. These companies, in addition to being registered in an African nation, need to consist of a team of at least two persons and must have released their digital products at least six months prior to the application period.
The programme, which is offered in both English and French, is comprised of seven modules that are designed to enhance the participants’ skill sets in order to better prepare them for investment opportunities. Among these include developing the expertise of the founding team, enhancing record and data management, doing data analysis, conducting market research, developing a marketing plan, increasing production, and expanding the number of customers.
SAIS also provides supplementary services, including the development of legal expertise, marketing, coding, and product optimization, as well as access to the GIZ-SAIS network to facilitate communication with potential investors.
Read also Why Leading Investors Poured $4.4M Into Nigerian Health-tech Startup Remedial Health
The programme is going to start in January 2023 and will continue for a full year. The meetings will be held online on a weekly basis and will consist of counselling and coaching. In addition to this, there will be three in-person meetings scheduled. The first one, which is going to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, is going to be a combination of a workshop for getting the new 2023 cohort started and a demo day for the present cohort.
Through the use of digital advancements, the initiative intends to raise the average income of those working in the agriculture and food production industries. This may be accomplished through enhancing the fundraising capacities of businesses, allowing them to connect with a wider number of consumers and have a higher overall effect.
Read also How Tech Businesses Can Empower South African Entrepreneurs
The submission of applications must be completed by Monday, October 31st, here.
GIZ investment Africa GIZ investment Africa
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard. You can book a session and speak with him using the link: https://insightsbyexpert