SAIS Investment Readiness Programme 2022 – Farmed Animal Tech Start-ups

Please get in touch with us at sais@giz.de and tell us about the company and why you think they’ll be a good fit.

We have multiple touchpoints with investors during the programme and our network is constantly growing. We have a demo day and an alumni circle after the programme with opportunities to meet the right investor. So far, almost half of the companies have received follow-on funding during or after the programme.

If you work with the GIZ, please let us know and indicate this clearly in the application. Most of the time, this is not a problem, even appreciated. If you have questions in advance, reach out to us via SAIS@giz.de.

Seven indicators measure the performance of the start-ups during the programme to improve the level of investment readiness:

• Indicator 1: The managerial skills of the founding team are improved, the sharing of roles and responsibilities within the management team is clearly defined.
• Indicator 2: The start-up’s database is updated, and all the documents necessary for adequate ‘due diligence’ are available (e.g., pitch deck, annual balance sheet, accounting report, bank statements, forecasts, and strategy Release).
• Indicator 3: A digital user base monitoring system is established and provides reliable data.
• Indicator 4: A market study and an analysis of the start-up’s competitiveness are available for the national and possible expansion markets.
• Indicator 5: A strategy and a catalogue of measures for marketing and sales are available and guide the actions of the founding team to develop the start-up.
• Indicator 6: The start-up’s digital product is customer-focused and ready to market (e.g. product adaptation to the target market, data security guaranteed, adaptation to applicable national regulations).
• Indicator 7: The start-up’s customer acquisition rate has improved.

Going through multiple programmes simultaneously is not recommended, as your time commitment to your company and the L-IRP might be challenging enough. However, you can participate in programmes before and after the SAIS L-IRP as you will. In addition, after completing the L-IRP, we provide master classes with additional coaching and services for high-performing start-ups.

We don’t tell you what to do or when, but we create an environment conducive to helping your start-up every day. At least once a week, you will meet with one of our coaches and mentors/experts to discuss and define your next steps.

If you don’t have an office, we will try to access a local hub to facilitate contact with major players in the local start-up scene. The use of the regional hub office is entirely optional.

The primary language that we use in verbal and written communications during the programme – is English.

Upon acceptance to the L-IRP, the start-up has full access to all programme benefits. In addition, the accelerated start-ups commit to providing monthly data from the start of the programme until the end of 2023 concerning: Revenue, number of customers, funds raised and number of employees.

All data will only be collected to track the progress of each start-up during the programme and will not be published. Each team needs to commit on average 3 hours per week for the programme; this applies most often to the founders but not only. We require access to data and customers, with the agreement that we can execute at least two times a questionnaire with your customers to evaluate the impact of your product/service.

Our belief at SAIS is: Competition is good for business. However, we try to avoid accepting competitive companies into the same programme class.

With the growing SAIS alumni portfolio of companies/start-ups, there may be competitive companies in the broader SAIS network. So, if there is a company in the SAIS portfolio that’s competitive, we make sure there is no exchange of sensitive data.

We accelerate all types of start-ups whose business model contributes to our overall goal of increasing incomes in the agri-food sector through digital innovations in the livestock industry.

Successful applicants have free access to our L-IRP benefits worth up to $50k. In addition, unlike other accelerator programmes, we do not require shares of the companies that successfully applied for the investment readiness programme.

SAIS provides benefits worth up to $50k, which contain e.g.:

• Weekly sessions of personalized coaching with local and international experts
• Access to premium online training/classes (tailored)
• Access to additional premium services and optimization packages to optimize certain key areas (e.g., interim CTO, Website / App optimization, online marketing support, digital product optimization, design, coding, legal advice)
• Integration into a local hub (optional)
• Access to the GIZ network
• So far, about half of our start-ups raise capital during or after the SAIS programme.

Our overall goal at SAIS is to increase incomes in the agri-food sector through proven digital innovations. At the L-IRP we focus on innovations in the African livestock value chain.

Unfortunately, we don’t allow late applications to move through our very tight schedule for selection and to be fair to all applicants. Therefore, the next round of applications will be open soon.

We don’t exclude applications just because they have a single founder. But we look for great balanced teams who have a full range of skills. Therefore, we highly recommend you seek co-founders who balance your skillset. If you are a single founder, you should build a strong and very committed management team around you.

No.

Yes! We are happy to consider any application considering our eligible criteria listed above. Just remember that your digital innovation should address the African livestock value chain. 

You can apply to the programme if your innovation is in one of the following categories or technologies used somehow in the broader livestock value chain:

Technologies:
Internet of things, application (mobile), search engine, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, virtual/augmented reality, 3D printer, robotics, digital learning software (online training system, MOOC platform, open educational resources), database, information management system, monitoring and control system, geographic information system (GIS)/mapping, SMS services, web platform, social media, data analysis system

Application Domain:
Strengthening of the digital expertise and IT skills of actors in the livestock value chain (e-skills), online training (e-learning), precision agriculture, market access, access to finance, digital payment, management of livestock value chains, logistics and transport, e-commerce, animal feed, animal health & welfare

Do you think that your category is missing and should be listed? Tell us at sais@giz.de.

No! We treat application data confidentially! We ensure your data and information are safe with us, as this guarantees our core business model and good reputation.

No, you must fill out the application form.

March 20, 2022.

After applications close, we’ll review applications for about two weeks and spend time getting to know even more about your team, market, progress and idea. Finally, our goal is to notify the final group of companies who will have the chance to join the selection day within four weeks from the application closing date.

If you have already submitted your application prior to the deadline and want to make changes, please reach out to VC4A for support. The VC4A support team can re-open your application for you to make the changes and re-submit. Please note, that after the deadline has passed, no further changes can be made.

We highly recommend that your founding team works in the company full time so that you can focus on your business to make it big. But we fully understand your decision not to quit your previous job quite yet, especially if your start-up is still early-stage.

The video is required for the application process, and we recommend it. We are not looking for a highly produced video; we want to see what you are working on, why you’re excited about it, how your team works together, and what makes you unique. You can record a video with your phone but make sure the audio quality is good.

Our eligible criteria are:

• Legal form
  The start-up must be registered and operate in Africa and provide a registration certificate.
• Team
  Is the founding team complementary?
  Has the team the qualifications and experience to run a business?
• Digital innovation
  Is the business model based on a proven digital innovation?
  Is the digital solution resolving a specific problem or bringing a pain reliever to the customer needs (explicit problem and solution statement)?
  Is this digital solution bringing amelioration, change or disruption to an existing product in the market?
• Business model
  Is the source of revenue clear?
  How does the business model increase the income for its users (e.g., farmers, other actors of the value chain)?
• Market access
  Does the start-up know its market size?
  Does the start-up know its competitors?
  Does the start-up know its barriers to expansion?
  Is there a clear USP of the product?
  Is there a clear product-market-fit?
• Traction
  Has the start-up proof/evidence of regular revenue (e.g., a proven number of customers that paid for the product)?
  Is the financial plan/statement of the start-up realistic and reliable?