How do you choose which companies to accept into the SAIS IRP?

Our eligible criteria are:

Legal form

  • The start-up must be registered and operate in Africa
  • The start-ups must provide a certificate of registration

Team (founders)

  • The start-up must have a founding team of at least two people who work ideally full time for the start-up
  • The founding and management team should have entrepreneurial and technical experience in their area of operation

Digital product/service

  • The start-up must have a viable digital product that positively impacts the incomes of its customers
  • The product must have a positive impact on the African AgTech, FoodTech or livestock sector (vertical sectors that have an influence can be accepted like eCommerce, FinTech, Logistics, EdTech etc)

Market access and traction

  • The start-up must have launched its digital product at least six months before the application period
  • Start-ups must provide evidence of traction (customer base, first revenue)

Business model

  • The start-up should have an easily understandable and convincing business model (clear statement of the problem, clear digital solution, clear customer segment, and clear revenue stream)

Add-ons (But not musts)

  • The team consists of women founders or women in high management positions
  • One of the founders has an IT background
  • The founding team has previous start-up experience
  • The start-up targets a vulnerable group of customers
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