Following the successful conclusion of the inaugural Tanzania Impact Investment Forum (TIIF 2025), VC4A is proud to reflect on the journey, one that marked a key inflection point for the country’s early-stage startup ecosystem. VC4A delivered an end-to-end investment readiness and deal facilitation program for a selected group of high-potential Tanzanian ventures. TIIF 2025 brought together ecosystem builders, founders, and investors for a high-energy two-day event in Dar es Salaam. 10 startups within the group had the opportunity to pitch on the main stage. To continue the discussion post-event, VC4A’s Dealbook was shared allowing investors to find out more about the startups and register their interest to attend DealRoom sessions, a video conference call for more focused conversations between founders and investors. Each participating venture had previously undergone investment readiness preparation, including targeted masterclasses, 1-on-1 advisory sessions, and in-person pitch coaching. Tanzania’s innovation landscape The diversity of the final cohort was a defining feature. The 10 selected startups spanned sectors including agribusiness, FinTech, EdTech, aquaculture, and HealthTech. This is a reflection of both the breadth and the evolving maturity of Tanzania’s innovation landscape. Notably, several ventures were women-led and based in regions outside Dar es Salaam, offering a welcome signal of growing inclusivity across the ecosystem. Across three interactive masterclasses and tailored advisory sessions, founders built key skills in valuation, investor communication, and pitch delivery. The learning was immediately put to use at TIIF 2025, with strong pitch performances and high engagement from the attending investor community. The overall feedback confirmed that participating startups left better prepared, more visible, and with real investor leads in hand. DealBooks In total, over 1,000 investors were reached through VC4A’s promotion efforts. DealBooks were circulated in advance, and virtual deal rooms post-event allowed for follow-up engagement. More than two dozen investors attended the virtual sessions, with several expressing continued interest in individual companies. TIIF 2025 has proven to be more than a showcase, it has become a platform for meaningful connections and real opportunity. For VC4A, it represents the kind of structured, high-impact programming that drives measurable progress in startup ecosystems. We look forward to continuing this momentum and contributing to a future where Tanzanian founders secure capital, scale solutions, and compete confidently on both regional and international stages. For more information about the Tanzania Impact Investment Forum 2025, visit the website here. To engage in future DealRoom sessions or join the investor network, learn more here. Find more information on the selected companies here: BIZY TECH Limited – Tanzania A transformative digital marketplace designed to empower AgriMSMEs and smallholder farmers. The platform connects them with essential resources, including agronomy advisory, financial and market linkage services through our value-added offerings, enabling them to achieve up to 40% return on investment. By bridging the gap between farmers and markets, the platform helps them produce more food, boosts their income, and supports the scaling of their operations, driving sustainable growth in agriculture in Tanzania and across Africa. EvMak Tanzania – Tanzania EvMak is a licensed fintech company offering innovative digital payment solutions and comprehensive business management tools for SMEs, enterprises, and financial institutions. Our API-driven platform simplifies payment collection and disbursement across mobile money, bank transfers, and card transactions. We also provide a robust business management suite featuring automated invoicing, seamless online store setup, and real-time financial insights, helping businesses optimize operations and scale effectively. Shuleyetu Innovations limited – Tanzania Shuleyetu.com is a digital education platform created with a top desire to narrow the education gap in Africa and the world at large by improving the quality of education of boys and girls in the education ecosystem. To do so, it relies on technology and on innovative digital teaching-learning experiences to equip teachers and students with the skills needed for the digital era. Simplitech Limited – Tanzania Simplitech revolutionizes financial and tax compliance in Tanzania with accessible, government-approved digital tools. Our flagship product, Simplify VFD (Virtual Fiscal Device), streamlines tax invoicing and reporting, ensuring Tanzania Revenue Authority compliance while minimizing costs and administrative burdens. By leveraging cloud-based and mobile-first technology, we empower businesses to maintain accurate records, fostering informed decisions and sustainable growth. Niajiri Platform – Tanzania A smart, all-in-one platform that optimizes recruitment by providing employers with access to skilled talent while empowering candidates to upskill and secure top roles. Aquacom Limited – Tanzania Aquacom stands out by offering integrated, sustainable aquaculture solutions tailored to Tanzania’s fish farming sector. Unlike traditional fish farming methods, Aquacom’s HDPE fish cages last over 12 years, significantly outlasting conventional steel fish cages. The company’s Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) enable 90% water reuse, reducing water and energy costs while boosting fish production. Additionally, Aquacom’s smart cold storage solutions streamline fish sales, providing direct market access for farmers. Aatif Aquaponics Limited – Tanzania Aatif Aquaponics Limited is addressing the challenge of low local horticultural production and heavy reliance on imports in Zanzibar. Using innovative hydroponic and aquaponic farming systems, we transform coral-based and underutilized land into high-yield, climate-resilient farms. Our solution ensures year-round production of premium horticulture crops like colored capsicum, cherry tomato, sweet basil, thyme, mint, rosemary and more, improving food security and creating local jobs. Clickpesa – Tanzania Clickpesa’s business model generates revenue through transaction fees for payment processing, assessment fees for credit evaluations, and interest income from loans facilitated via our platform. Ghala – Tanzania For countless merchants, WhatsApp serves as their entire business infrastructure, but operating manually leads to missed sales, delayed responses, and customer frustration. Ghala transforms this experience by automating these processes directly within WhatsApp. Their solution converts the messaging app into a smart business assistant that works 24/7—instantly responding to inquiries, processing orders, handling payments, and tracking inventory. Plant Biofenders Company Limited – Tanzania Plant Biodefenders’ core function is production and distribution of organic agricultural inputs. This company was registered for the purpose of solving farmers and pollution challenges particularly of pest management in crops. africa entrepreneurship startup venture capital