Overview
GIZPublic Sector Initiative
Who we are
‘Scaling Digital Agriculture Innovations through Startups’ (SAIS) may be a project implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). the general goal of the project is to support African startups in scaling their digital innovations; these innovations should enable users within the agriculture or food sectors to extend their income. Up to 18 startups are selected annually to participate during a nine-month Investment Readiness Programme fully funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The aim of the Investment Readiness Programme is to support more African startups in improving their business models, gaining access to investors and business partners, and achieving greater impact. Seven output indicators (also called investment readiness criteria or investment readiness output indicators) are defined to assess and monitor the investment readiness level of selected startups.

Indicator 1: The competencies of the founding team are improved (e.g. pitch training, operations management, leadership, startup valuation (“pre-money”), clear roles, and responsibility of management team).

Indicator 2: The startup’s data room is improved and every one necessary documents for effective due diligence are available (e.g. pitch deck, annual record , accounting, bank statements, forecasts, and exit strategy).

Indicator 3: A digital system for monitoring the startup’s user base is established and provides data (“data analytics”).

Indicator 4: A marketing research and competitiveness analysis of the startup is out there for his or her own national market and possible expansion markets.

Indicator 5: a technique and a listing of measures for marketing & sales are available and guide the actions of the founding team for scaling the start-up.

Indicator 6: The startup’s product (“digital agricultural innovation”) is market-ready (e.g. customer-driven development , product-market fit, data security, suitable for national regulations).

Indicator 7: The startup’s customer growth is improved (improved customer acquisition rate).

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What we provide
The Investment Readiness program includes:

Weekly advisory and training sessions
Weekly advisory and training sessions held virtually during which strategies and measures for rapid climb and scaling, product improvement and innovation, leadership and business management operations are developed and implemented with the startups;

•Additional services
Based on the startup’s commitment, access to additional services to optimize certain segments (e.g. legal advice, marketing, coding, product optimization, etc.) of the startups.

•Hub integration
Integration of the chosen startups in one among our partner hubs within the ir home country so as to facilitate their visibility and establish contact with relevant actors in the local startup scene.

•Access to GIZ-SAIS network
Access to investors and business partners from the GIZ-SAIS network.

•Extended services
Add-on services for female entrepreneurs.

Meet-up events
Up to 3 in-person meet-up events. counting on the COVID-19 situation over the course of 2022, it’s going to be possible to shift the in-person meet-ups to online events. At the instant the plan is to start out the IRP with a kick-off workshop in Capetown, in January 2022 (CW4), followed by a virtual mid-term check-in June 2022; a demo-day with investors and business partners will conclude the program in September 2022.

Who can apply for the Investment Readiness Program?
SAIS is trying to find innovative startups that are close to scale rapidly and apply digital solutions to the agriculture and food sector which enable their users to enhance their income. additionally , digital products or services that help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 are a plus and can be taken into special consideration.

Please note that early-stage startups won’t be considered for the program.

What are our selection criteria?
Mandatory criteria
Legal representation
– The startup must be registered and operating in a minimum of one African country .
– A certification of incorporation are going to be a prerequisite.

Team
– The startup must have a team of a minimum of two people.
– The management team must be highly motivated and work on the business ideally full-time.

Digital product
– The startup must have a viable digital product with a transparent positive impact on its users’ income.
– the merchandise must be aligned with one among the digital technologies listed below.

Access to plug and traction
– The startup must have launched its digital product a minimum of six months before the appliance period.
– The startups provide evidence of excellent traction (customer base, first revenues)

Competitive criteria
Business model
The startup should have an easily understandable and really convincing business model (clear problem statement, clear digital solution, clear customer segment and clear revenues stream).

Customer data
The startup should have access to customer data via its digital solution (number of consumers and gender); if this is often not the case, building customer databases are going to be one among the primary development measures if the startup is chosen for the IRP.

Level of innovation
Innovative and disruptive solutions are going to be considered an asset. Solutions that help mitigate the post impact of Covid-19 are going to be taken into special consideration.

Which innovations are we looking for?
You can apply if your innovation is listed in one among the subsequent categories or technologies.

Categories
Building digital expertise for farmers (eSkills, eLiteracy), eLearning, precision farming, access to plug , access to finance, digital payment, supply chain management, food delivery, animal and crops health, soil fertility, logistics and transport, e-commerce, gamification, big data, data analysis, open data, data protection, data security, cybersecurity, crowdsourcing, digital storytelling.

Technologies
Internet of things, precision farming (chipcards, sensors, drones, remote sensing system) AI (AI), virtual/augmented reality, 3D-printer, robotics, digital learning software (eLearning system, MOOC platforms, open educational resources), database, blockchain, information-management systems (IMS), monitoring, controlling systems, GIS (Geo-Information Systems) /Mapping, SMS-services, web platforms, Apps, social media, big data analysis systems.

More Details And Application HERE

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Kehinde Abiola have been a certified Google digital marketer, a pro blogger and a KICK-ASS Freelance Wizard for years. He’s on a mission to help individual make sustainable income doing legitimate works online and business owner improve their profit making. He’s the publisher and team lead at CCN. He’s the author of different training material at notable places including CCN. He’s the Web manager [Adim] and content producer at SOJWORLDNEWS to mention a few.