develoPPP Ventures Funding Support for Innovative Early-Stage Businesses

The focus areas of this opportunity are non-dilutive capital of EUR 100,000 (and a top-up for successful ventures in a potential second phase), the company must receive matching funds equaling the amount of the non-dilutive capital in the form of cash injection from other investors, matching funds can be considered if received up to 6 months prior to the application and still available for the develoPPP Ventures investment, the external capital must have been received at the latest by the time of disbursement of the develoPPP Ventures funds.

Innovation: the business model is innovative with regard to the target country, scalability: the company has a high growth potential due to the size of the market and the target group, financial sustainability: the break-even point will be reached timely (maximum within 3 years), adequate management: the company has the necessary expertise as well as management capacity and human resources to substantially scale its business, developmental impact: the business model has a significant developmental relevance, the impact is measurable with positive effects on the target groups, the company is contributing to reaching the SDGs by increasing local income, saving natural resources, improving access to resources and services, and creating decent jobs, eligible companies must be registered in the target country or plan to register there prior to the investment, privately owned and profit-oriented, able to provide at least one annual financial statement, have a viable business plan and financial plan, be operative with first revenues from operating activities as proof of concept, and should not have acquired more than a maximum of EUR 2 million in funding to date.

DEG Impulse gGmbH and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implement this support mechanism with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The programme is designed to help early-stage companies expand their offerings in selected emerging markets while generating measurable impact aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Selected ventures receive non-dilutive financing that allows them to accelerate their business growth while maintaining ownership. To access this support, companies must secure matching investment funds that mirror the programme’s contribution. These funds demonstrate investor confidence and ensure that businesses have the financial backing needed to scale sustainably.
Applications are reviewed based on innovation, growth potential, financial soundness, management capacity and demonstrated developmental relevance. Companies are expected to show clear pathways to breaking even within three years and must present strong operational foundations, including proof of concept through initial revenues.

This opportunity is intended for privately owned and profit-oriented companies with early traction that are ready to scale within emerging markets. Applicants must either be registered in the target country or be prepared to complete registration before the investment is made. They must also have secured less than EUR 2 million in previous funding to remain eligible.

For more information, visit develoPPP Ventures.