Deadline: September 28, 2025
The SAIS Investment Readiness Programme 2026 is a free, year-long, tailor-made support programme for African start-ups creating impact in the agricultural sector and related fields.
The focus areas include agriculture, food and climate, climate, livestock, energy, biotech, fintech, circular economy, logistics, agribusiness, agritech, and food production.
The programme offers up to €20,000 in technical assistance budget covering areas such as expert support, legal advice, certifications, market entry strategies, customer acquisition, marketing and PR, and employee training. Selected start-ups can also access revolving working capital loans of up to €50,000 with a 9-month maturity at 1.5% interest, and up to €10,000 in digital agency advisory to strengthen digital capacities, marketing, and data analytics. Fully sponsored trips to in-person events, including the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi and an additional sector conference, are also part of the package. Furthermore, investment facilitation is provided through curated investor introductions, invite-only pitch sessions, and support with fundraising strategies and due diligence.
Applicants will be evaluated based on business model, technology, team, impact, and traction, with special consideration for local founders and gender-diverse teams. The programme is not a bootcamp, does not take equity, and avoids generic workshops. Instead, each selected start-up is assigned a dedicated advisor who works closely to develop a custom roadmap. Companies must commit to nominating a focal management team member, attending in-person community events, providing company growth data, facilitating impact evaluations, and collaborating with experts for targeted technical support.
The application deadline is September 28, 2025. Longlisted applicants will be interviewed between October 20 and October 31, 2025, with final decisions communicated by November 14, 2025. The cohort begins with a virtual onboarding in November, followed by advisor visits, the SAIStival community event in Nairobi in February 2026, and continuous tailored support until February 2027, culminating in a graduation event.
For more information, visit SAIS.
