SAIS

SAIS (Scaling digital agriculture innovations through start-ups in Africa) is a distinctive accelerator program dedicated to fostering the growth of agritech startups across the African continent. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, SAIS operates under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This structure underscores its primary mission as a development initiative, aiming to leverage digital agricultural innovations to enhance food security and economic opportunities for smallholder farmers in Africa. The program is an integral part of Germany's special initiative "ONE WORLD – No Hunger."

The SAIS accelerator provides a comprehensive, tailor-made six-month program designed to equip selected startups with the necessary tools and networks for scaling their solutions. Participants benefit from mentorship, technical assistance, and access to a broad ecosystem of investors and partners. A key component of their support is an initial grant of up to EUR 10,000 (approximately USD 10,800), which serves as crucial seed funding to help these early-stage companies advance their innovations and operations. This grant, while modest compared to typical equity investments, is strategically deployed to catalyze further growth and attract subsequent funding rounds.

Since its inception in 2019, SAIS has demonstrated a significant impact on the African agritech landscape. The program has successfully supported 49 African agritech startups, helping them refine their business models and expand their reach. These supported ventures have collectively made a substantial difference, reaching over 1.6 million smallholder farmers across various African nations. Furthermore, the innovations fostered through SAIS have contributed to economic development, with the portfolio companies generating over EUR 1.5 million in collective revenue.

SAIS's approach emphasizes not just initial funding but also long-term sustainability and investment readiness. By connecting startups with a robust network and providing strategic guidance, the program aims to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and viable, scalable businesses. Its unique position as a development-backed accelerator allows it to focus on impact-driven ventures that might otherwise struggle to secure early-stage capital from purely profit-driven investors, thereby playing a vital role in advancing digital agriculture in Africa.