Are you building a tech startup in dairy, aquaculture or livestock in Africa? The SAIS (Scaling digital Agriculture Innovations through Start-ups) programme is accepting applications for its Livestock Investment Readiness Programme 2027: a one-year, equity-free programme with up to €15,000 in technical assistance, a personal adviser, investor introductions and sponsored trips to Nairobi. Applications close on 15 November 2026.
This year’s priorities are dairy innovations relevant to East Africa and aquaculture genetics and feed innovations relevant to West Africa, especially Nigeria and Senegal. Startups from other African countries are also encouraged if their solution can strengthen these value chains.
Key Details
- Programme: SAIS Livestock Investment Readiness Programme 2027
- Duration: one year (kick-off January 2027)
- Support: up to €15,000 in technical assistance (in kind, not cash)
- Equity: none taken
- Who: registered, for-profit African agritech startups
- Deadline: 15 November 2026
Benefits
- up to €15,000 technical-assistance budget for consultants, legal advice, licences and certification, ESG governance, product optimisation, market entry, sales and marketing, design and staff training
- a dedicated SAIS Navigator who works with you on your most pressing growth and investment-readiness challenges
- investment facilitation: invite-only investor pitch sessions, introductions to funds and fundraising guidance
- fully sponsored trips to two in-person community events alongside the Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi, plus one sector conference
- a community of 100+ SAIS portfolio companies
Extra opportunities for eligible startups (not guaranteed): a SAIS Scale-up Grant of up to €40,000, and revolving working-capital loans of up to €50,000 at 1.5% interest over 9 months.
SAIS reports that more than 83% of the 107+ startups it has supported received follow-on investment within a year, raising over US$105 million in total.
Eligibility
- a for-profit company registered in an African country
- a management team of at least two people
- at least a working MVP — ideally recurring revenue, paying customers and partnerships
- at the pre-seed to Series A fundraising stage
- a solution that uses technology to scale and strengthens dairy or aquaculture value chains
Relevant areas include animal feed and nutrition, animal health, genetics and breeding, dairy production and farm management, and aquaculture systems.
What Selected Startups Must Do
- appoint a management team member as main contact and commit about two hours a week
- send at least one person to the two in-person SAIStival events
- share progress data (revenue, customers, funding, staff) during and for a year after the programme
- support impact assessments and work with assigned experts
Programme Timeline
- 15 November 2026: application deadline
- 16–30 November 2026: screening and interviews
- December 2026: selection decisions
- January 2027: virtual kick-off
- 22 February 2027: SAIStival, Nairobi
- 24–25 February 2027: Sankalp Africa Summit, Nairobi
How to Apply
- Read the full call on the official SAIS Livestock programme page.
- Prepare your traction figures, team details and a clear description of your technology.
- Complete the SAIS online application.
- Submit before 15 November 2026.
Tips
- Show how your technology helps farmers directly — lower feed costs, healthier animals, more milk or fish.
- Nigerian and Senegalese fish-feed or hatchery startups: highlight it, as this is a priority.
- Give numbers: farmers reached, revenue, repeat customers.
- Explain what you’d spend the €15,000 technical-assistance budget on.
Related Opportunities
- BRIDGE-in Agriculture Pitch Competition 2026 (Ghana)
- ABF Agribusiness Growth Challenge 2026
- Africa Impact Academy Cohort 2 (2026)
Deadline: 15 November 2026.
