If you are running an innovative startup in South Africa and you are looking for funding that does not require you to give away equity, the develoPPP Ventures programme is worth your immediate attention. This non-diluting startup funding is approximately worth R1,9 million (€100,000) and will let you keep full ownership of your business. The programme is open across seven African countries including South Africa, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, with more countries expected to follow.

The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented through DEG Impulse gGmbH and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. For South Africa, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, the local implementation partner is Greentec Capital, an impact-focused investment advisory firm. Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania are supported through VC4A.

Matched capital

Th is funding has a matching fund requirement. For every euro provided by the programme, you need to demonstrate an equal amount of investment from other sources. This matching capital can have been received up to six months before your application, provided it is still available. If you have not yet secured the matching investment, you need to be in advanced discussions with investors and the external capital must be in place by the time the develoPPP Ventures funds are disbursed.

Eligibility

The programme targets early-stage, growth-oriented companies. To be eligible, your business must meet the following criteria:

Registered in South Africa, Ghana (Including Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Kenya, Tansania and Nigeria (or planning to register before the investment is made)
Privately owned and profit-oriented
Has at least one annual financial statement available
Has a viable business plan and financial projections
Is already generating revenue and has a solid proof of concept. This is a key requirement.
Has not raised more than €2 million in total funding to date

The cap on prior funding is important. This is not a programme for well-capitalised businesses but is rather designed for for startups that are past the idea stage, have early traction, but are not yet able to attract fully commercial financing on their own.

The mandate is broad but it is important that the businesses are innovative and must tick the following boxes:

Creates positive developmental impact
Contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Improves living conditions in a developing or emerging economy

Selection Criteria

The selection committee will evaluate applications against the following key criteria::

The business model must be locally relevant and be differentiated.
The programme wants to back businesses with high growth potential. The size of your addressable market and the breadth of your target group will be assessed.
The business needs to demonstrate a credible path to break-even within three years. Investor-ready financial projections covering at least three years will be required during due diligence.
The team behind the business matters. The business must show that the team has the expertise, leadership capacity, and human resources to execute at scale.
The business must present measurable positive impact is a non-negotiable. The programme is specifically interested in businesses that increase local income, create decent jobs, improve access to resources and services, or contribute to saving natural resources. Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is expected.

Women-led startups and businesses that actively promote gender equality are especially encouraged to apply, with the programme referencing the 2X Challenge criteria as a relevant framework.

The closing date is 30 June 2026.

Selection Process

Applications can be submitted through the develoPPP online platform at https://application.develoPPP.de. Shortlisted applicants are then invited to pitch before the DEG Impulse and GIZ selection committee. Businesses that pass the pitch stage proceed to a due diligence process, during which a detailed review of the business plan, financial projections, investor relationships, and customer pipeline takes place.

One thing that consistently trips up entrepreneurs when applying for opportunities like this is compliance. The programme requires a locally registered entity. If your business is not formally registered, or if your registration is lapsed or in deregistration status at the CIPC, you will not be able to conclude a contract even if you are selected. Make sure your registration is current, your annual returns are filed, and your financial statements are in order before you invest time in an application.

For questions or to make contact, you can reach the implementation team at: develoPPPVentures@giz.de

Further Information

One of our core objectives at Business Geniuses is to empower small businesses and startups by curating funding opportunities as they arise. Visit our Funding section for other opportunities that may be open for applications.

While formal company registration is not always a prerequisite for accessing funding, it is crucial for formalised entities to maintain compliance. A lack of proper governance can completely hinder any prospects of funding. For guides and articles on governance, please refer to the Governance section of our site.