develoPPP Ventures is a public funding instrument of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), designed to support early-stage, impact-driven startups operating in developing and emerging economies. The programme provides catalytic, non-dilutive capital and technical assistance to help young companies scale solutions that improve local living conditions and drive sustainable economic, social, and environmental development.
Programme Snapshot
- Programme name: develoPPP Ventures
- Type: Catalytic funding programme for startups
- Focus: Scaling innovative, impact-oriented business models in developing and emerging economies
- Funding model: Matching funds – non-dilutive capital provided alongside at least equal private or third-party financing
- Current call: Applications invited with a published deadline of 31 December (refer to programme website for round-specific year and updates)
Geographic Focus
- Currently available in:
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Geographic intent:
- Designed for startups that are already active in at least one of the eligible countries
- Funding must be deployed for business expansion within the respective country
- Additional countries may be added over time; the official country list is maintained on the programme website
What the Programme Offers
- Non-dilutive capital
- Up to EUR 100,000 in grant-style, non-dilutive funding
- Structured as matching funds: startups must secure at least an equivalent amount from other investors or financiers
- Potential for top-up funding in selected cases, subject to programme decisions
- Technical assistance
- Tailor-made, local technical support by sector and market experts
- Focus on strengthening business models, operations, and growth strategies in target markets
- Impact orientation
- Priority for startups whose solutions contribute to:
- Sustainable local economic development
- Positive social outcomes (e.g. income, jobs, access to services)
- Environmental and climate benefits where applicable
- Explicit encouragement for:
- Women-led startups
- Startups with a clear gender equality impact
- Priority for startups whose solutions contribute to:
Positioning in the Startup Lifecycle
- Stage focus
- Targeted at early-stage growth rather than idea or concept validation
- Proof of concept must already be demonstrated in the market
- Initial revenues should be in place (not suitable for pure prototype or pre-revenue stage)
- Not suitable for
- Very early-stage ventures still validating their core product
- Startups that have not yet generated any sales
- Projects seeking basic seed funding to start operations
Core Eligibility Requirements
To be considered under a develoPPP Ventures call for applications, startups typically need to:
- Corporate and legal setup
- Be privately owned and profit-oriented
- Be registered in the target country or have a concrete plan to register before funding begins
- Be able to provide at least one annual financial statement
- Financial maturity
- Present a viable business and financial plan
- Demonstrate the ability to convince other financiers (matching funds requirement)
- Have raised no more than EUR 2 million in funding to date
- Growth and viability
- Show high growth potential in the target market
- Present a credible path to break-even within a maximum of three years
- Have a business that can be scaled and replicated locally or regionally
- Use of funds
- Funding must be invested locally in the eligible country
- Funds are geared towards scaling activities (not basic setup costs)
Application Process and Calls
- Call-based selection
- Funding decisions are made via regular calls for applications
- Each call outlines:
- Exact application deadline (currently promoted as “Apply before December 31”)
- Any country-specific or thematic priorities
- Matching funds requirement
- Applicants must:
- Secure or demonstrate credible commitments for matching funds of at least the same amount as the requested develoPPP Ventures support
- Show that external financiers have confidence in the startup’s model and growth prospects
- Applicants must:
- Focus of evaluation
- Commercial viability and scalability
- Development impact in the target country
- Strength and realism of the growth and financing plan
Illustrative Portfolio Examples
The programme highlights sample ventures from Sub-Saharan Africa to showcase the type of businesses supported:
- Digital management solutions for public transport – Kenya
- Development of digital financial and management tools for urban public transport operators
- Aims to improve profitability and efficiency in the sector through better data and payment systems
- Mini-grid energy and water solutions – Kenya
- Construction of electrical mini-grids combined with drinking water treatment systems in rural villages
- Seeks to expand access to reliable, sustainable energy and clean water in underserved communities
These examples illustrate the programme’s emphasis on scalable, commercially driven solutions with clear social and environmental benefits.
Complementary develoPPP Offerings
In addition to develoPPP Ventures, the broader develoPPP framework includes:
- develoPPP Classic
- Designed for already established companies
- Supports development-effective projects in cooperation with the private sector
- Thematic focus areas
- Diversity and gender equality
- Cross-sector projects in fields such as:
- Energy
- Finance
- Technology and digitalisation
- Environment and climate
Contact and Implementation
- General enquiries
- Handled by the Agency for Business & Economic Development
- Contact points include senior consultants accessible via phone and email (details provided on the programme website)
- Project-related questions
- Addressed to implementing partners, including:
- DEG Impulse gGmbH
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
- Programme heads and dedicated email addresses are available for startups with concrete project queries
- Addressed to implementing partners, including:
- Institutional framework
- Programme is implemented on behalf of BMZ
- Delivery partners include KfW DEG Impulse and GIZ
develoPPP Ventures functions as a structured public–private mechanism to accelerate early-stage, impact-driven startups in selected African markets by combining non-dilutive growth capital with technical support. Interested startups are encouraged to review the official programme page for the latest country list, full eligibility criteria, and current call deadlines before submitting an application directly to the implementing organisations.