DGC is a 12-week online, cohort-based programme for founders of African descent at the ideation to pre-seed stage. It is positioned as a way to get in front of investors with proof: eight weeks to build the business on investor fundamentals, four weeks to verify evidence and sharpen the pitch, finishing with a verified Digital Data Room and a place at Demo Day.
Program Overview and Fit
• Founder focus: Founders of African descent, home and diaspora.
• Stage: Ideation to pre-seed.
• Format: Online, cohort-based, 12 weeks.
• Effort: A few hours a week plus a 30-minute check-in.
• Output: Verified Data Room plus access to the DGC investor network.
• Positioning: Twelve weeks that end in a room full of investors—eight weeks to build the business on investor fundamentals, four weeks to verify the evidence and sharpen the pitch.
• Fit for founders with something real: An idea with early validation, a product, first customers or early traction, and an intention to raise in the next 6 to 12 months.
• Fit for founders who will do the work: A module, a workbook and a check-in each week, plus the documents that go into the Data Room.
• Fit for founders who want evidence: A preference for testing assumptions now rather than discovering gaps in an investor meeting.
Application Timeline and Deadlines
• Applications close: Monday 19 October 2026.
• Cohort starts: 26 October 2026.
• Demo Day: 10 February 2027.
• Cohort reference: Q1 2027 Cohort, running 26 October 2026 – 10 February 2027.
• Current status: Applications for the Q1 2027 Cohort are open.
• Direct application route: Apply for Q1 2027.
• Additional option: See all ways to join.
Twelve-Week Structure and POEM Modules
• Overall structure: Weeks 1 to 8 follow the eight POEM modules—the questions investors ask in the order they ask them—and every output goes straight into the Digital Data Room.
• Week 01: Cap table, ownership and Data Room foundation.
• Week 02: Founder story, vision and venture direction.
• Week 03: Customer problem, market need and value proposition.
• Week 04: Product, MVP, adoption and go-to-market.
• Week 05: Organisation, team capacity and execution system.
• Week 06: Revenue model, pricing and startup economics.
• Week 07: Milestones, metrics, traction and risk reduction.
• Week 08: Investment readiness, pitch, ask and Data Room completion.
• Weeks 9–12: Digital Data Room reviews.
• Weeks 9–12: Pitch development.
• Weeks 9–12: Dry runs and feedback.
• Week 12: Demo Day.
Weekly Rhythm
• Overall rhythm: Every week follows the same rhythm, so progress shows up in the business, not just on paper.
• Sunday–Tuesday: Learn the module and prepare the workbook.
• Wednesday: Live masterclass or specialist deep-dive with Q&A.
• Thursday: 30-minute one-to-one accountability session with the account manager.
• Wednesday–Friday: Advisory sessions, AI advisors and community support as needed.
Support Resources
• Resident advisors: Three complimentary 30-minute advisory sessions with advisors matched to sector and stage, plus bookable sessions beyond that.
• AI advisors: POEM-trained AI assistants for drafting documents, structuring business models and pricing, and checking financial logic.
• Founder community: A private community for questions, peer learning, session recordings, templates and a growing knowledge base.
Demo Day
• Participants: Founders who meet the readiness bar pitch to the DGC network: invited investors, angel networks, accelerators and ecosystem partners.
• Format: Five minutes on the startup, two minutes on the evidence.
• Pitch structure: Problem, solution, customer, market, traction and ask, followed by a walk through the customer, product, financial and traction evidence in the Data Room.
• Further information: See past and upcoming Demo Days.
After Demo Day
• Investor introductions: When an investment partner expresses interest, DGC arranges the introduction, provides Data Room access on consent, and continues to advise through follow-up conversations and due diligence.
• Funding note: DGC validates readiness; it does not guarantee funding. Investment decisions sit with investors and depend on thesis, timing and capital availability.
Ways to Join
• Pathway 01 — Apply to the next cohort: Apply directly for the Q1 2027 Cohort. Applications are reviewed on stage, fit and readiness starting point, and the outcome is shared before the cohort opens.
• Pathway 02 — Sponsored by a partner network: An angel network, syndicate or accelerator already in discussion sponsors the founder to complete the programme as part of their consideration process. Action: Tell us who's sponsoring you.
• Pathway 03 — Sponsored by your own network: An angel, accelerator or investor in the founder's network wants structured validation before deciding and supports the founder through DGC. Action: Tell us about your sponsor.
• Pathway 04 — Referral for sponsorship: The founder does not have a sponsor yet and applies to be introduced to one of DGC's partner networks for sponsorship consideration, subject to thesis fit and availability. Action: Request a referral.
• General note: If joining through a partner or personal network, founders can indicate this and the DGC team will take it from there.
Sponsor and Referral Contact
• Process: Founders can indicate how they would like to join, and the message goes directly to the DGC team.
• Response time: The team replies within a few working days with next steps.
• Direct applicants: Those applying directly to a cohort should use the application form instead.
• Contact email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
• Who is the programme for? Founders of African descent, based in Africa or in the diaspora, at ideation or pre-seed stage, who want to become ready for accelerator, angel or syndicate conversations. Later-stage founders are welcome to apply and will be advised on fit.
• How much time does it take each week? Plan for the module and workbook (a few hours), the Wednesday live session, a 30-minute Thursday check-in, and implementation work in the startup. The more founders apply, the more the Data Room fills.
• Is it online? Yes. Learning, sessions, advisory and the founder community all run online, so founders join from anywhere.
• What is a Digital Data Room? A structured, organised set of documents and evidence covering Proposition, Organisation, Economics and Milestones. It is what an investor reviews during due diligence. DGC verifies it for completeness, consistency and supporting evidence.
• Does DGC invest in or fund founders? No. DGC prepares and verifies founders and connects them with investors and partners at Demo Day. Investment decisions are made by investors on their own criteria.
• What happens if a founder is not ready by Demo Day? Founders who need more time can extend access and continue building their Data Room with support, then present at a later Demo Day once they meet the readiness bar.
• How to apply: Use the Q1 2027 Cohort application form. If a partner or sponsor is bringing the founder in, use the sponsor or referral form instead so the application can be linked to them.
DGC is presented as a structured readiness pathway rather than a funding source. It supports founders through investor fundamentals, Data Room verification, pitch development and Demo Day introductions, while investment outcomes remain with the investors. The Q1 2027 Cohort is open for direct applications, partner sponsorship, personal sponsor support or referral for sponsorship until Monday 19 October 2026.