Beschreibung der Beschaffung
SAIS operates in 3 action areas:
1. Identification and selection of start-ups to be supported (action area 1)
2. Company development programme for the selected start-ups (action area 2)
3. Investor and business partner relations and matchmaking (action area 3)
Under the guidance of the SAIS project team, the contractor will be responsible for implementing the above-mentioned action area 2 for two (2) successive cohorts of start-ups (each cohort is foreseen to consist of up to 5 African start-ups), namely 2022 and 2023. In addition, the contractor is supposed to support the identification and selection of start-ups (action area 1) and matchmaking activities (action area 3).
It is anticipated that each SAIS francophone Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) covering all three action areas will stretch over a span of approximately 9 months.
Selection process (action area 1)
The selection process which is guided by a set of clearly defined selection criteria starts with an open call for applications and a subsequent pre-selection of start-ups that are invited to prepare a (virtual) pitch presentation. The contractor will support the selection process (only) for f-IRP 2023 as a member of the selection panel that evaluates the pitch presentations.
Company Development Measures (action area 2)
The selected French African start-ups will receive tailor-made company development and venture building programme focusing on needed skills, know-how, operations and structures of the start-ups. The aim of the IRP is to improve the readiness of the start-ups to attract investments by Business Angels, Impact investors or Venture Capitalists and to enhance their provision of products & services to their customers or offer solutions to other GIZ projects in the field of agriculture value chains.
The Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) is conceived as an intensive and continuous advisory and coaching process in which strategies and measures for innovation, product improvement, business operations, rapid growth and scaling will be developed and implemented.
Main tasks are:
a. Needs assessment and business development plans for selected start-ups
b. Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) design (how the company development is implemented over the time period)
c. IRP implementation: Provision of mentoring, coaching and training, largely virtual
d. Start-up progress tracking in collaboration with the SAIS project team
e. Coordination and the provision of additional business development services
Seven?investment readiness?output?indicators?(also called investment readiness?indicators)?have?been defined to?assess and monitor?the?investment readiness?level of selected start-ups:???
- Indicator 1: The competences of the?founding team?are?improved?(e.g.?pitch training,?operations?management, leadership,?start-ups?valuation ("pre-money"), clear?roles and?responsibility?of management?team).????
- Indicator 2: The start-up's data room is improved and all necessary documents for an effective due diligence are available?(e.g.?pitch deck, annual balance sheet, accounting, bank statements, forecasts?and exit?strategy).???
- Indicator 3:?A digital system for monitoring the start-up's user base is established and provides data ("data analytics").??
- Indicator 4:?A market research and competitiveness analysis of the start-up is available for the own national market and possible expansion markets.??
- Indicator 5:?A strategy and?a?catalogue of measures for marketing & sales is available and guides the actions of the founding team for scaling the start-up.??
- Indicator 6:?The product?and/or service?of the start-up ("digital agricultural innovation") is market-ready (e.g.?Business Model optimisation,?customer-driven product development, product market fit, data security, suitable for national regulations).??
- Indicator 7:?The start-up's customer growth is improved (improved customer acquisition rate)??
The f-IRP will mainly be conducted on a virtual basis with online coaching and mentoring sessions or trainings. There are 3 events though within each f-IRP requiring the physical presence of the contractor (if circumstances permitting): a Kick-off at the beginning, a Midterm Check-in and a Demo-day.
Matchmaking with potential investment and business partners (action area 3)
The contractor will support this area by assessing funding needs and making contacts out of its investor database available to the start-ups. The contractor will identify possible investors and business partners relevant to the respective start-up and win investors over to participate in the Demo-day.
In order to deliver the services required, the tenderer will need a strong track-record in the fields of start-up development, incubation, accelerator programmes, coaching and mentoring. At least three reference projects in this field including one reference project in Africa in the last 3 years is needed. Furthermore, strong skills in investor readiness, financial analysis and planning as well as experience in due diligence processes and is required. The minimum requirements on number of staff and average yearly turnover over the last three years are 8 and EUR 250,000 respectively. Specific working experience in francophone Africa is an asset.