About this opportunity
DGC runs the Investment Readiness Programme as a twelve week online cohort for founders who would rather find the gaps in their business now than in front of an investor. Weeks one to eight follow what the collective calls the POEM modules, the questions investors ask in the order they ask them, covering cap table and data room foundation, founder story, customer problem and market need, product and go to market, team and execution, revenue model and pricing, milestones and traction, then investment readiness and the ask. Everything a founder produces goes into a Digital Data Room. Weeks nine to twelve are spent reviewing that data room, developing the pitch and running dry runs, and the cohort closes at Demo Day on 10 February 2027.
The weekly rhythm is deliberately light. A module and workbook take a few hours, a live masterclass or specialist deep dive with Q and A runs on Wednesday, and a thirty minute one to one accountability session with an account manager sits on Thursday. Founders also get three complimentary thirty minute advisory sessions with advisors matched to their sector and stage, bookable sessions beyond that, POEM trained AI assistants for drafting documents and checking financial logic, and a private founder community with session recordings and templates.
At Demo Day the format is five minutes on the startup and two minutes on the evidence. Founders who meet the readiness bar pitch to the DGC network, meaning invited investors, angel networks, accelerators and ecosystem partners, then walk the room through the customer, product, financial and traction evidence in their data room. After that, when an investment partner expresses interest, DGC arranges the introduction, grants data room access on the founder's consent and stays involved through follow up conversations and due diligence.
One thing to read carefully: DGC is clear that it validates readiness and does not invest in or fund founders, and investment decisions rest with investors on their own thesis, timing and capital availability. Applications for the Q1 2027 cohort close 19 October 2026 and the form takes eight to ten minutes.
What you receive
- Twelve weeks of structured work across eight modules, each output going straight into your Digital Data Room
- A verified Digital Data Room at the end of the programme, checked for completeness, consistency and supporting evidence
- A weekly live masterclass or specialist deep dive with Q and A on Wednesday
- A thirty minute one to one accountability session with an account manager each Thursday
- Three complimentary thirty minute advisory sessions with advisors matched to your sector and stage, with more sessions bookable
- POEM trained AI assistants for drafting documents, structuring business models and pricing, and checking financial logic
- Access to a private founder community with session recordings, templates and a growing knowledge base
- A place at Demo Day on 10 February 2027 for founders who meet the readiness bar, pitching to invited investors, angel networks, accelerators and ecosystem partners
- Investor introductions after Demo Day when a partner expresses interest, with data room access granted on your consent and continued advice through due diligence
- Access to the DGC investor network beyond the cohort
Who can apply
- Founders of African descent, based in Africa or in the diaspora
- Stage: ideation or pre seed, meaning an idea with early validation, a product, first customers or early traction
- You intend to raise capital in the next six to twelve months
- Later stage founders are welcome to apply, and DGC says it will advise on fit
- You can commit a few hours a week to the module and workbook, plus the Wednesday live session and a thirty minute Thursday check in
- You are willing to do the implementation work in the business itself, since the data room fills through what you apply
- Applications are reviewed on stage, fit and readiness starting point, with the outcome communicated before the cohort opens
Who should not apply
- No funding comes from DGC. The collective states that it validates readiness and does not invest in or fund founders, and it does not guarantee funding
- Investment decisions sit entirely with investors and depend on their thesis, timing and capital availability
- This application route is for founders applying directly to a cohort. Founders coming in through a partner network, their own sponsor, or asking for a referral should use the separate enquiry form so DGC can link the application to that sponsor
- Demo Day places are for founders who meet the readiness bar; founders who need more time can extend their access, keep building the data room and present at a later Demo Day
Documents to prepare
- Startup details for the application form, including stage and traction
- A description of your business model and how the venture makes money
- An honest account of your readiness for funding consideration, since the form is used to assess fit and to match founders with partners and advisors
- Whatever evidence you already hold for the customer, product, financial and traction questions, which is what the data room is built from
How to apply
- Open the Q1 2027 cohort application at https://tally.so/r/RGA7Vv
- Read the before you begin note, which explains that the form assesses your startup, stage, traction, business model and readiness for funding consideration
- Answer the questions honestly and accurately, allowing eight to ten minutes to complete the form
- Submit before 19 October 2026, since applications for the Q1 2027 cohort close that day and the cohort opens on 26 October 2026
- Wait for DGC to review your application on stage, fit and readiness starting point; the collective says it communicates the outcome before the cohort opens
- If you are being sponsored by an angel network, accelerator or your own investor, or want a referral to one, use the enquiry route on the founders page and email team@diaglocal.com instead of the direct cohort form
Selection process
- DGC reviews applications on stage, fit and readiness starting point
- Applicants hear the outcome before the cohort opens on 26 October 2026
- Weeks one to eight run the eight modules, with a workbook and a live Wednesday session each week and a Thursday check in
- Weeks nine to twelve cover Digital Data Room reviews, pitch development, and dry runs with feedback
- Founders who meet the readiness bar present at Demo Day on 10 February 2027, five minutes on the startup and two minutes on the evidence
- Investor introductions follow when an investment partner expresses interest, with data room access provided on the founder's consent
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
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 DGC advises on fit.
How much time does it take each week?
Plan for the module and workbook, which DGC describes as a few hours, the Wednesday live session, a thirty minute Thursday check in, and the implementation work inside your own startup.
Is the programme 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 set of documents and evidence covering your Proposition, Organisation, Economics and Milestones. It is what an investor reviews during due diligence, and 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 I am not ready by Demo Day?
Founders who need more time can extend their access and continue building their Data Room with support, then present at a later Demo Day once they meet the readiness bar.
When does the Q1 2027 cohort run?
Applications close 19 October 2026, the cohort starts 26 October 2026, and Demo Day is 10 February 2027.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
