About this opportunity
The SAIS Accelerator opens its 2027 livestock round for African startups building technology driven ventures in dairy and aquaculture. The programme runs for one year and is tailor made, pairing each company with consultants, experts and service providers across legal advice, licences, certifications, ESG governance, product optimisation, market entry, customer acquisition, marketing and staff training.
Alongside the support budget the accelerator routes founders to capital. Selected companies get invite only pitch sessions with a curated investor network, bespoke introductions to funds, and guidance on fundraising strategy and due diligence.
Start-ups from the SAIS community that are ready to widen their market reach can reach a Scale-up Grant of up to €40,000, and eligible companies can also draw revolving working capital loans of up to €50,000 with 9 month maturity at 1. 5 percent interest.
The programme also funds presence in the sector. Teams receive fully sponsored trips to two in person community events held back to back with the Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi each February, plus one additional sector conference, and join a community of more than 100 portfolio companies.
Since 2019 SAIS says it has accelerated over 107 start-ups that collectively raised over $105m in follow on investment. Dairy applications are most relevant to animal health, genetics, feed and forage in East Africa, particularly Kenya and Ethiopia, while aquaculture applications focus on genetics and feed innovation in West Africa, particularly Nigeria and Senegal.
Start-ups based in other African countries are equally encouraged to apply when they can show their solution strengthens those priority value chains.
What you receive
- Up to €15,000 in technical assistance budget for consultancies, expert support, legal advice, online marketing, licences, certifications, ESG governance, product optimisation, market entry strategies, customer acquisition, marketing and PR, graphic design and employee training
- Fully sponsored trips to two in-person community events back-to-back with the Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi, plus one additional sector conference
- Investment and partnership facilitation through invite-only pitch sessions with a curated network of investors, bespoke introductions to funds, and guidance on fundraising strategy and due diligence
- A SAIS Scale-up Grant of up to €40,000 for community start-ups ready to scale their market reach and deepen impact
- Access to revolving working capital loans of up to €50,000 with 9-month maturity at 1.5% interest
- Membership of a community of 100+ portfolio companies
Who can apply
- African start-ups building a technology-driven venture in dairy or aquaculture that strengthens livestock value chains across Africa
- Dairy focus on animal health, genetics, feed and forage, particularly relevant to East African value chains in Kenya and Ethiopia
- Aquaculture focus on genetics and feed innovations, particularly relevant to West African value chains in Nigeria and Senegal
- Start-ups based in other African countries are equally encouraged to apply when they prove their innovation offers relevant learnings or opportunities to strengthen the priority value chains
- The circulating card records African-registered, for-profit start-ups from pre-seed to Series A with at least an MVP and a technology-driven solution
How to apply
- Apply on the SAIS livestock application page before the 15 November 2026 deadline
- Screening and interviews run 16 to 30 November 2026
- Selection decisions are communicated in December 2026, with a virtual kick-off and onboarding in January 2027
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- FoodTech 500 2026 Global AgriFoodTech Ranking
The FoodTech 500 is the world's first global ranking of agri-foodtech startups and scaleups, now in its eighth edition. Applications for the 2026 list close on 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Central European Time, the run is free for every company, and the 2025 winners came from more than 95 countries, so a founder in Nigeria or anywhere in Africa competes on the same open field as everyone else.
Questions applicants ask
Is the SAIS livestock programme equity free?
The circulating card records the one year investment readiness programme as equity free, and the provider page lists the support as a technical assistance budget rather than an investment.
Can a startup outside Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria or Senegal apply?
Yes. The page states that start-ups based in other African countries are equally encouraged to apply, provided they prove their innovation strengthens the priority dairy or aquaculture value chains.
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.
