100,000 euros non-dilutive funding available for high-impact startups in East Africa.develoPPP Ventures has officially opened applications for its 10th funding cohort, inviting post-revenue startups across Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania to apply for EUR 100K in non-dilutive, catalytic matching funds.The program, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by DEG Impulse, a subsidiary of the German development finance institution DEG, is specifically seeking ventures that have successfully achieved proof of concept and are ready to scale their business model while driving significant economic, ecological, or social impact.develoPPP Ventures is designed to inject capital into companies that are beyond the early ideation stage. The 100,000 euros equity-free grant is provided via a matching-funds model, meaning it requires the startup to secure equivalent external private investment. This model effectively doubles the total capital injection, allowing founders to maintain greater equity while accelerating their growth trajectory.Across its regional footprint, develoPPP Ventures now includes more than 100 high-impact ventures in its portfolio, with a growing number of success stories emerging from East Africa.Regional Impact and Voices from the PortfolioThe program’s success is rooted in its ability to provide both essential capital and tailored technical support, enabling startups to transition from local solutions to regional market leaders.Alfred Chengula of Imara Technology, a Tanzanian beneficiary added “develoPPP Ventures provided us with much-needed flexible working capital and helped us bring in additional investor funding. With the program support, we were able to surpass our annual sales target by 30% while also making investments that improve our margins. All this helped us be able to reach more smallholder farmers and create a financially sustainable impact.”We wouldn’t have gotten to where we are without their help” adds Trevor Siu, founder of Sio Valley Technologies in Kenya “We were part of the 2024 develoPPP Ventures cohort and the experience with the team has been amazing. We had to pivot our business in the middle of implementation due to external market factors- the team was patient, understanding, and wildly helpful.”Christain Ruehmer, CEO of Q-Lana Ltd. a Rwandan beneficiary comments “The develoPPP Ventures program is run by people who truly understand the needs of entrepreneurs. They provide advice and support throughout the process. We are grateful how their pragmatic approach impacts the way we do business.”Eligibility and application detailsTo be eligible for funding, companies must:Be privately owned and profit-oriented.Have successfully achieved proof of concept (i.e., be revenue-generating).Be registered in the target country (or plan to be prior to investment).Be able to secure matching funds from private investors.Not have acquired more than EUR 2 million in total funding to date.Women-led start-ups and start-ups promoting gender equality are especially encouraged to apply.Application window: Applications are open from November 15 to December 31, 2025. Click HERE to apply now.Opportunity to refer a company: Referrals are open from now until November 30, 2025. Click HERE to refer a company.Quotes from leadership“East Africa’s startup ecosystem is a powerhouse of innovation, tackling challenges in sectors from agriculture to financial inclusion,” says Sven Witthoeft, Senior Manager at DEG Impulse. “Our commitment through this program is to ensure that businesses that are both commercially viable and socially impactful have the capital needed to cross the scaling gap. The matching fund model ensures private capital flows in while maintaining development relevance.”“We are proud to once again support develoPPP Ventures in identifying and championing the next wave of high-impact founders in these critical markets,” adds Thomas Van Halen, Program Director at VC4A. “The success stories from alumni in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania prove that with the right combination of patient capital and technical support, African startups can achieve significant scale and drive sustainable development.”About develoPPP VenturesdeveloPPP is a funding scheme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is aimed at companies that want to invest sustainably in a developing or emerging country and expand their local operations. Prerequisites for support are a long-term business interest in the country and a sustainable developmental benefit for the local people.With develoPPP Classic and develoPPP Ventures, the scheme offers customised funding opportunities for already well-established enterprises as well as aspiring start-ups. develoPPP is implemented by two experienced partners in German development cooperation: DEG Impulse gGmbH and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.https://www.developpp.de/enAbout DEG ImpulseDEG Impulse is a 100 % non-profit subsidiary of the German Development Finance Institution DEG – Deutsche Investitions – und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH. DEG Impulse promotes the sustainable transition of the private sector in developing and emerging-market countries and supports development policy goals as defined by the Sustainable Development Goals. Via our advisory and promotional programmes we support the transformation process of companies and enable them to implement their projects efficiently and effectively, in order to generate both commercial success and development-policy benefits.https://www.degimpulse.de/en/About VC4AVC4A is an ecosystem builder that leverages its infrastructure, network, and expertise for programmes that contribute to the startup movement in emerging markets. Since 2007, the organization has designed, structured, and implemented successful entrepreneurship programmes in emerging markets. VC4A runs an online platform featuring a database of start-ups in Africa and Latin America, connecting entrepreneurs to resources, networks, and funding.https://VC4A.comdeveloPPP Venturesentrepreneurshipinvestmentventure capital