develoPPP Ventures successfully closes initial investment for Cohort 8 companies in East Africa

VC4A is thrilled to announce the successful closure of investments for the first 8 of 15 companies selected for the develoPPP Ventures Cohort 8 in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. These companies are now officially joining a portfolio of nearly 100 companies across East Africa, demonstrating a powerful commitment to scaling sustainable and economic progress in the region.

Each company is set to receive EUR 100K in non-dilutive funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), along with specialized technical support. This investment serves as a key catalyst validating their innovative models and enabling the founders to accelerate their market entry and impact across East Africa.

The selection process

The selection process for this cohort was highly competitive and designed to identify ventures with proven concepts, strong scalability potential, and clear developmental relevance. It included comprehensive due diligence, site visitations, and detailed documentation across East Africa.

A special acknowledgment goes to the dedicated VC4A team members, Abu Cassim, Julie Mackey, Jason Delorie, Kevin Souchair, Thomas Van Halenand Vincent Hoogduijn who managed these processes.

We also want to thank the core implementer, DEG Impulse, and their develoPPP Ventures team specifically Julia Stausberg-Umuerri, Lea Lippina, Sven Witthoeft, Jelle Pentingaand Niklas Fischer, for their close collaboration and great support throughout the process. This joint effort ensures we are investing in the most promising ventures that are actively solving critical challenges in their markets.

Meet the first 8 ventures scaling impact

The ventures selected for this initial batch are actively tackling core issues ranging from financial inclusion to healthcare access and food security:

Rwanda:

Kosmotive – Rwanda

Kosmotive is empowering women and girls in Rwanda with affordable, reusable menstrual pads and health education. Founded by Blandine Umuziranenge.

Eza Neza – Rwanda

Reducing food waste and extending shelf life of strawberries in Rwanda through hydroponics and freeze-drying. Founder: Christian Irakoze.

EFiche Limited – Rwanda

Digitizing primary healthcare across East Africa’s rural systems with a cloud-based EMR platform and AI support. Led by David Kamungudu.

EXUUS – Rwanda

Bridging the gap to formal finance by digitizing informal savings groups with micro-savings, loans, and insurance. Founded by Steve Shema.

Tanzania:

Black Swan – Tanzania

Black Swan (formerly Tausi Africa) is unlocking inclusive finance in Tanzania’s informal economy using AI-powered credit scoring and Open Banking. Founder: Derick Kazimoto.

Www.hashtech.co.tz – Tanzania

Hashtech Limited (MySafari) is digitizing intercity transport in Tanzania, improving safety, efficiency, and financial inclusion for all players. Founded by Abou Nkya.

Kenya:

Jahazii – Kenya

Improving Kenyan workers’ well-being with low-cost salary advances for unexpected shocks. Founded by Sven Grospitsch.

Global South Holding GmbH, Kiazi Mfalme Ltd. – Kenya

Boosting smallholder potato productivity in Kenya with cold storage, guaranteed off-take, and agronomic support. Led by founder and CEO Dr. Thomas Behrens.

We are honoured to support this work and are excited to follow the tangible results of their growth journeys. A massive congratulations to all the founders! 

What’s next?

The announcement of the second batch of companies from Cohort 8 is just around the corner. For Cohort 9, which launched in May 2025, the team is currently traveling across East Africa to meet with potential candidates for the program.

You are welcome to refer companies who you believe are a good fit and will benefit from the program, by filling this form.