Nigeria Featured for the Second Time in 2025 in the develoPPP Ventures Funding Programme – Catalysing Africa’s Next Wave of High-Growth Start-ups

After backing over 100+ start-ups across Africa, the develoPPP Ventures programme—commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and DEG Impulse—has opened applications for its next funding cycle.

This marks the second consecutive cycle that Nigeria is included this year, solidifying the country’s place within one of Africa’s most impactful start-up support programmes.

The programme’s rollout in Nigeria is led by GreenTec Capital Partners, in collaboration with Mesh Venture Partners. Combining Mesh Venture Partners’ on-the-ground presence, venture development, technical capabilities, and ecosystem network with GreenTec’s pan-African experience, the partnership is uniquely positioned to drive the local implementation of develoPPP Ventures—enabling founders to access EUR 100,000 in catalytic, non-dilutive funding, tailored strategic support, and pan-African scaling pathways.

“develoPPP Ventures blends public intent with private discipline — offering early-stage founders the kind of catalytic capital and support that turns potential into scale,” said Bowofade Elegbede, Head of Investments in West Africa at Acumen. “It’s an approach that strongly resonates with us at Acumen, and we welcome GIZ’s continued commitment to backing mission-aligned ventures driving sustainable impact in Nigeria.”

What’s on offer

Eligibility Overview To qualify for develoPPP Ventures, start-ups must be privately owned, tech enabled, profit-driven, and have demonstrated market traction with at least one annual financial statement available. Women-led ventures and those advancing gender equality are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key Participation Requirements

How to Participate

This is your chance to scale with purpose, and with serious backing!

Application deadline: 31st December 2025

Interested companies are invited to visithttps://www.developpp.de/en/application/ventures for detailed participation conditions and application submission.

About GIZ

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – and many public and private sector clients in around 120 countries in achieving their objectives in international cooperation. With this aim, GIZ works with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions. Currently, GIZ promotes sustainable development in Nigeria via programmes and projects. Activities currently cover three priority areas: Economic Development and Employment; Security, Reconstruction and Peace; and Governance and Democracy. For more information, please visit: Nigeria | GIZ

About develoPPP

develoPPP is a funding programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is targeting 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 programme offers customized funding opportunities for already well-established companies as well as aspiring start-ups. develoPPP is implemented by two experienced implementing organisations in German development cooperation: GIZ and DEG Impulse gGmbH. www.develoPPP.de/en

Implementation Partners

The current call is supported by GreenTec Capital Partners and Mesh Venture Partners.

GreenTec Capital Partners

GreenTec Capital Partners is an Entrepreneurial Support Organisation (ESO) with roots in providing investment and venture-building support to African ventures. In its 9+ years of existence, the organisation has transitioned from an investor to an experienced Technical Assistant, delivering comprehensive strategic, operational, technical, and investment readiness assistance to impactful ventures in Africa and beyond. In cooperation with development partners such as GIZ, AFD, EIB, TUI Care Foundation, and UNDP, GreenTec Capital partners has identified and screened over 1,000 early-stage businesses in Africa, guiding the most promising ones to become successful, mature, and investable ventures.  Its mission is to redefine the narrative of investing in Africa by supporting impact-driven, highly motivated local entrepreneurs, thereby promoting the development of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Mesh Venture Partners

Mesh Venture Partners is committed to building a more robust, resilient, and sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem in Africa. The organisation achieves this by working closely with mission-aligned corporates, capital allocators, philanthropic investors, and enterprise support organisations to implement transformative programmes across the region. Guided by our overarching mission to accelerate the culture of sustainable investing in Africa, Mesh Venture Partners empowers ambitious entrepreneurs to deliver meaningful impact, by connecting them to technical resources and fit-for-purpose funding opportunities. The organisation’s work spans key development sectors, including financial services, agriculture and food systems, off-grid and renewable energy, healthcare, education, and gender-lens investing.

Contact Details

In case of inquiries, please reach out to: [email protected]

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