What DeveloPPP Ventures does

DeveloPPP Ventures is a catalytic funding instrument of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), launched in 2019 as the startup-focused arm of the broader develoPPP program (established 1998). It provides non-dilutive grants of EUR 100,000 to post-revenue startups in select African countries with innovative business models that improve living conditions in developing and emerging markets. The program operates through bi-annual ideas competitions (six-week application windows at the end of Q2 and Q4) and uses a matching-funds model requiring the startup to secure at least an equivalent amount of private investment from other capital providers.

The program is jointly implemented by two German public-sector entities on behalf of BMZ: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, which manages Ghana and South Africa cohorts from offices in Bonn and Eschborn, and DEG Impulse gGmbH (a non-profit subsidiary of DEG, part of KfW Bankengruppe), which manages Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania cohorts from Cologne. Applications are submitted through the Open Application Platform (OAP) or the VC4A platform, with selections made via document review, pitches, and due diligence. Since launch, the program has supported approximately 100 companies in East Africa.

DeveloPPP Ventures does not operate as a commercial revenue-generating entity. Its funding model is grant disbursement from the German federal budget, with EU co-financing secured for specific initiatives such as the Madagascar Special Competition (up to EUR 500,000). Revenue mechanics are therefore public budget allocation rather than earned revenue, and customer relationships are transactional per cohort rather than recurring commercial contracts. The broader develoPPP parent program also offers develoPPP Classic (EUR 100,000–2 million) for established companies, but the Ventures track is exclusively aimed at early-growth startups with proven concepts ready to scale.

Name

DeveloPPP Ventures

Legal name

develoPPP (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung - BMZ)

Website

https://developpp.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DeveloPPP Ventures is a German government funding program under BMZ that provides EUR 100,000 non-dilutive matching grants to post-revenue startups in African emerging markets with sustainable business models, implemented by GIZ and DEG Impulse through bi-annual application competitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Funding Program

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro primary industry

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Results-Based Financing (RBF) & Performance-Based Grants (BPADAOAF), Bilateral Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAD), Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Development funding program
• Non-dilutive grants
• Matching funds startup
• Impact investment Africa
• Sustainable Development Goals

Headquarters

HQ city

Eschborn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Development Funding Program: DeveloPPP Ventures is a catalytic funding instrument of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), not a revenue-generating entity. It provides non-dilutive grants of EUR 100,000 to post-revenue startups in developing and emerging countries to scale innovative business models with sustainable development impact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DeveloPPP Ventures is a German government funding instrument under the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) that provides EUR 100,000 in non-dilutive matching funds to post-revenue startups in developing and emerging markets with innovative, sustainable business models. The grant requires matched private investment of at least an equal amount and is targeted at startups ready to scale in countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ghana, and South Africa.

Product overview

DeveloPPP is a German government funding program managed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) that offers two main funding instruments: develoPPP Classic for established companies seeking project funding (EUR 100,000 to 2 million), and develoPPP Ventures for innovative startups requiring growth financing (EUR 100,000 matching funds). The program also includes special competitions such as the Madagascar Special Competition. Applications are submitted through the Open Application Platform (OAP), a centralized web portal operated jointly by GIZ and DEG Impulse.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported ~100 companies in East Africa since 2019
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGIZ serves as one of two main implementation partners for develoPPP, handling project acquisition, selection, structuring, contracting, and implementation. They manage the program in Ghana and South Africa, bringing over 50 years of experience in international cooperation and extensive networks across 120+ countries.
• DEG Impulse gGmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDEG Impulse, a non-profit subsidiary of DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH), serves as the second implementation partner. They focus on projects in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, providing financial expertise and business skills to support partner companies in implementing impactful develoPPP projects on the ground.
• VC4Africa B.V.supportingTechnology or IntegrationVC4Africa B.V. (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 23A, 1012RC Amsterdam, Netherlands) provides the application platform technology for startups in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania to submit their funding applications.
• GreenTec Capital GmbHsupportingTechnology or IntegrationGreenTec Capital GmbH (Neue Mainzer Straße 52-58, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany) supports the selection process and provides technology services for the develoPPP platform.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank): Dutch bilateral DFI providing loans, equity, and capacity building to private sector in developing countries. Operates a similar blended finance model targeting startups and growth-stage businesses in Africa and emerging markets.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC): World Bank Group's private-sector development arm. Provides equity, debt, and advisory support to startups and SMEs in emerging markets, directly comparable to develoPPP's blended finance mandate.
• Acumen: Non-profit impact investor providing early-stage patient capital and advisory support to entrepreneurs serving low-income customers in Africa and South Asia. Operates a comparable catalytic funding model with development outcomes.
• Swisscontact: Swiss foundation for development cooperation implementing private-sector engagement programs with Swiss government funding. Operates similar mandates in vocational training, agriculture, and SME development in emerging markets.
• Proparco: Agence Française de Développement's private-sector subsidiary. Funds and supports private enterprises in developing countries via equity, debt, and grants — a direct analogue to develoPPP's bilateral DFI structure.
• Novastar Ventures: Africa-focused impact venture fund providing early-stage capital to businesses serving low-income consumers. Targets the same post-revenue East African startup segment as develoPPP Ventures.
• British International Investment (BII): UK's development finance institution. Invests across Africa and South Asia in private-sector ventures with development impact, structurally similar to BMZ's mandate under develoPPP.
• U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC): US government's DFI providing loans, guarantees, equity, and grants to private-sector projects in developing countries. Closest US analogue in scope and blended-finance mechanism to develoPPP.

Broad incumbents

• DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft): KfW group's private-sector investment arm and parent of DEG Impulse. Provides long-term debt and equity financing to companies in developing countries, broader in scale and instruments than develoPPP Ventures but operationally linked.
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA): Japanese bilateral development agency supporting private-sector growth in emerging markets through co-financing, technical assistance, and partnerships. Comparable bilateral mandate with broader geographic and sectoral scope than develoPPP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DeveloPPP Ventures