develoPPP Ventures Opens €100K Non-Dilutive Funding for East African Startups
East African founders now have a rare window of opportunity. develoPPP Ventures has announced the opening of Cohort 11, inviting innovative early-stage startups in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania to apply for €100,000 in non-dilutive funding to scale their impact-driven business models.
Non-dilutive funding capital that does not require founders to give up equity remains one of the most sought-after but least available resources for early-stage startups on the continent. The develoPPP Ventures Cohort 11 call addresses that gap directly. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by DEG Impulse, the programme has committed over €10 million to the Kenyan ecosystem to date, supporting pioneers across agriculture, health, fintech, and clean energy.
Who Can Apply and How
The programme targets founders who have already moved past the idea stage. To be eligible, applicants must be privately owned and profit-oriented, demonstrate proof of concept with initial revenues, provide at least one annual financial statement, and secure matching funds of €100,000 from other sources such as VCs or angel investors an amount develoPPP Ventures will then match. Startups must also show a clear path to break-even within three years.
The results from past cohorts speak for themselves. Eric Onchonga, Co-founder and MD of Irri-Hub, a Kenyan portfolio company, noted that the programme helped the startup refine its business model, hire qualified personnel, expand into new markets, and ultimately secure additional investor funding describing it as a game changer.
The application window for Cohort 11 runs from May 15 to June 30, 2026, with interested startups encouraged to apply via the VC4A portal. The programme implemented in partnership with VC4A and InVhestia Ventures.
