What type of investor is GIZ?

GIZ is a German federal enterprise that implements international cooperation projects for sustainable development and international education. As part of this work, it uses grant funding instruments to support private sector and entrepreneurial initiatives, including early stage startups in Africa.

GIZ is based in Germany, with its registered offices located in Bonn and Eschborn. It also operates through country offices and programs in many partner countries worldwide, including across Africa.

What stages does GIZ invest in for African startups?

According to available investment data, GIZ provides funding to African startups in the form of grants. These grants have been used to support early stage companies, including those at very early traction and growth phases.

Which sectors does GIZ focus on when funding companies in Africa?

Based on recorded transactions, GIZ has funded African startups in health tech, cybersecurity, e commerce and retail, HR and talent solutions, fintech, and AI and analytics. Examples include support for companies working on digital healthcare infrastructure, cross border payments, AI driven data services, and online retail enablement.

In which African countries has GIZ recently funded startups?

From the available data, GIZ has recently provided grant funding to startups in Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana. Portfolio companies in these countries include WellaHealth, Primed E Health, Aya Data, Cybervergent, WorkWeek, Biocode, Envisionit Deep AI, Kutana Pay, and Tendo.

GIZ

giz.de ↗

9 investments·7 products on Liners

GIZ, formally Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, is a German federal enterprise that provides services in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. It is wholly owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and has registered offices in Bonn and Eschborn, Germany. Within Africa, GIZ supports entrepreneurship and private sector development, including targeted funding and grant instruments for innovative technology ventures. Based on available investment data, GIZ has deployed grant capital into early stage African startups, with a focus on companies in health technology, cybersecurity, e commerce and retail, HR and talent, fintech, and AI and analytics. Its recent activity includes multiple grant rounds in Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana, backing ventures such as WorkWeek, Cybervergent, Kutana Pay, Tendo, Biocode, Envisionit Deep AI, Aya Data, WellaHealth, and Primed E Health. These investments reflect GIZ’s broader mandate to promote sustainable economic development, digital innovation, and improved access to essential services. By partnering with startups that address healthcare delivery, financial inclusion, digital trade, data security, and artificial intelligence applications, GIZ channels public development resources into scalable market solutions that support job creation and stronger local ecosystems in its African partner countries.

Total Invested

$1.1M

Active Since

Sep 2024

Latest Investment

Dec 2025

Top Stage

Grant