Support Schemes

BIC Ethiopia (Business Incubation) targets the strengthening of the incubation eco-system for entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) active in agri-tech and agri-business in Ethiopia. Key challenges addressed are sustainability of business models for incubators, quality of business support services, availability of services outside Addis Ababa, access to finance for MSMEs and a strengthening of the relevant regulative framework supporting start-ups. 

The support to Ethiopian start-ups and MSMES interested or active in agri-tech or agri-business is divided in two main areas: 

·  Training and Capacity Building

·  Access to Funding

Training and Capacity Building

BIC Ethiopia did an extensive incubator capacity development programme with 15 Ethiopian incubator, three of them newly established. Part of the capacity building was training of trainers and the development of BIC training toolkits for start-ups and MSMES interested or active in agri-tech or agri-business. Afterwards, the incubators started to conduct tailor made pre-incubation (starter) and incubation (catalyser) trainings with the support of BIC Ethiopia

The best performing start-ups and MSMEs have the chance to join additional financial management trainings in combination with the opportunity to apply for a grant.

Access to Funding

Accessing suitable funding is a key challenge, especially for early-stage enterprises in the agricultural sector. The project offers financial management trainings to enhance financial literacy of those start-ups and MSME with good potential. Further, BIC Ethiopia provides Sandbox Grants and Seed Matching Capital Grants to competitively selected agri-businesses, which have successfully graduated from the Pre-incubation or the Incubation Programmes. Sandbox Grants are intended for start-ups with proven idea and market traction and demonstrated high growth rate potential whereas Seed Matching Capital Grants are matching financing for the most promising entrepreneurs' business plans with prospects for private investment. 

The high potentials from the Incubation Programmes are selected for the Finance your Business Masterclass, where they receive not only financial but tailored support, to make their business ideas strive. The training is followed by hands-on, participatory formats to advance financial knowledge and financial management skills. The best of this track will then have the opportunity to apply for a discounted loan with Ethiopian partner banks. strategies.