Call for Livestock SMEs in Kenya
Are you an SME working in the livestock or poultry sectors in Kenya with a clear investment need to support growth and impact? Apply to the Livestock Solutions Exchange to receive investment readiness support and an opportunity to pitch to interested investors!
The Livestock Solutions Exchange, a Project of GLAD/ILRI, seeks to increase the flow of finance to sustainable livestock systems across Africa by supporting select livestock and poultry SMEs to be investment ready.
In 2024, the Livestock Solutions Exchange Process in Kenya implemented together with Gatsby Africa supported investment readiness of 8 businesses operating in the beef, dairy and feed sectors. Our first Kenya Livestock Investor Convening and Pitch Event brought together more than 30 investors, 8 businesses, and over 50 industry experts. Businesses pitched their investment opportunities to investors. 75% of the businesses received follow-up interest from investors and 25% have secured investments to date. All businesses found value in the technical support received.
Building on this success, we are launching a second Kenya-focused process. Thirty selected businesses operating in Kenya in the poultry, animal feed, animal health and other supporting sub sectors will receive investment readiness support and be given the opportunity to pitch their investment ask to our network of investors at the 2nd Kenya Livestock Investor meeting and Pitch Event in June 2025.
Our objectives
1. Support 30 SME businesses operating in the livestock and poultry sectors in Kenya to be investment ready.
2. Link these businesses with investors in a pitch event in June 2025.
Our Offer to Selected Businesses
Investment Readiness Support
Selected businesses will be supported to develop an investor pitch deck and presentation aligned with their investment needs and with the branding of the business. In addition, a 1-page investor teaser document will be developed for the business. Both documents are for the business to use now and in the future to procure investment.
Access to Our Network of Investors
The business will be introduced to a wide network of investors through the 2nd Kenya Livestock Investor Meeting and Pitch Event in June 2025. During the event they will be given an opportunity to pitch their investment opportunity in front of a group of investors and to meet investors 1:1
Note: There is no guarantee that businesses participating in this process will receive investment.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply the business must:
- Operate in Kenya.
- Be officially registered and compliant with regulatory authorities.
- Operate in one or more of the following sub-sectors:
- Poultry: production, hatchery/parent stock, aggregation, processing, distribution, integrated business, other innovative business operating in the poultry sub-sector
- Animal feeds/fodder: raw materials production, milling/manufacturing, distribution, alternative feeds
- Animal health: innovative input and service delivery models to smallholder livestock producers and/or pastoralists
- Other supporting services for the livestock and poultry sectors: digital tech, financial services, innovative extension, other
- Have a pathway from the business model to impact for smallholder farmers’ or pastoralists’ productivity and income, nutrition and/or climate resilience in the sector.
- Be a for-profit company on a path to profitability or already profitable.
- Be an early to growth stage business.
- Have a clear investment need.
- Have a strong management team demonstrated in leadership CVs and the organizational/team structure.
- Be available and willing to commit to developing a pitch deck and making the pitch in person at the 2nd Kenya Livestock Investor Meeting and Pitch Event to be held in June 2025.
Note: The full process is estimated to require 1.5 to 5 days of time from the business. This includes developing the pitch deck in conjunction with technical specialists and attending the pitch event.
GLAD/ILRI aims to provide compelling evidence, well-presented and communicated, through targeted engagement processes to help investors and decision-makers understand why and how investing in sustainable livestock systems and enterprises in low- and middle-income countries contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. GLAD is a program of ILRI with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is the project lead and sponsor for the Livestock Solutions Exchange.
AgThrive is a global consulting-firm that works with partners to generate transformative impact for small-scale producers and MSME agribusinesses working in the agriculture and livestock sectors in countries with emerging and developing economies. AgThrive currently focuses on supporting businesses to get the technical and financial support they need to be engines of positive growth in their respective sectors. AgThrive is ILRI’s lead implementing partner for the Livestock Solutions Exchange.
Advance Consulting is a is a business development and investment advisory firm operating in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Its mission is to drive impact through private sector development in the agri-food, renewable energy and circular economy sectors. With offices in Nairobi, Advance Consulting has ample experience in supporting businesses to become investment-ready and raise capital. Advance is working with AgThrive to provide capacity support to some selected businesses.
Timeline
Application Period: March 10 to April 1, 2025
Selection Period: April 1 to 15, 2025
Technical assistance for investment readiness: April 16 to June 3, 2025
Pitch Day in Nairobi: June 4, 2025
How to Apply
Complete this Google Form by April 1st, 2025
Address any inquiries to kristin@agthriveadvisors.com.