GIZ Teams Up With MINT & HIMAngel for New CouchPitch Initiative
As Coronavirus keeps us locked in, GIZ, MINT by EGBANK and HIMangel partner up to let budding entrepreneurs pitch their big ideas from home.
In these unpredictable times, entrepreneurs are left in a predicament: they need customers, sales and investors more than ever - but more than ever the barriers to meeting the right match for their business are high. Enter GIZ who, along with Egypt’s HIMAngel and MINT by EGBANK, are letting startups pitch from the comfort - and safety - of their own homes… Their own couches to be precise.
Seeking Egyptian founders with revenue-generating startups, with a minimum team of three employees, the new initiative takes pitching online, as shortlisted startups will get a chance to take part in a ‘virtual elevator pitch’ from their homes.
Operating in Egypt since the 50s, GIZ is an intermediary organisation for international cooperation between Germany and the global community, and provides technical expertise, develops capacities and delivers effective solutions in close partnership with local governmental and non-governmental organisations. CouchPitch is the brainchild of the GIZ’S PAFSME, which stands for ‘Promoting Access to Financial Services to Small and Medium Enterprises’.
“As we maneuver these uncertain times, it is important to remain focused on our objective to support the development, spread, and uptake of financing instruments targeted at young, growth-oriented enterprises,” says Andreas Ruepp, Head of Projects Access to Financial Services for SMEs at GIZ. “Funding is a key component in supporting businesses and we are pleased to be working in collaboration with HIMangel and MINT to connect promising start-ups with committed investors to drive great impact and generate further development.”
The deadline for applications is July 4th 2020, and shortlisted startups will be selected to go through a mock session on the 11th of July to train on pitching, which will qualify them to pitch in the CouchPitch Day on the 14th of July.
If you’re interested, you can apply here.