First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) have jointly announced the launch of the FCMB–FMO AgriTech Investment Readiness Programme 2025.
The initiative is designed to identify, support, and finance Nigeria’s most promising agritech startups and Small- to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), according to a statement issued by the partners.
Developed in collaboration with Heave Ventures, the programme seeks to improve access to capital and promote the scalability of innovative agritech businesses. The organisers explained that the approach combines financial support with structured learning to prepare startups for long-term investment opportunities.
A key feature of the programme is a competitive grant prize pool of N20 million, which will be awarded to ventures judged to be best positioned for investment. In addition, participants will benefit from digital learning and fundability scoring provided through Zimara, a proprietary platform that leverages alternative data and established benchmarks to identify bankable ventures.
Applications officially opened on August 8, 2025, and will close on September 12, 2025.
Following the application stage, the top 20 agritech startups will take part in an intensive six-week investment readiness programme. This will culminate in October 2025 with a pitch presentation before a panel of funders, offering participants the opportunity to secure further investment.
Divisional Head of Agribusiness & Non-Oil Exports at FCMB, Mr Kudzai Gumunyu, said the initiative was designed to go beyond offering traditional financial support.
“This programme reflects our mission to drive inclusive and sustainable growth through an African-rooted ecosystem that connects people, capital, and markets,” he explained. “This initiative will help nurture and prepare these startups for investment opportunities, enhancing their potential to contribute to the agritech landscape in Nigeria.”
The CEO of Heave Ventures, Abiodun Lawal, also stressed the potential long-term benefits of the programme.
He stated: “Scaling agribusiness innovation has the potential to revitalise entire value chains, from production to processing to export, creating millions of decent jobs, boosting foreign exchange earnings, and positioning Africa not merely as a consumer but as a vital global food and agricultural technology supplier.”