Funding & Investment Readiness

Find Out What Could Hold Your Business Back in a Funding Conversation.

The Astute Funding Readiness Test helps you examine the business evidence, financial performance, investment proposition, market position, governance and risk factors that lenders and investors may scrutinise.

Start the Assessment Discuss Funding Readiness

What the assessment helps you identify

01Readiness gaps

See which areas require more evidence or stronger controls before approaching funders.

02Stronger areas

Understand which parts of the funding case already show a more credible foundation.

03Practical priorities

Receive focused recommendations based on the weakest assessment categories.

04Next-step support

Use the result as a starting point for financial modelling, business planning or funding-readiness work where needed.

What this test is

A structured self-assessment, not a promise of funding.

The test provides an indicative view based on the information you select. It does not replace lender or investor due diligence and it does not predict whether a particular capital provider will approve a transaction.

The useful outcome is a clearer view of what should be strengthened before management enters a serious funding discussion.

Funding Readiness Self-Assessment

How ready is your business for a serious funding conversation?

Complete this assessment to identify strengths, gaps and practical priorities before approaching lenders, investors or other capital providers.

This is an indicative self-assessment, not a funding approval or credit decision.

About you and the business

We use these details to prepare and send your assessment result.

Full name * Business name * Email address * Phone / WhatsApp Business sector * Specify sector Years in operation * Annual revenue range * Number of employees * Primary business location

Business Basics

Select the answer that most closely reflects the business today.

1. How many years has your company been in formal operation?

ALess than 1 year B1–2 years C3–5 years DMore than 5 years

2. In which sector does your business primarily operate?

AGeneral trading / informal retail BNon-core sector (outside AfricInvest’s focus) CCore sector: healthcare, agribusiness, financial services, education, logistics, technology, manufacturing, or energy DCore sector with measurable impact (e.g., healthcare access, food security, financial inclusion, renewable energy adoption)

3. What stage best describes your company today?

AIdea or concept stage, no revenues BEarly operations with < USD 500k annual revenue CGrowth stage with USD 500k–5m annual revenue DExpansion stage with > USD 5m annual revenue and proven profitability

4. What is your current geographic footprint in Africa?

ANot yet operational in Africa BSingle location in one city CMultiple branches within one country DMulti-city or multi-country operations

Money & Performance

Select the answer that most closely reflects the business today.

5. What was your company’s total annual revenue (sales) in the most recent financial year?

ALess than USD 250,000 BUSD 250,000 – 1 million CUSD 1 million – 5 million DMore than USD 5 million

6. How many years of audited financial statements does your company have?

ANone B1 year C2 years D3 or more years

7. What was your company’s operating profit (EBITDA) in the most recent financial year?

ANegative (loss-making) B0 – USD 500,000 CUSD 500,000 – 1 million DMore than USD 1 million

8. What is your EBITDA margin (operating profit ÷ revenue)?

ALess than 10% B10–20% C20–30% DMore than 30%

9. What was your company’s net operating cash flow in the most recent year?

ANegative (cash burn) BBetween USD 0 and 200,000 CBetween USD 200,000 and 1 million DMore than USD 1 million

10. What is your company’s Debt-to-EBITDA ratio? (Total debt ÷ annual EBITDA)

AGreater than 6x B4–6x C2–4x DLess than 2x

11. How does your current funding need compare to your annual EBITDA?

AMore than 10x EBITDA (very high relative to profit) BBetween 6–10x EBITDA CBetween 3–5x EBITDA DLess than 3x EBITDA

The Investment Deal

Select the answer that most closely reflects the business today.

12. How much funding are you seeking in this transaction?

ALess than USD 500,000 BUSD 500,000 – 2 million CUSD 2 million – 5 million DUSD 5 million – 15 million (AfricInvest’s typical small-cap range)

13. What percentage of the funding will be used for growth investments (e.g., equipment, expansion, technology) vs. overheads (e.g., salaries, rent)?

ALess than 25% growth / more than 75% overhead B25–50% growth / 50–75% overhead C50–75% growth / 25–50% overhead DMore than 75% growth / less than 25% overhead

14. What is the funding structure you are requesting?

AMore than 80% debt / less than 20% equity B60–80% debt / 20–40% equity CBalanced: 40–60% debt / 40–60% equity DFlexible: open to equity, debt, or blended finance based on investor preference

15. What ownership stake are you offering to equity investors?

ALess than 5% B5–15% C15–30% DMore than 30%

16. Will investors be offered governance rights (e.g., board seat, veto rights, reporting requirements)?

ANo formal governance rights offered BLimited rights (e.g., reporting only) CBoard seat + standard investor rights DBoard seat + enhanced rights (reporting, veto on major decisions, ESG oversight)

Risk Profile

Select the answer that most closely reflects the business today.

17. What stage of operations is your business currently in?

APre-revenue (planning only; no operations) BEarly operations with < USD 500k annual revenue CGrowth stage with USD 500k–5m annual revenue DExpansion stage with > USD 5m annual revenue and profitability

18. How concentrated are your revenues by customer or product?

AMore than 70% of sales depend on a single client or product B40–70% of sales depend on 1–2 clients/products CNo single client/product contributes more than 25–40% of sales DHighly diversified: no single client/product contributes more than 10–20%

19. What percentage of your debt is denominated in foreign currency (USD/EUR/GBP)?

AMore than 80% foreign currency debt with no natural hedge B50–80% foreign currency debt; partial mismatch with revenues C20–50% foreign currency debt; revenues partly match currency DLess than 20% foreign currency debt; revenues fully matched to currency obligations

20. Which of the following best describes your regulatory/licensing status?

ANo licenses or approvals obtained BSome licenses pending; not yet fully compliant CMajority of required licenses in place; a few outstanding D100% of required licenses and regulatory approvals secured and current

21. What experience does your management team have delivering projects of this scale?

ANo prior experience with similar projects or expansions BLimited experience; small projects only (< USD 1m) CModerate experience; successfully delivered projects of USD 1–5m DStrong experience; successfully delivered projects > USD 5m with audited track record

Market & Strategy

Select the answer that most closely reflects the business today.

22. What is the estimated size of your addressable market (TAM – Total Addressable Market) in your main country of operation?

ALess than USD 50 million BUSD 50–200 million CUSD 200–500 million DMore than USD 500 million

23. What percentage market share does your company currently hold in its segment?

ALess than 1% B1–5% C5–15% DMore than 15%

24. How sustainable is your pricing model?

AMargins easily eroded; competitors undercut prices by >20% BMargins moderate; pricing pressure reduces profits by 10–20% CMargins stable; competitors have limited impact (<10%) DStrong pricing power; customers accept premium or protected pricing (e.g., contracts, IP, brand advantage)

25. What is the scalability potential of your business model?

ALimited — single-location model, not easily replicable BModerate — could scale to 2–3 additional sites within 3 years CHigh — scalable nationally with 5–10 new sites in 5 years DVery high — scalable regionally/internationally with 10+ sites or multi-country rollouts

26. What percentage of your annual revenue comes from contracted or recurring customers?

A0–10% (mostly once-off sales; no contracts) B10–30% (some repeat customers; limited contracts) C30–60% (steady repeat business; several contracts or MOUs) DMore than 60% (long-term contracts, subscription/repeat revenue, or offtake agreements)

People & Governance

Select the answer that most closely reflects the business today.

27. How many years of relevant industry experience does the CEO/Founder have?

ALess than 3 years B3–5 years C6–10 years DMore than 10 years

28. How many senior managers (excluding the founder/CEO) have more than 5 years of experience in this industry?

ANone B1 senior manager C2–3 senior managers D4 or more senior managers

29. What succession or continuity measures are in place if the founder/CEO exits?

ANone — the business depends entirely on the founder BInformal delegation; limited continuity CDocumented succession plan; team can maintain operations short term DFormal succession plan with trained deputies and board oversight

30. Does your company have a functioning board or independent oversight?

ANo board or external advisors BInformal advisory input (family/friends) CFormal board with some independent members; meets at least twice per year DActive board with majority independent members; meets quarterly with proper minutes

31. How are your financial statements prepared and verified?

AManual bookkeeping with no verification BBasic accounting records; reviewed internally CPrepared with accounting software; reviewed externally but not fully audited DAudited annually by a licensed or international audit firm (IFRS-compliant)

32. How aligned is your company with ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) standards?

ANo ESG practices in place BLimited ESG practices (basic waste management or minimal inclusion) CActive ESG initiatives (e.g., gender inclusion, renewable energy, safety systems) DFully embedded ESG strategy with measurable KPIs and regular reporting to stakeholders

Impact & Sustainability

Select the answer that most closely reflects the business today.

33. How many full-time jobs does your company currently support?

AFewer than 10 jobs B10–50 jobs C51–200 jobs DMore than 200 jobs

34. What percentage of your workforce is women or youth (under 35)?

ALess than 10% B10–30% C31–50% DMore than 50%

35. What percentage of your senior management or board positions are held by women?

A0% B1–20% C21–40% DMore than 40%

36. What environmental practices has your company implemented?

ANone BBasic compliance (e.g., waste disposal permits, minimal standards) CActive measures (e.g., energy efficiency, recycling, cleaner production methods) DComprehensive sustainability program (e.g., solar energy, waste treatment plants, climate resilience initiatives, audited environmental impact reports)

37. What is your company’s indirect impact on communities?

AMinimal or no community impact BSome indirect impact (e.g., casual employment, occasional CSR donations) CClear community benefits (e.g., steady local employment, farmer supply chains, access to affordable services) DSignificant systemic impact (e.g., transforming local livelihoods, improving healthcare/food security/financial inclusion for large populations)

By submitting, you confirm that the information provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge.

Related advisory support

Readiness gaps often require work beyond the assessment.

Business Plan ConsultingBuild the commercial, operational and financial case required for a serious funding document. Financial ModellingStrengthen forecasts, funding requirements, debt service, cash flow and investment analysis. Funding Readiness SupportReview the evidence behind the assessment and create a practical plan for closing the priority gaps.