Three innovative South African startups have been chosen to participate in the inaugural edition of the NINJA Accelerator in the country, which aims to accelerate strategic testing and collaboration opportunities.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had earlier announced the expansion of its flagship NINJA Accelerator to South Africa. This initiative, focused on fostering strategic collaboration and open innovation between South African startups and Japanese companies, marks a significant opportunity for local ventures to expand their reach.
The JICA NINJA Accelerator in South Africa – Open Innovation Edition, run in partnership with Startupbootcamp AfriTech, sought to identify promising startups to explore potential commercial partnerships with NEC XON, the pan-African subsidiary of NEC Corporation. The program will support the selected ventures through proof of concepts and pilot testing, in addition to providing mentorship and access to a global network of experts.
The selected startups will also have the opportunity to engage with potential investors and strategic partners, not only in South Africa but also in Japan, through a one-week roadshow scheduled for January 2025.
Read also: Five Nigerian startups chosen for Google’s Africa accelerator program.
The three startups selected for this prestigious programme are:
- Raphta: Specializing in autonomous software and hardware platforms to secure, monitor, and inspect critical infrastructure across telecommunications, energy, railway, and water industries.
- Agrilogiq: Developers of advanced software and hardware solutions that connect growers to their greenhouses, revolutionizing agricultural processes.
- Locstat: An AI technology platform using graph-based AI and data analytics to enable organizations to rapidly scale next-generation data intelligence solutions, including real-time monitoring.
These startups will benefit from mentorship, and the program will facilitate connections with global experts, enhancing their commercial viability and scalability. The collaboration between NEC XON and the startups will focus on testing commercial partnership potential, further positioning these ventures for future success.
