Next INnovation with JApan (NINJA) is a startup support initiative by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) launched in January 2020 to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and creation of new businesses in order to strengthen the startup ecosystem in emerging countries.
Program Overview:
NINJA Kenya offers strategic partnerships, mentorships, and access to investments to foster enhanced business growth and contribute to social development in the country. We bring together local and global expertise to fast-track the growth of participating entrepreneurs.
Criteria:
We are seeking pre-seed or seed stage businesses with passionate founders and a senior leadership team capable of – and committed to – an accelerated scale-up process and
seeking to accept large investments and strategic partners. To be eligible, businesses should have been in operation for a minimum of 2 years, demonstrate proof of product-market fit, and sustain revenue for at least 6 months.
Application Criteria:
- For profit, post product, post revenue, tech-enabled business solution with minimum of 6 months sustained revenue
- With an office and operations based in Kenya
- The founder, or a co-founder, must be of African nationality.
- Led by a dedicated FULL-TIME founding team
- Minimum of 2 years of existence, but not greater than 5 years
- At a stage to raise Pre-Seed or Seed funding rounds
- Being a university-originated startup is a strong asset
Sectors:
Our program’s industry focus is Clean Tech (any startup that helps green an industry). If your venture operates within this sector and meets the eligibility criteria, we encourage you to apply and join us on a journey of rapid acceleration, revenue growth, and increased attractiveness to investors and strategic partners.
Key program components:
- Diagnostics Bootcamp (Starting Sept 20, 2023)
- Mentoring (by internal and external mentors) (Oct 2023 – Jan 2024)
- Instructor sessions (workshops, seminars) (Oct – Dec 2023)
- Local showcase and networking opportunity (Nov 27 – Dec 1, 2023)
- International showcase and networking opportunity (Nov or Dec 2023)
- Cohort-exclusive Japanese networking opportunity (Oct. 2023)
- Japan Roadshow (Nov or Dec 2023, or Jan-Feb 2024)
- Peer-to-peer learning (Oct – Dec 2023)
- Pitch Training (Staring Jan 15, 2024)
- Demo day (Jan. 31, 2024)
