Double Feather Partners
  • Startup
  • Accelerator News
  • News
  • Accelerator News
  • Events
  • Investment

JICA’s first NINJA Accelerator in South Africa Kicks Off with Three Promising Startups Aiming to Partner with NEC XON 

Johannesburg, South Africa – September 17, 2024 –

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is thrilled to announce the launch of its NINJA Accelerator program in South Africa, featuring three innovative startups selected for their potential to drive economic growth and social impact. The JICA NINJA Accelerator in South Africa – Open Innovation Edition will accelerate strategic partnership testing with NEC XON, NEC Corporation’s majority-owned pan-African entity.  

JICA’s overall aim with this program is to study collaboration models between local startups and Japanese companies and contribute to local startup ecosystem development through private sector innovation. 

In addition to proof of concepts and pilots with NEC XON, this NINJA Accelerator will provide startups with mentorship, access to a global network of experts, and opportunities to engage with potential investors and strategic partners not just in South Africa, but also in Japan through a 1-week roadshow scheduled for January 2025. This program is designed to help startups validate their solutions, scale their operations, and achieve sustainable growth through corporate partnerships and mentorship. 

 “NEC XON is proud to participate in this edition of the JICA NINJA Accelerator as we seek to increase our engagement with innovative and nimble companies in the vibrant South African ecosystem. Given our assets, footprint across the African continent, and connection to Japan, we look forward to validating strategic fit and exploring potential collaboration with the three exciting startups in order for us to diversify not only our existing Solution Portfolio such as Communications, Security, Infrastructure and Digital but also Social Impact Business such as Smart Farming, Predictive AI Analytics Solutions.”, says Yosuke Koide, General Manager : Global Synergy Development at NEC XON. 

Kick-off event

*Kick-off event


Selected Startups: 

  1. Raphta
    • A 90% black-owned business, innovating in the AI space with Shuri AI, an autonomous software and hardware platform to secure, monitor, and inspect critical infrastructure in the telecommunications, energy, railway, and water industries. 
  2. Agrilogiq
    • Revolutionizing the agritech sector with advanced software and hardware to connect growers to their greenhouses. 
  3. Locstat
    • AI technology platform that uses graph-based AI and data analytics to help organizations rapidly scale next generation data intelligence solutions such as real-time monitoring.  
      3 startups selected

      *selected 3 startups

      “The continent is currently lacking diverse programs and corporate engagement to support startups throughout their value chain. While traditional accelerators remain essential, more innovative programs must be developed to engage more corporates seeking strategic returns from startups, support VCs for exit discovery, and help startup achieve growth through corporate partnerships. We are proud to have been given this opportunity by JICA to run this program with our Japanese and South African partners.”, says Yannick Gayama, Managing Director and Head of Programs at Double Feather Partners.  


      Key Highlights of the NINJA Accelerator Program: 

      • Proofs-of-Concept (PoCs) with NEC XON
        • Startups will get an opportunity to co-design and run a three-month PoC with NEC XON to validate strategic fit and commercial partnership potential.  
      • Access to Knowledge, Resources, and Network
        • Gain access to the Program’s network and, depending on the PoC, NEC XON’s network of partners and customers.  
      • Tailored Support
        • Local and international mentoring and workshops to focus on priority challenges, including technical support and guidance from NEX XON experts.  
      • Extracurricular Activities
        • To support funding and partnership sourcing, ventures will network, showcase their business and PoC while participating in cohort-exclusive events, including a one-week trip to Japan arranged by JICA in annuary 2025 (participation based on program participation and engagement). 

      The NINJA Accelerator is a collaborative effort powered by JICA, led by Double Feather Partners, and supported by Deloitte Tohmatsu in Japan, Startupbootcamp AfriTech in South Africa. This initiative reaffirms JICA’s commitment to addressing Africa’s socio-economic challenges through entrepreneurship and innovation. 


      About JICA 

      The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) coordinates official development assistance for the Japanese government in developing countries and aims to promote international cooperation by supporting the socio-economic development, recovery, or economic stability of emerging economies. 

      For more info:  https://www.jica.go.jp/english/index.html 


      About Project NINJA 

      Project NINJA is a JICA initiative to support the establishment and development of a startup ecosystem to achieve a situation where innovative startups are continuously and autonomously created and nurtured. JICA intends to collaborate with various stakeholders to strengthen the startup ecosystem, develop entrepreneurship, make policy recommendations, strengthen corporate management capacity, promote collaboration among enterprises across industries, match up with Japanese companies, and promote investment. 

      For more info:   https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/english/our_work/thematic_issues/private/project_ninja.html


      About NEC XON  

      NEC XON is a leading African integrator of ICT solutions and part of NEC, a Japanese global company. NEC XON has operated in Africa since 1963 and delivers communications, energy, safety, security, and digital solutions. It co-creates social value through innovation to help overcome serious societal challenges. The organisation operates in 54 African countries and has a footprint in 16 of them. Regional headquarters are located in South, East, and West Africa. NEC XON is a level 1-certified broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) business.  

      Discover more at www.nec.xon.co.za. 


      About Double Feather Partners 

      Double Feather Partners (DFP) is a Japan-based, emerging markets-focused, Venture Capital and Startup Ecosystem Engagement consulting firm which provides risk capital, market research, and Startup Ecosystem Engagement consulting services to international organizations, corporations, and government agencies seeking to reach their startup-related goals while achieving socio-economic impact. 

      For more info: https://doublefeather.com/ 


      Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support 

      Innovation is the key to driving business success and revitalizing the Japanese and the world economies in the 21st century. Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support (DTVS)’s mission is to “create the future alongside innovators”, by collaborating with startups, large corporations and government agencies. Main activities include: startup support, consulting for large corporations, open innovation and government agency support. 

      For more info: https://www2.deloitte.com/jp/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/dtvs/dtvs.html  


      Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory LLC 

      Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory LLC (DTFA) delivers highly specialized financial advisory solutions to Deloitte’s clients facing critical business events and financial transactions where significant value is at stake. FA professionals have the global reach, deep industrial sector knowledge, extensive service capabilities, and experience to help Deloitte’s clients capitalize on opportunities and navigate times of economic uncertainty and disruptive events.  

      For more info: https://www2.deloitte.com/jp/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/dtfa/deloitte-tohmatsu-financial-advisory.html  


      About Startupbootcamp Afritech 

      Startupbootcamp AfriTech was launched in 2017 as the first multi-corporate-backed pan-African startup accelerator. We run world-class accelerator programs, working with some of the most disruptive startups on the continent. We provide access to our global network of corporate partners, investors, and mentors. The SBC AfriTech portfolio currently has 60 African startups spanning 13 countries and operating in sectors that include FinTech, InsureTech, Logistics, Mobility, AgriTech and Digital Health. With our support, 95% of SBC AfriTech alumni are still operational 2+ years after the program, and they have an aggregate valuation of nearly $1 Billion. 

      For more info: http://bit.ly/sbcafritech 


      Media Contacts 

      Global Yannick Gayama (Double Feather Partners) yannick.gayama@doublefeather.com  South Africa Jocelyn Nyaguse (StartupBootCamp) jocelyn.nyaguse@startupbootcamp.org