Yamaha Motor joins the Africa Corporate Innovation Programme
Double Feather Partners, Inc. (“DFP”) today announced that Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (“Yamaha Motor”) has joined the Africa Corporate Innovation Program (“ACIP”), a corporate co-creation and innovation platform run by DFP in partnership with Shell Foundation, an independent UK-registered charity. Through ACIP, Yamaha Motor will collaborate with selected African startups and local partners to explore and conduct proof-of-concept (PoC) projects for new mobility-related businesses in selected East African markets.
ACIP brings together startups addressing societal challenges in Africa and global corporate partners to evaluate the commercial viability and societal impact of business models through real-world trials, with the aim of creating and scaling sustainable, climate-smart and inclusive businesses. The program is jointly designed and implemented by Shell Foundation and DFP.
DFP connects Japanese and global companies with African markets through startup support, business development and venture investment. Through initiatives including JICA’s NINJA program and acceleration and open innovation programs with UNDP and other international partners, DFP has supported collaboration and business creation with more than 130 African startups, building pathways from PoC to commercialization and scale-up.
Yamaha Motor has operated in African markets since the 1960s and launched its Mobility Service Business (MSB) in 2020, focusing on expanding access to mobility through diverse mobility services. Working with local partners, Yamaha Motor, through its MSB, is expanding opportunities to use vehicles without the need for ownership and improving access to transportation and employment opportunities.
Through ACIP, Yamaha Motor will assess commercial and operational viability, partnership models and societal impact across three themes: electric mobility; mobility financing; and mobility ecosystem operations. The PoCs aim to establish scalable and sustainable business models that improve inclusive access to mobility and economic opportunities while supporting lower-emission transport. Based on the outcomes, Yamaha Motor will also explore longer-term business development and strategic partnerships with participating startups and local partners.
The program is supported by funding from the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the Research on Infrastructure in Developing Economies (RIDE) program. This support helps reduce risk during early-stage PoCs and build evidence for longer-term commercial partnerships and scale-up.
Within the program, DFP will define corporate challenges, design co-creation themes, source and select startups, support PoC design and execution, measure and report societal impact, and develop strategies for business scaling and capital linkage.
Program Overview
Target Markets: Selected East African markets
Focus Themes: Electric mobility; mobility financing; mobility ecosystem operations
Comments from DFP
Kohei Muto – Representative Director & CEO, Double Feather Partners, Inc.
Africa’s social challenges should not be viewed only as development issues; they also represent important opportunities for innovation and sustainable business creation. ACIP is an implementation-driven platform that connects Yamaha Motor’s mobility experience with the local knowledge and innovation of African startups.
Across selected East African markets, the program will explore electric mobility, mobility financing and mobility ecosystem operations. DFP will support the PoCs and help move validated concepts toward longer-term commercial partnerships, scale-up and capital linkage. We are grateful to Shell Foundation for its strategic partnership and to the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for supporting the program through RIDE.
Company Overview
Double Feather Partners, Inc.
Founded in 2018. Engaged in startup investment and business co-creation support primarily in Africa. Through co-creation design and capital connectivity, DFP supports companies in developing new businesses and expanding into African markets.