Six African Tech Startups Finalists of "Meet the Tôshikas" Program
The "Meet the Tôshikas" program offers Japanese investors a deep dive into African startup ecosystems and provides promising startups on the continent with a preparation course for investment.
Program Overview
The program, managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Sustainable Finance Hub in Africa, with the support of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), aims to attract more Japanese venture capital investors to Africa. The first edition of the program will take place in three African countries (Zambia, Angola, and South Africa).
Selection Process
After 30 startups (10 per country) were selected to participate in bootcamps, six (2 per country) were given the opportunity to follow a practical and highly personalized three-month investment preparation program. They will also receive a catalytic grant of $20,000 and participate in a one-week investor tour in Tokyo.
The Six Finalists
- Anda (Angola): Formalizing the two-wheeler motorcycle taxi market.
- Mamboo (Angola): Offering fast and transparent delivery of food and consumer goods.
- Zoie Health (South Africa): A cybersecurity startup.
- Jobox (South Africa): Helping university graduates find their first job.
- Bosso (Zambia): Building a platform to make house construction simpler and more affordable.
- AfriOnline Group (Zambia): An integrated platform allowing customers to order from restaurants, supermarkets, and wholesalers.
Quote from Tomas Sales, UNDP
"We are extremely honored to offer, through our benefactor METI, a unique opportunity to African startups to travel and meet Japanese investors, and to Japanese investors to discover exciting startup opportunities in Africa from a well-founded sector. This is an enlightened and deliberate ecosystem development approach that takes into account both local potential growth and risk awareness through our network of partners on the ground."
