JICA 2022 Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA) Accelerator Program for Nigerian Entrepreneurs

Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA) Accelerator in Nigeria – 2nd Cohort is designed to enhance the Nigerian startup ecosystem by strengthening underperforming and necessary sub-sectors in sectors (such as agriculture, health and cleantech) in Nigeria. It is expected to have collaboration among participants in the supply chain, contribute significantly to economic growth and promote promising youths with innovative businesses.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in 2021, commissioned an ecosystem mapping report of Nigeria’s startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem with emphasis on the agritech, health tech or cleantech sectors. The ecosystem mapping report highlighted noticeable gaps in the following subsectors within the Agritech innovation space; logistics, cold chain monitoring and insurance. In the HealthTech sector, gaps were discovered in the nutrition, mobile health/fitness apps, healthcare marketing and many more subsectors. Unlike the Agric and healthtech sectors, the cleantech sector in Nigeria is in its growth stage, and with the global shift towards environmental sustainability and responsibility, there is a need to support innovation in this sector.

• Table of Content
• About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
• NINJA Accelerator Program
• Aim and Benefits of NINJA Accelerator Program
• Requirements for NINJA Accelerator Program Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is a governmental agency that coordinates Official Development Assistance for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation

NINJA Accelerator Program

Aim and Benefits of NINJA Accelerator Program

Expansion

Opportunity for foreign startups to expand into the Nigerian market

Opportunity

Opportunity to pitch to Japanese investors and corporates at the largest African-focused startup event in Japan

Legal Support

Support with legal incorporation of selected foreign startups in Nigeria

Requirements for NINJA Accelerator Program Qualification

• Your company must be legally incorporated in your country.
• Sector must be agri tech, health tech or clean tech (including finance/logistics in those sectors etc.
• If you are a foreign company, your company must be legally incorporated with CAC in Nigeria prior to the commencement of the training.
• Applicants startups should be innovative and technology-driven.
• Funding stage should be pre-Seed, Seed and pre-Series A

What we’re looking for?

• Foreign startups which have not yet been incorporated/operated in Nigeria and are looking into the Nigerian market. (startups in other African countries, Asia, Europe and other regions are welcome to apply)

• Nigerian startups which are already incorporated and have business operation in Nigeria

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit the website.