#Japan #Tokyo #Yo-ren Japan #JACCI #Africa Startups

Yo-ren Japan Selected for Key African Initiative

Yo-ren Japan, based in the Minato ward of Tokyo and led by CEO Osamu Kaneda, recently announced that it has been chosen as a subcontractor under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's initiative titled "Reiwa 5 Fiscal Year Supplementary Global South Future-oriented Co-Creation Project (Africa)." The project involves devising a master plan aimed at promoting partnerships between African startups and Japanese corporations. This significant project is set to run until the end of February 2026.

The Role of JACCI

In addition to executing this project, Yo-ren Japan will also assume the role of the secretariat for the Japan Africa Co-Creation for Industry (JACCI) initiative, as announced during the 3rd Japan-Africa Public-Private Economic Forum, scheduled for December 2024. JACCI is structured to reinforce the collaboration between Japanese companies and African startups with a focus on creating a sustainable model for business co-creation between the two regions.

This strategic collaboration aims to leverage JETRO's support in facilitating Japanese companies' overseas expansions, utilizing their strengths in researching and disseminating information about different countries' systems and economic conditions. JETRO will partner with Japanese venture capital firms active in Africa to provide crucial guidance for Japanese businesses looking to enter the African market.

Current Status of African Startups

The African continent has experienced a surge in startups that are addressing critical social and structural challenges in areas such as transportation, logistics, and entertainment. However, these startups are hitting a growth plateau due to challenges like sluggish fundraising, difficulties in scaling, and a lack of partnerships with existing industries. This situation has prompted the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to introduce a new framework aimed at consolidating African startups and established businesses, encouraging them to collaborate with one another, thus enhancing the entire industrial value chain. Yo-ren Japan’s involvement signifies a commitment to making this initiative successful.

Historically, partnerships between Japanese enterprises and African startups have fallen short of significant success. Previous attempts primarily centered around one-on-one matching, which often presented complications and dampened scalability. To remedy these issues, this new initiative seeks to create a more holistic approach by grouping together various local players—including startups—to impact the African market positively on a larger scale.

The Philosophy of JACCI

The core philosophy behind JACCI is to establish a cohesive framework for Japanese businesses eager to expand into Africa, bringing together entrepreneurs, talent, and established companies across various sectors. Rather than sticking to a conventional one-to-one matching system, JACCI aspires to develop a comprehensive "function group" structured by industry, such as mobility, manufacturing, and entertainment. This pre-established framework will support both Japanese companies and local African enterprises in creating viable business models and potential collaborations.

Yo-ren Japan will spearhead various hypothesis validations and research endeavors in multiple business domains throughout Africa. By aggregating key industry players, including startups, the aim is to foster complementary synergies and co-creative relationships with Japanese companies’ strengths.

The initiative also welcomes partners aligned with JACCI's vision—companies interested in contributing to the packaging of local industry ecosystems, which can adapt to the evolving business landscapes in Africa.

Call for Participation

The current call for participation seeks companies with interests in diverse business sectors in Africa that meet three criteria:
1. Alignment with JACCI's philosophy.
2. Capability in packaging local industry ecosystems.
3. Ability to collaborate on developing business models and creating ventures with Japanese firms.

For applicants, a business proposal should be articulated over 1-3 A4 pages in various formats such as PowerPoint or Word, detailing anticipated business opportunities.

Upcoming Events

As part of this initiative, participants will also have opportunities to join various events, including the Africa CEO Forum taking place in Abidjan on May 12-13, 2025, and side events during TICAD 9 set for August 20-22, 2025.

For inquiries or wishes to participate, please reach out to the JACCI secretariat via email at [email protected]. Yo-ren Japan is looking forward to your involvement in this exciting venture aimed at co-creating value between Japanese firms and African startups.