Three South African startups have been selected for the inaugural edition of the NINJA Accelerator in the country, which will help them accelerate strategic testing.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was reported by the media earlier this year to have announced the opening of its flagship NINJA Accelerator to South Africa. The program focuses on open innovation and strategic collaboration between Japanese companies and South African startups.
Run in collaboration with Startupbootcamp AfriTech, the JICA NINJA Accelerator in South Africa – Open Innovation Edition sought out promising startups to explore the possibility of a commercial partnership with NEC XON, the pan-African entity that NEC Corporation owns majority of.
After a one-week roadshow in January 2025, three startups have been chosen to participate. These startups will receive proof of concepts, pilots with NEC XON, mentorship, access to a global network of experts, and opportunities to interact with potential investors and strategic partners not only in South Africa but also in Japan.
The ventures that have been chosen are: Locstat, an AI technology platform that uses graph-based AI and data analytics to help organizations quickly scale next-generation data intelligence solutions like real-time monitoring; Agrilogiq, which has developed sophisticated software and hardware to connect growers to their greenhouses; and Raphta, which has built an autonomous software and hardware platform to secure, monitor, and inspect critical infrastructure in the telecommunications, energy, railway, and water industries.
