The Japan-Africa Investment Drive (JAID) is a cohort-based investment accelerator with the goal of connecting high-potential Japanese venture capital (VC) firms with African startups.
To increase the likelihood of investment, JAID will also offer close support to both the startups and the VCs throughout the engagement.
More information on the programme, eligibility requirements, programme schedule, and benefits is highlighted below.
- Investment pitch and refinement
- Introduction to investors
- Introduction to Japanese venture space
- Follow-up engagements
- Pitch refinement
- Introduction to Japanese venture space
- Demo day
- Investor introduction
- Follow-up engagements, etc.
The Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for selection, applicants must meet the following criteria-
- Be African-based B2B, B2C & B2B2C startups
- Have Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in place
- Have at least a $5m valuation
- Post MVP
- Post Traction (minimum of $10k MRR) of the startup
- $500k investment and above
Programme Benefits: Successful applicants stand the chance to enjoy the following benefits-
- Receive direct investment
- Direct investment from a partner venture capital firm Japan Strategic Capital (JSC)
- Close support
The top startups will be presented to the over 15 Japanese VCs on the curated list. Also receiving close support will be the investor engagement, which will include meeting coordination, pitch deck translation, and the provision of interpreters for investor meetings.
During the financing process, selected startups will receive extensive legal, cultural, and administrative support on how to draw and close Japanese investment. There will also be group seminars and personalised one-on-one training available.
December 19th: Applications close on December 19 after which eligible startups will be selected. Further timeline details are highlighted below-
- Investment accelerator: Defining investment fit
- Pitch refinement – Introduction to Japanese venture space
- January 31st 2023: Demo day