JICA Calls For Tanzanian Startups With Innovative Solutions to Apply For NINJA 2022

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has launched the second Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA) competition in an effort to continuously support startup companies in Tanzania. JICA is calling for Tanzanian startups to apply for this opportunity for a chance to get funding, technical support, and meet investors.

Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA) is a startup support initiative by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) designed to support entrepreneurs and startups in developing countries who are creating innovative business models and technologies to solve social issues.

Interested applicants can submit their entries HERE not later than January 28th, 2022. This is the second time JICA is organizing the business plan competition following the NINJA project last year which was created in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic which saw a total of 2,713 African startups participate in the challenge and only three (3) winning startups from each participating country were selected and each received a cash prize of USD$30,000 (approx. UGX105.7 million, TSH69.3 million). Notably, in Uganda, the 3 startups that were selected were; M-Scan, Zetu Africa, and Ecoplastile.

As part of the NINJA project, JICA Tanzania is planning to collaborate with promising startups that have solutions and have created positive impacts for Tanzanian social issues/challenges through their innovative products, services, and/or business models.

JICA Tanzania has launched this competition in collaboration with Seedspace. Interested startup founders who submit their proposals are expected to follow criteria for the application that includes;

1. Have innovative product(s) or service(s) or business model in response or adaptable to social issues/problems in the following sectors: Agriculture, Industrial Development, Infrastructure (Transportation), Infrastructure (Energy), Health/Medical, Water, and Others (Inter Sectors).
2. Have their head office or a branch in Tanzania.
3. Be a profit/non-profit organization registered as an independent legal entity.
4. Proposals from individuals will not be considered.
5. Have a very strong management team of at least 2 people.

Selected startups will each receive financial support of up to USD$8,500 (approximately TSH19,635,000) and technical support as well as opportunities to introduce their business to Japanese stakeholders, companies and investors.

ALSO READ: JICA AWARDS UGANDAN STARTUPS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING INNOVATIONS