Summarized by AI Model:facebook/bart-large-cnn
Investor hesitancy is frequently caused by a lack of public knowledge about Africa's active startup scene in different locations. The UNDP introduced the Meet the Tôshikas initiative in 2023 through its Africa Sustainable Finance Hub. The project aims to help African companies meet their financial needs, unleash growth opportunities and fully use their ecosystems.Recent developments in business and government regulations demonstrate Africa’s growing need for creative, technology-driven solutions. However, timely investment and strong support from startup ecosystem players continue to be crucial to the success and expansion of firms throughout the continent.
Investor hesitancy is frequently caused by a lack of public knowledge about Africa’s active startup scene in different locations. Due mainly to a lack of pre-investment exposure and engagement with potential investors, this problem is made worse by notable gaps in startups’ investment-readiness support programs (capacity training).
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced the Meet the Tôshikas (Japanese for “investors”) initiative in 2023 through its Africa Sustainable Finance Hub. The project aims to help African companies meet their financial needs, unleash growth opportunities, and fully use their ecosystems using catalytic funding from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI).
The Japan Investment Roadshow
In August 2024, there was a Japan Investment Roadshow as part of the Meet the Tôshikas initiative. In order to build meaningful relationships, six startup finalists and three accelerators/investors from Angola and South Africa met with over 30 investors and business executives while interacting with 19 Japanese firms and organisations.
Furthermore, conversations with leading university entrepreneurship centres and Japanese government members provided insights into Japan’s startup and ecosystem development experience. Japanese businesses were quite interested in the roadshow, and several of them wanted to meet with the startups again.
Through roadshow activities like TICAD, one-on-one meetings, and pitch events, all six businesses have demonstrated mutual interest and are presently in talks with at least three Japanese-based organisations, including participating Tôshikas.
Additionally, the UNDP created reports on the startup ecosystems in Zambia, Angola, and South Africa. By outlining important players, funding sources, investment environments, and development potential within these ecosystems, these reports—which are sent to Japanese businesses and investors—seek to increase awareness of and interest in Africa’s startup scene.
