DFP Launches 'Africa Corporate Innovation Program' — Accelerating Business Creation for Japanese Companies in Africa through Startup Co-creation
Double Feather Partners (DFP), in collaboration with NEC and the UK-based Shell Foundation, has launched the 'Africa Corporate Innovation Program (ACIP).' The program facilitates co-creation between Japanese corporations and African startups to solve social issues and create new business opportunities in sectors like agriculture, logistics, and mobility.
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Double Feather Partners Co., Ltd. (DFP) has launched the 'Africa Corporate Innovation Program (ACIP)' in collaboration with NEC Corporation (NEC) and the UK-based Shell Foundation, aiming to solve social issues and create new business opportunities in Africa. This program is designed to drive initiatives from demonstration to commercialization and long-term growth through co-creation between Japanese companies and African startups.
DFP has been working to connect Japanese and global companies with African markets through startup support, business development, and venture investment in Africa. Through the operation of various acceleration and open innovation projects with JICA's NINJA program, UNDP, and Luxembourg-related organizations, DFP has supported collaborations and business creation with over 130 local startups, establishing a system that leads from demonstration to commercialization and scale support.
The newly launched ACIP is an initiative where DFP, Shell Foundation, and NEC collaborate, leveraging their respective strengths to materialize co-creation with startups capable of solving African challenges. In this program, startups with solutions for local issues in the value chains of agriculture, logistics, and mobility will be selected to promote demonstrations through co-creation with corporations. Furthermore, based on the results, the program is expected to lead to enhanced value provision locally, the materialization of business expansion possibilities, and the construction of sustainable co-creation models. The program incorporates the concept of blended finance based on contributions from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), serving as an implementation framework that leads to future private investment and business expansion while minimizing risks associated with initial demonstrations.
In this program, DFP will be responsible for defining corporate challenges, designing co-creation themes, scouting and selecting startups, supporting the execution of PoCs (Proof of Concepts), providing funding, measuring and reporting social impact, and designing strategies for business scaling. DFP will continue to aim for both solving social issues and creating sustainable businesses by connecting the technology and business foundations of Japanese companies with grassroots innovation in Africa.
[Program Overview]
- Target Countries: Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia, etc.
- Themes: Agritech, Logistics, Mobility
- Schedule (Planned):
- April 2026: Start of Africa Corporate Innovation Program / Begin discussions with local startups
- End of December 2026: Completion of demonstrations
- March 2027: Measurement of demonstration effects and impact, final reporting session
Comments from participating organizations:
Masayuki Furukawa, Director, Team 2, Private Sector Development Group, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA):
'JICA has been providing continuous cooperation in collaboration with private companies to strengthen Africa's startup ecosystem and the partnership between African and Japanese firms. This initiative is highly significant, as it can further contribute to Africa's economic development by utilizing the experience and knowledge cultivated through JICA's startup ecosystem cooperation program, Project NINJA. In particular, we support the direction of addressing African social issues led by private companies from both Japan and Africa and building mutually beneficial relationships. We also expect this initiative to trigger more Japanese companies to participate and further expand the collaboration between Japanese and African startups. JICA intends to continue its cooperation through Project NINJA and support such initiatives.'
Jonathan Berman, CEO, Shell Foundation:
'To support the development of the African region and the transition to a low-carbon society, partnerships that bring together not only great ideas but also capital, technology, and locally rooted entrepreneurship are essential. Through the Africa Corporate Innovation Program, the Shell Foundation uses catalytic capital to reduce risks associated with collaboration, helping global companies like NEC work with African startups to validate, learn, and build scalable solutions. Our role is to enable these partnerships, conduct practical demonstrations, and facilitate the flow of larger-scale funding into markets that consider inclusive climate action.'
DFP has been working to connect Japanese and global companies with African markets through startup support, business development, and venture investment in Africa. Through the operation of various acceleration and open innovation projects with JICA's NINJA program, UNDP, and Luxembourg-related organizations, DFP has supported collaborations and business creation with over 130 local startups, establishing a system that leads from demonstration to commercialization and scale support.
The newly launched ACIP is an initiative where DFP, Shell Foundation, and NEC collaborate, leveraging their respective strengths to materialize co-creation with startups capable of solving African challenges. In this program, startups with solutions for local issues in the value chains of agriculture, logistics, and mobility will be selected to promote demonstrations through co-creation with corporations. Furthermore, based on the results, the program is expected to lead to enhanced value provision locally, the materialization of business expansion possibilities, and the construction of sustainable co-creation models. The program incorporates the concept of blended finance based on contributions from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), serving as an implementation framework that leads to future private investment and business expansion while minimizing risks associated with initial demonstrations.
In this program, DFP will be responsible for defining corporate challenges, designing co-creation themes, scouting and selecting startups, supporting the execution of PoCs (Proof of Concepts), providing funding, measuring and reporting social impact, and designing strategies for business scaling. DFP will continue to aim for both solving social issues and creating sustainable businesses by connecting the technology and business foundations of Japanese companies with grassroots innovation in Africa.
[Program Overview]
- Target Countries: Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia, etc.
- Themes: Agritech, Logistics, Mobility
- Schedule (Planned):
- April 2026: Start of Africa Corporate Innovation Program / Begin discussions with local startups
- End of December 2026: Completion of demonstrations
- March 2027: Measurement of demonstration effects and impact, final reporting session
Comments from participating organizations:
Masayuki Furukawa, Director, Team 2, Private Sector Development Group, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA):
'JICA has been providing continuous cooperation in collaboration with private companies to strengthen Africa's startup ecosystem and the partnership between African and Japanese firms. This initiative is highly significant, as it can further contribute to Africa's economic development by utilizing the experience and knowledge cultivated through JICA's startup ecosystem cooperation program, Project NINJA. In particular, we support the direction of addressing African social issues led by private companies from both Japan and Africa and building mutually beneficial relationships. We also expect this initiative to trigger more Japanese companies to participate and further expand the collaboration between Japanese and African startups. JICA intends to continue its cooperation through Project NINJA and support such initiatives.'
Jonathan Berman, CEO, Shell Foundation:
'To support the development of the African region and the transition to a low-carbon society, partnerships that bring together not only great ideas but also capital, technology, and locally rooted entrepreneurship are essential. Through the Africa Corporate Innovation Program, the Shell Foundation uses catalytic capital to reduce risks associated with collaboration, helping global companies like NEC work with African startups to validate, learn, and build scalable solutions. Our role is to enable these partnerships, conduct practical demonstrations, and facilitate the flow of larger-scale funding into markets that consider inclusive climate action.'