Digital banking platform and fintech company Kwara has been selected for the first cohort of the Ninja Accelerator programme in Kenya.
Growth Africa announced that out of 178 applicants, Kwara was one of the five startups selected to partake in the first ever JICA Ninja Accelerator. The accelerator is aimed at connecting Kenyan startups to Japan. After tailor-made coaching by Japanese corporates, investors and partners, the startups partake in a Global Road Show in Tokyo and Silicon Valley in 2022.
This is the first Ninja program and Kwara is part of the first cohort.
Cynthia Wandia, Kwara’s CEO, says: “We look forward to building strong strategic partnerships with Japan-based corporations and investors. This will be an important Launchpad for our ASEAN and Africa expansion. We are optimistic about exchanging ideas, technical expertise and culture so we can build a global, profitable business together.”
The program is powered by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in partnership with Double Feather Partners (DFP), Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support (DTVS), Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory (DTFA) and GrowthAfrica, and further supported by 500 Startups. More information about the program can be found here.
Apart from Kwara, the other Kenyan startups participating in the program are Amitrucks, Cinch Markets, Sokowatch and Zana Africa.
The accelerator program consists of 3 months of tailor-made local, Japanese, and international mentoring, expertise, and investor relations. It is followed by a pitch event on July 29th, 2021. Early 2022 DFP and Deloitte will take startups to Tokyo, followed by a visit to Silicon Valley organised by 500 Startups.
Kwara offers a secure, simple and affordable digital banking platform for savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) and their members, who are often excluded by traditional banks. Our mission is to enable the world’s 3 billion underserved to become financially healthy. Backed by Google Launchpad, Catalyst Fund, Bright Continent, Finparx and Bonum Ventures, today Kwara serves over 28,000 members.
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