Locations
Participants
Startups
Meet the six startups that were selected to Meet the Tôshikas!
JOBOX
Company Name: JOBOX
Country: South Africa
Sector: E-commerce
Service Overview: Jobox is an early talent discovery ecosystem built to connect employers, students and universities, ensuring highly accurate job placements.
Founder's Name: Sbusiso Buna
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/jobox/
Company URL: www.joinjobox.com
Established in 2015, Jobox is an innovative company with a dedicated team of 8 employees. The platform enhances students' employability by serving as an early talent discovery ecosystem. By connecting employers, students, and universities, Jobox ensures accurate job placements and improves graduate employability. The company’s goal is to equip students with the necessary skills to succeed in the workforce, while providing employers access to diverse and promising talent. Additionally, universities benefit from data-driven insights to further drive graduate employability. Through its comprehensive ecosystem, Jobox creates valuable connections that foster growth and success for all parties involved.
Zoie Health
Company Name: Zoie Health
Country: South Africa
Sector: Healthcare
Service Overview: Zoie Health is Africa's first holistic digital women's health and wellness platform.
Founder's Name: Thato Schermer
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/zoie-health/
Company URL:www.geteasydoc.com
Established in 2020, Zoie Health is Africa's first holistic digital women's health and wellness platform, currently operating with a team of 19 employees. Their solution, EasyDoc, focuses on reducing work absenteeism by providing basic healthcare to employees through a pioneering WhatsApp-based platform. EasyDoc offers 24/7 access to private doctors via text and telephonic consultations, along with seamless medication delivery directly to employees. This cost-effective solution significantly reduces absenteeism, enhances productivity, and improves employee retention by making quality healthcare accessible and convenient. EasyDoc aims to transform employee benefits, fostering a healthier and more engaged workforce.
Bosso
Company Name: Bosso
Country: Zambia
Sector: E-commerce / Constructio
Service Overview: E-commerce platform for hardware stores and home builders
Founder's Name: Chisepo Chirwa
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/bosso/
Company URL: https://thebosso.com/
Founded in 2022, Bosso is revolutionizing the construction supply chain with a team of 11-50 employees dedicated to digitizing processes globally. Their e-commerce platform caters specifically to hardware stores and home builders, making it Zambia's premier destination for all building material needs. Over the past year, Bosso has facilitated inventory stocking for over 800 hardware stores and assisted more than 400 home builders in sourcing materials. With $400,000 raised in venture capital, Bosso is committed to addressing Zambia's housing crisis by moving construction material and delivery options online, ensuring transparency, affordability, and accessibility for all.
Bosso is at the forefront of transforming e-commerce in the construction sector and digitizing Africa's building material supply chain. This marks the beginning of their journey, and they invite partnerships to join in resolving the housing challenges across Africa.
AfriOnline
Company Name: AfriOnline
Country: Zambia
Sector: Logistics
Service Overview: AfriOnline has a multifaceted business model encompassing delivery, commissions, markups, storage, onboarding, software-as-a-solution licensing, and advertising fees
Founder's Name: Afshon Wallace
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afrionline-group/
Company URL: https://afrionlinegroup.com/
Founded in 2018, AfriOnline operates with a team of 51-200 employees and has established extensive logistics networks and e-commerce platforms. The company's diverse business model includes delivery services, commissions, markups, storage solutions, onboarding services, software-as-a-solution licensing, and advertising fees. AfriOnline Group encompasses subsidiaries such as AfriDelivery, AfriSupermarket, AfriCourier, and AfriStorage, serving as a comprehensive solution provider in e-commerce, logistics, and storage across Africa.
AfriOnline's mission is to digitize Africa by empowering SMEs with seamless online platforms for selling goods. They are committed to supporting the entire value chain necessary for success, driving economic growth and digital transformation across the continent.
MAMBOO
Company Name: Mamboo
Country: Angola
Sector: E-commerce
Service Overview: Mamboo improves access to a wide range of products and simplifying financial transactions with an app that not only enhances convenience but also strengthens security
Founder's Name: Philippe Oliveira
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mambootecnologia/
Company URL: www.mamboo.co.ao
Founded in 2020, Mamboo is leading the charge in digital commerce and financial inclusion across Angola and Tanzania. With 100 employees, Mamboo has introduced a groundbreaking superapp solution that integrates marketplace, logistics, and fintech services. This innovative platform enhances access to a wide range of products and simplifies financial transactions, offering unprecedented convenience and security to users.
Mamboo operates as a comprehensive online shopping mall, aggregating the best stores across various segments. Additionally, their Mamboo Pack service facilitates easy sending and receiving within the app, ensuring a safe, comfortable, and practical experience for all users.
ANDA
Company Name: Anda
Country: Angola
Sector: Mobility
Service Overview: built an innovative first-of-its-kind fully integrated mobility platform that creates value in Angola by formalizing and professionalizing transportation and last-mile logistics services.
Founder's Name: Sergio Tati
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andaafrica/
Company URL: www.andaafrica.com
Established in 2023 with a team of 16 employees, Anda is a pioneering mobility fintech platform based in Angola. The company specializes in providing affordable asset financing, delivery, and transport services through its innovative, fully integrated mobility platform. By formalizing and professionalizing transportation and last-mile logistics services, Anda has emerged as Angola's leading mobility technology platform.
Anda focuses on bridging the credit gap with tailored financial products designed for income-generating assets, empowering local entrepreneurs to offer safe, accessible, and reliable mobility solutions. The company's commitment to enhancing accessibility and reliability in mobility services underscores its role in driving economic empowerment and sustainable development in Angola.
Investors
“Tôshika” means “Investor” in Japanese. Meet the Tôshikas who will take part in our programme.
Samurai Incubate Africa
| Name: Rena YONEYAMA |
| Title: Partner |
| Company: Samurai Incubate Africa |
| Country: Japan |
| https://samurai-incubate-africa.asia/ |
Rena oversees all African investment activities at Samurai Incubate Africa and is behind most of the company’s 35 investments in notable startups such as Oneport, Yourparts, Hakki, Pricepally, and The Food Lab.
Prior to joining Samurai, Rena accumulated careers in corporate & development finance in Japanese governmental banks such as Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Between 2015-2018, she worked for Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Morocco and was engaged in project formulation and management of infrastructure projects. She received her undergraduate degree in Economics from Waseda University in Japan and a Master of Science in Applied Economics from Cornell University in the U.S.A. She is fluent in English and French.
Social Impact Solutions (SIPS)
| Name: Yoshiki Sasaki |
| Title: CEO |
| Company: Social Impact Solutions (SIPS) |
| Country: Japan |
| https://sips-group.com/en/ |
Born in 1951, BE mechanical engineering (1973) and ME systems engineering (1976) at Kyoto University. Sales manager and engineer at Hitachi, Ltd. (Steel rolling plants, FA systems) Industry Consultant at SRI International (1988). Executive board member at Japan Asia Investment Co., Ltd (JAIC) (1996), 150 exits from Southeast Asian investment after Asian Crisis. Started first Japanese funds to invest in China (2001) and Vietnam (2006), distressed debt fund in Southeast Asia (2003), and first Japanese fund to invest in biotechnology (2003). Invested in Alibaba (2002) and was board member. After retiring from JAIC as senior managing director in 2008, he has been supervising growth funds to invest in Southeast Asia funded by Development Bank of Japan and a NEC subsidiary. Sasaki-san created several startups which were integrated under Social Impact Solutions Co., Ltd (2019). The group companies are active in 4 verticals: home healthcare, Food, Energy & mobility, and Education. SIPS also provides startup investment, accelerator management, and technology investment banking services.
| Name: Takayuki ‘Taka’ KUMAGAI |
| Title: Partner - CEO |
| Company: Technology Seed Incubation Co., Ltd. (a SIPS group company) |
| Country: Japan |
| https://tsi-japan.com/en/ |
Takayuki completed a doctoral program at Osaka University Graduate School, specializing in optical and condensed matter physics. While serving as a special researcher (DC1) at the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), he engaged in research activities and played a role in launching several university-affiliated ventures. In 2015, he joined Technology Seed Incubation Co., Ltd., the predecessor of TSI Corporation. Progressing from executive officer to director, Takayuki assumed the role of CEO in November 2021.
Takayuki's responsibilities encompass business development and growth, with a focus on venture investments, hands-on support, promotion of JST's START program, acting as a catalyst for NEDO's initiatives, facilitating collaborations between major corporations and startups, M&A advisory roles, and supporting fundraising efforts. Additionally, as the Representative Director of JAVIS Ventures Co., Ltd., Takayuki oversees investment and nurturing activities for ventures in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, with a growing interest in Africa.