On August 30, a showcase event took place at the Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) in Tokyo and online, spotlighting the potential of the startup ecosystems in Angola, South Africa, and Zambia. This event attracted global attention from startups, investors, and ecosystem builders, including key stakeholders from Japan. Despite an incoming typhoon, the event welcomed approximately 200 participants, with 148 joining online and 49 attending on-site, representing 28 countries from across Africa, Japan, and other nations such as Portugal, Germany, and India.

The program opened with remarks from representatives of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and UNDP, followed by pitches from six startups, which led to an engaging Q&A session with Japanese venture capitalists, including Samurai Incubate Africa and TSI Japan. A panel discussion brought together investors and accelerators from Angola, South Africa, and Zambia, along with NEC Japan, to exchange insights on Africa's vibrant startup landscape.

Participants expressed their enthusiasm, stating, “This was the first time I learned about the advanced initiatives of African startups,” “It was a great opportunity to expand my network with diverse individuals,” and “I was impressed by the depth of knowledge of the African accelerators.” The event received tremendous positive feedback. 

The summit's highlights will be shared on UNDP's YouTube channel, serving as a medium to showcase Africa's potential to the world even after the event. UNDP will continue to support the growth of startups and the development of ecosystems across Africa. The live stream video from the event will be uploaded soon (please check the event details below for updates).