11 Japanese startup companies selected for TSUBASA 2022
April 4, 2023
In recent years, the startup ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has evolved into a vibrant space. To leverage this dynamic startup environment for Japan’s high-impact entrepreneurial ventures, JICA has joined hands with IDB Lab (the innovation laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group) to launch TSUBASA (Transformational Startups' Business Acceleration for the SDGs Agenda), a program aimed at bringing together SDG-oriented businesses from Japan that could offer ‘silver bullet’ solutions or answers for pressing regional development challenges across the LAC region. Dream Incubator is honored to support the program launch.
Starting this year, the delivery of TSUBASA program activities will be done through 3 phases. The primary purpose is to identify innovative ideas and technologies from Japan that help address development challenges faced by the local community and to pilot innovations within JICA’s local initiatives.
TSUBASA 2022 opened the call for proposals on January 6, 2023, and received 29 applications with compelling SDG-focused business models. After a rigorous screening process, 11 companies have been selected to participate in the program.
List of program-approved companies and their proposals:
1) RT Corporation (Tokyo): Labor-saving and high-efficiency field robotics in agriculture and food processing industries
2) Axelspace Corporation (Tokyo): Optical satellite images for environmental monitoring and other SDGs promotion initiatives
3) Altalena Co., Ltd. (Hyogo): Carbon-negative coffee projects
4) WOTA Corp. (Tokyo): Small-scale decentralized water infrastructure for water-problem free houses
5) Green Carbon Inc. (Tokyo): Generating carbon credits through carbon farming in Mexico
6) Credit Engine, Inc. (Tokyo): Digital transformation pilot: SaaS system for upgrading and visualizing debt collection practices of individuals and SMEs, strengthening ethics and legal compliance
7) Sakaegumi Corporation (Iwate): Extending the service life of concrete structures with Sakae Adjustable Pressure Injection System
8) Sagri Co., Ltd. (Hyogo): Fertilizer optimization and decarbonization: Using satellite imaging for soil analysis
9) TOWING Co., Ltd. (Aichi): High-performance biochar for soil improvement, carbon credit business activities
10) Melody International Ltd. (Kagawa): Wearable Fetal Monitor iCTG for safe and secure childbirths around the world
11) Eukarya, Inc. (Tokyo): OSS platform with GIS data visualization and analysis tools for disaster management
Dream Incubator Inc. (Japanese): Link
IDB Lab: Link
