NINJA is an international acceleration program that provides structured support to tech startups from Serbia aiming to enter Asian markets, focusing on Japan and Southeast Asia. The program is implemented in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with ICT Hub and the Digital Serbia Initiative serving as local partners.
The program targets startups in the growth and internationalisation phase, offering them the opportunity to improve their go-to-market strategies through ten weeks of intensive work with local and international experts. It includes thematic workshops, one-on-one mentoring sessions, expert consultations, and meetings with potential partners from the Asian region. The program concludes with a Demo Day, where selected teams present their solutions to domestic and international investors, companies, and key stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.
The program's second edition brought together five carefully selected startups – Relio, nanoWAF, OPS.inc, Trust2Me, and Inclusio – all of which worked on refining their business models with a focus on international expansion. The most successful among them earned the opportunity to visit Japan and Singapore, where they will further develop their business potential and expand their network through hands-on experience.
The NINJA accelerator program addresses the recognised need for Serbian startups to explore underrepresented markets, particularly in Asia, which are often overlooked due to limited information and access. The program supports the diversification of growth strategies, the development of sustainable partnerships, and the strengthening of international competitiveness among local startups.
Project partners include ABeam Consulting Ltd. and the Japanese startup incubator Tsucrea, providing local expertise and on-the-ground support in preparing startups for entry into Asian markets.