Blog and Articles

人工知能（AI）と聞くと、多くの人はシリコンバレー発の巨大モデルや莫大な資金調達を思い浮かべるでしょう。しかし近年、アフリカではまったく異なる形でAIが進化しています。限られた計算資源や不安定なインフラという制約の中で生まれているのは、「大きなAI」ではなく、「現場で本当に使われるAI」です。医療、農業、金融、物流といった分野で、すでに実装され、成果を出し始めているアフリカ発AIの動きは、2026年を迎える今、グローバルなAI活用のヒントを数多く含んでいます。本記事では、アフリカAIの実態とその価値、そして日本企業や投資家が注目すべき理由を整理します。

For a long time, Africa was viewed through a narrow lens by global companies. It was seen as a future market, a CSR destination, or a place to test low-cost pilots. That perception is changing fast. As 2026 begins, Africa is increasingly being approached as a serious growth market, a production base, and a strategic partner in global value chains. This shift did not happen overnight. It is the result of several forces converging at the same time. Africa is no longer just a de

On Thursday, January 15 and Friday, January 16, 2026 , we will host the Cardano Project Catalyst Fund 15 Pitch Fest  on X (formerly Twitter) Spaces . At this event, projects that balance social impact  and the practical application of blockchain technology —with a focus on Africa and emerging markets—will present their pitches. Here, we introduce three particularly noteworthy Africa-based projects  scheduled to pitch during the event. ① Establishing a Cardano Hub in Nyiragong

株式会社アクセルアフリカではアフリカの社会問題解決を目指し、現地スタートアップへのアクセラレーションも行っています。その中で特にWeb3技術を活用した事業開発のサポートやWeb3エコシステム拡大に取り組んでいます。例えば、アフリカで100万人のソフトウェアエンジニアを育成する"Power Learn Project（PLP）"を通じてWeb3エンジニアの育成を行ったり、アフリカでのCardanoエコシステム形成のパイオニア"Wada Global"と連携してアフリカでのプロジェクトの事業開発支援を行ったりしています。この3社とはアフリカにおけるWeb3領域のエコシステム拡大に向けた覚書（MoU）を昨年締結し、TICAD9の場でも発表させていただきました。そして現在、Cardanoの分散型イノベーション助成ファンドである"Project Catalyst"のFund15の投票期間が始まっています。そこで2026年1月15日（木）16日（金）にWada GlobalとPLPと共同でProject Catalyst Fund 15に提案している約23の

A new year always invites reflection, but 2026 feels different. Africa is not starting from scratch. It is entering the year with momentum built quietly over the last few years. Digital systems are in place, founders are more mature, capital is more disciplined, and governments are showing clearer intent in key sectors. The question for 2026 is no longer whether Africa can build. It is whether Africa can execute at scale. The foundation is already built Over the past few year

Axcel Africa has released the “Axcel Africa Annual Report 2025 – A Year of Co-Creation and Execution Connecting Japan and Africa.”  This report provides a comprehensive overview of our activities throughout 2025. The achievements of 2025 would not have been possible without the support of companies, government institutions, and partners in Japan and across Africa; our colleagues who worked side by side with us on the ground; and the many people who have watched over and suppo

Axcel Africa K.K. (Head Office: Takamatsu, Kagawa; CEO: Hiroshi Yokoyama) participated in the Japan Fair  within the “TICAD Business...

Africa, with a population exceeding 1.55 billion as of 2025 and a projected GDP of $29 trillion by 2050, stands as a pivotal frontier for economic growth across technology, agriculture, renewable energy, and infrastructure development. Japanese firms, grappling with domestic stagnation, alongside companies from Europe, the United States, and Asia, recognize the continent's potential. However, navigating its diverse 54-country landscape requires a strategic approach to capital

Part 3 of our H1 2025 African startup funding analysis While fintech dominated headlines with $640 million in funding, the real story of H1 2025 lies in how other sectors stepped up to drive the continent's startup rebound. From climate tech's $300 million surge to healthcare's steady $160 million, Africa's funding landscape is becoming remarkably diverse.

Part 2 of our H1 2025 African startup funding analysis as published by Africa: The Big Deal | Max | Substack While the $1.4 billion headline from H1 2025 captured attention, the real story lies in how that money moved. A closer look at the deal patterns reveals an ecosystem that's not just recovering—it's fundamentally evolving.