Rwanda & Japan, September 16th, 2020 – Final Aim Inc., (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, CEO Masafumi Asakura, and CDO Yasuhide Yokoi), is proud to announce that the company has formed a partnership with SHORA Ventures Ltd., on the creation of a startup ecosystem.

Final Aim’s mission is to support a zero-to-one step with technology for new business category creation and job opportunity generation following it.
Since our foundation in December 2019, our global challenge has expanded from Japan to Singapore, Indonesia and to Africa in autonomous mobilities, robotics and digital manufacturing where we enable a zero-to-one for startups, new business development departments in large corporations and research labs in universities.

SHORA Ventures Ltd., is a tech ventures studio in Rwanda with a mission to build value with local startups and innovators by facilitating collaborations between entrepreneurs, customers and investors. The company has built a strategic partnership with LEAPR Applied Research Labs for innovation and startup sourcing leveraging its incubation methodologies. The current portfolio has Fintech, Drones, Agritech, Edutech as well as Healthtech and Mobility Solution startups.

The venture studio was founded by Serge Tuyihimbaze, an experienced entrepreneur managing director of LEAPR Applied Research Lab together with Alex Ntare, a technology and business leader with experience of ecosystem building and designing of startup support programs. He is the managing director of Rwanda ICT Chamber where his work involves bridging the gap between private and public sector players in the ICT industry as well as overseeing and establishing new innovation centres for technology startups among them KLAB, FABLAB Rwanda and 250Startups Incubator.

The partnership between SHORA Ventures and Final Aim intends to strengthen existing startups, and create new startups, innovation and investment ecosystems in Rwanda and other parts of the world through collective efforts in different areas of collaboration.

Main areas are:

1: Strengthening Rwandan startups through financial & technology partnerships
Collaboration and cooperation with startups in Rwanda. The agenda also expands to other elements surrounding the startup ecosystem, such as investment and investors’ training and framework building.

2: Knowledge sharing and transfer through trainings and exchanges
In building relations with local universities and youth in the startup ecosystem, the partnership will also aim to engage with universities through advisory services, support to design and provide training schemes focusing on achieving knowledge sharing and transfer in various topics, which also will have opportunities for internship and exchange programmes.

Comments:

Alex Ntare – Co-Founder & M.D SHORA Ventures
“We are excited about announcing a partnership, since our first meeting with the team during 2019 we have sought ways to build collaboration and the signing of this partnership fuels a journey that has been in the making for some time now. The founders of Final-Aim have inspired us with their startup agility and experience in Asia and we look forward to bringing those capabilities to Africa together.”

Samuel Imanishimwe – Consultant
“I am very excited to see this new partnership between SHORA Ventures and Final Aim. I also believe that this signing of MoU is a beginning of the building process of an impactful and attractive ecosystem in Rwanda but also in connecting with what is happening around the globe in this area. Personally, I am just happy to be part of the implementation team.”

Masafumi Asakura – Co-Founder & CEO of Final Aim
“I am honored to announce the business alliance with SHORA Ventures.I believe that this business alliance is a major step forward for Final Aim to resolve global issues. We have formed business alliances in Singapore and Indonesia so far, but I feel that the business alliance with SHORA Ventures in Rwanda is the first step toward the African market. Final Aim will continue to create new industries in the African market with the Zero to One support.”

Yasuhide Yokoi – Co-Founder & CDO of Final Aim
“I am very excited to commit my designer and startup experience in our partnership, and am looking forward to embarking on the Rwandan new venture, designing the nation’s startup ecosystem from the ground up.

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About Alex Ntare
Alex Ntare is Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda ICT Chamber where his work involves bridging the gap between private and public sector players in the ICT industry as well as overseeing and establishing new innovation centres for technology startups among them KLAB, Fablab Rwanda and 250Startups Incubator.
Before ICT Chamber Alex was a freelancer software developer and lecturer at Université Libre de Kigali, in the faculty of Finance and Banking. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Investment and Quantitative Finance from the University of Westminster in United Kingdom, a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Business Information Technology from National Computing Centre (NCC Education) in UK as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Makerere University in Uganda.

About Samuel Imanishimwe
Samuel Imanishimwe is a consultant engaged in supporting businesses between Rwanda and Japan. Through his activity he has been supporting companies in building partnerships and investments between businesses in respective countries.
Prior to becoming a freelancer, he worked at the Embassy of Republic of Rwanda in Japan as Communication Officer. Under the role, he mainly worked on business activities and communication as well as interpretation as he is fluent in multiple languages including Japanese. He holds Master of Art Degree in Cultural Studies from Goldsmiths College, University of London in UK and Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Kogakuin University in Japan.

About SHORA Ventures Ltd.,
Company Name: SHORA Ventures Ltd.,
Location: 18 KG645 ST
Business Description: SHORA Ventures Ltd., is a tech ventures studio in Rwanda with a mission to build value with local startups and innovators by facilitating collaborations between entrepreneurs, customers and investors.
URL: https://shora.rw/
Founders: Alex Ntare and Serge Tuyihimbaze
Partners: LEAPR Labs,
Contact E-mail: info@shora.rw

About Final Aim, Inc.
Company Name: Final Aim, Inc.
Location: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Business Description: Zero-to-one support with design and technology
URL: https://final-aim.com
Founders: Masafumi Asakura, Chief Executive Officer / Yasuhide Yokoi, Chief Design Officer
Partners: OTSAW, Yasunli, BionicM, ICMG
Contact E-mail: m-asakura@final-aim.com