Jordan Daily – Under the patronage of Mr. ASARI Hideki, Ambassador of Japan to Jordan, the final pitching day of Project NINJA -Next Innovation with Japan*was held on Tuesday, 27 January, at Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) in Amman.
Supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the event brought together more than 120 participants, including local and international business leaders, Japanese investors, representatives from the public and private sectors, international organizations, media representatives, and entrepreneurship ecosystem partners. Participants from Japan and neighboring countries also joined the event online.
The event was attended by Ms. Lina Annab, former Minister and Ambassador; Dr. Ismael Al-Hinti, President of Al Hussein Technical University; and Eng. Abdelqader Albatayneh, Executive Director of Strategies, Future & Entrepreneurship at the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE), according to a joint statement received by Jordan.
Combining in-person and virtual participation, the final pitching day showcased the outcomes of several months of intensive work by 10 Jordanian startups that successfully completed the implementation and proof-of-concept phase of Project NINJA. Overall, the program reached more than 7,500 beneficiaries, including youth, women, and other vulnerable groups, through an acceleration process that included capacity building, specialized mentorship, and technical and operational support.
During the event, participating startups presented their business models, impact, and growth plans before a specialized judging panel.
In his keynote address, Ambassador ASARI Hideki reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Jordan through innovation and entrepreneurship. He emphasized the importance of empowering creativity- particularly among youth, women, and vulnerable groups- and praised the startups for transforming challenges into impactful solutions. He also expressed hope for expanded collaboration between Jordanian startups and the Japanese market.
Mr. MORIHATA Shingo, Chief Representative of the JICA Jordan Office, stated that Project NINJA reflects JICA’s commitment to strengthening startup ecosystems as drivers of sustainable and inclusive economic opportunities. He highlighted the ability of Jordanian startups to translate local ideas into impactful solutions, particularly in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities, while stressing the importance of linking local innovation with international cooperation and investment.
Mr. Nader Nemeh, Chairman of Migrate, the implementing partner of Project NINJA in Jordan, noted that the event marks the beginning of a new phase for participating startups. He emphasized the value of hands-on implementation and proof-of-concept experimentation, alongside the networking and partnership opportunities created through the program.
The event also featured dedicated networking sessions that connected startups with investors, business leaders, and private sector representatives, in addition to a media space highlighting success stories and achieved impact.
At the conclusion of the event, three winning startups were announced. TechCare emerged as the first-place winner , recognized for its innovative healthcare solution. Dr. Hassan Zabalawi, Founder and CEO of TechCare, stated that Project NINJA played a key role in refining the company’s solution, strengthening its social impact, and preparing it for regional expansion.
Project NINJA – Next Innovation with Japan, launched in 2020 with the support of JICA, aims to strengthen startup ecosystems in developing countries through incubation, capacity building, and the promotion of social and economic innovation, the statement noted.
