SA startup Doot! accepted into 500 Startups Kobe Accelerator

Recently launched SA startup Doot! has been accepted into the 500 Startups Kobe Accelerator programme in Japan.

Doot! was founded in July by co-CEOs Sbusiso Buna and Brandon Josi, CTO Louis van der Walt and Japan country manager Takayo Nakao and Steve McAdam.

It launched its platform earlier this month, which aims to connect English-speaking travellers wishing to eat authentic meals with Japanese locals who want to have English conversations to improve their ability at speaking the language.

Doot! was founded in July and recently launched its platform earlier this month

Buna (pictured above) told Ventureburn last week Thursday (11 October) that the startup’s team will be flying out to Kobe, Japan’s sixth largest city, next week Friday (27 October).

The 500 Startups Kobe Accelerator programme, which kicks off on 29 October,  runs for six weeks and will conclude with a Demo Day set for 10 December.

Programme participants will get access to 500 Startups global team and partners. In addition, Doot! along with up to 24 other startups stands to benefit from lectures on marketing, monetisation, product design and more.

‘Japan ideal environment’

Buna describes Doot! as a “marketplace made up of travellers and locals”.

He explained why the startup has moved to launch in Japan first: “We are launching in Japan because we have found it is the ideal environment, as the fastest growing tourism sector in the world and a government which is pushing for their people to become more English proficient”.

The startup has partnered with English teachers, bars and hostels in Japan. Buna said the startup is marketing it platform through ads on social media as well as through its active social media pages.

He added that the platform has a global target market.

“Our initial launch is in Japan and subsequently Asia,” he said. Added Buna: “We have been doing testing in the European market too, and will be getting a gauge on Africa in the coming months”.

Featured image: Doot! co-CEO Sbusiso Buna (Supplied)