ENhancing KOllaboration and Partnership with Africa

Bridging Japan and Africa

Deep Local Expertise

Real-Time & AI Powered Data

Intercultural Management Expertise

Reliable Partnerships

Proximity & Accessibility

Who We Are

Enkopa Lab is a boutique advisory firm helping organizations expand into African markets with AI-powered data, expert advisory, and strategic insights.

We assist Japanese corporations, entrepreneurs, and investors looking to expand, venture or invest in Africa.

We provide the tools and networks needed for a seamless and impactful market entry.

What We Do

1. Design and Simulate
We offer localized tools, intercultural expertise, and data-driven insights to help you adapt and succeed in your target African market.
2. Build
We assist in prototyping tailored solutions to meet the unique demands of African markets, ensuring your offerings are effective and impactful.
3. Test
Follow a time-tested system designed to propel your company to new heights.
4. Deploy
Deploying strategic partnerships, operational support, and sustainable platforms for collaboration and growth.

Hands-On Advisory

Based in Tokyo, we help you navigate the African market with confidence through tailored trips, strategic partnerships, and market insights. Our services include market intelligence, risk evaluation, localization tools, and intercultural management. With data-driven research and ongoing advisory support, we ensure a seamless and successful expansion.

Comprehensive Support

Market Entry Support – Helping Japanese businesses navigate Africa’s markets.
AI-Powered Insights – Data-driven strategies for smart expansion.
Local Expertise – Strong networks and on-the-ground knowledge.
End-to-End Advisory – From strategy to execution, we guide your growth.

Our Ecosystem

Le Circle

Are you an expert? Get paid for it. Join a private network for executives to connect, share insights, and explore business opportunities.

Enkopa Summit

Join us in Addis Abeba for the largest all-inclusive industry event centered around entrepreneurship, corporations, and innovation.

L&A

The parent company of Enkopa Lab, L&A is a San Francisco-based management consulting firm specializing in strategy, operations, and market expansion.

Founder

Bernard Laurendeau

Prior to founding a boutique advisory firm, he was appointed senior advisor to the Commissioner of the Jobs Creation Commission under the Prime Minister’s Office of Ethiopia. He also served as the Regional Director for Africa of a Silicon Valley based big data analytics venture helping government officials in low- and middle-income countries make evidence-based decisions. At BNP Paribas, 8th largest bank in the world, he was focusing on offshoring and outsourcing strategies as Vice President of the Location Strategy group in San Francisco. He is also the Co-Founder of Arifpay, the first National Bank of Ethiopia licensed Payment System Operator, a L&A portfolio company for which he served as CEO.

Bernard draws from 15 years of global management consulting experience during which he advised fortune 50 clients in the USA as well as multinationals in Europe and the Middle East on corporate strategy formulation, digital transformation, program execution excellence, post-merger integration, process reengineering and organizational change management.

His client portfolio includes renowned companies such as AAA, Avago, Brink’s, Church & Dwight, Cisco, Google, Gilead, HGST, Kroger, Liberty Mutual, LSI, NetApp, New York Life, PG&E, ResMed, Roche, and UAE Ministry of Finance. Bernard holds a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from ENSTA France, a Master of Science in aerospace engineering as well as a Master in Business Administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology USA. He is fluent in English, French and Amharic, proficient in Spanish and conversational in Japanese.

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