The Google for Firms Accelerator Africa Class 7 participants have been revealed, with the selected startups set to receive mentorship and professional assistance throughout the course of the three-month programme.
The Google for Entrepreneurs Accelerator Africa, announced in 2017, is a three-month programme that connects early-stage African digital startups with Google’s greatest products, people, and sophisticated technology.
The seventh class consists of 15 digital firms from seven African nations, who were chosen from hundreds of applications based on product stage, programme alignment, and market fit.
Clafiya, which connects patients to health practitioners on-demand; iVerify.ng, a digital identity onboarding platform; MDaaS Global, which builds and operates modern, technology-enabled diagnostic services; Terawork, a pan-African online freelance marketplace; and truQ, a tech-enabled logistics platform, are five of the Nigerian participants.
In the form of data-driven design platform Multiplied, mixed reality software development startup Nulitics, and ed-tech solution The Marking App, South Africa has three representatives, as does Kenya, which has fleet management platform Fleetsimplify, virtual water network HydroIQ, and decentralised community-based commerce platform Sukhiba.
SmartClass, a Tanzanian edtech business, LyRise, an Egyptian recruiting website, Ridelink, an Ugandan freight mobility platform, and LaRuche Health, an inclusive healthcare app from the Ivory Coast, are among the other selected startups.
These entrepreneurs will work with Google mentors and facilitators for the next three months, studying best practises on a variety of areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, organisational culture, growth strategies, and more. The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programmes are based on a virtual bootcamp model that incorporates lectures, one-on-one coaching sessions, and peer-to-peer learning. In March, April, and May, bootcamps will be held.
“We’re thrilled to be starting off our seventh cohort with such a diverse and inspiring group of companies who are harnessing technology to tackle the problems that many people on the continent face every day. Startups in Africa are solving some of the region’s most pressing issues -from employment to logistics, banking, healthcare, and education. This is a journey that we’re happy to be on,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, head of the startup ecosystem for Africa at Google.
Over the last four years, the Google for Businesses Accelerator Africa programme has helped 82 startups from 17 African nations. They have raised a total of $112 million and created 2,800 direct employments. During this period, Google has put $5 million into the company through a combination of equity-free capital and Google product credits.
