Google Picks 15 Startups for Accelerator Africa: Women Founders Cohort

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A total of 15 startups from across Africa have been selected for the inaugural Google for Startups Accelerator Africa: Women Founders Cohort.

Business Post gathered that three of the small firms were taken from Nigeria, with five from Kenya, two from Rwanda, and one each from Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Tanzania, and Ghana.

The beneficiaries were announced by the tech giant on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, a day set aside to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The 15 startups chosen for this initiative from the eight African countries are creating innovative solutions that improve livelihoods in their communities.

The cohort was designed to empower women entrepreneurs in Africa and provide them with the resources they need to succeed.

“We are thrilled to announce the selected startups for the inaugural class of our Google for Startups Accelerator Africa: Women Founders Cohort.

“These women are tackling some of Africa’s most pressing challenges, and we’re excited to support them as they build the future,” the Head of Startup Ecosystem for Africa at Google, Folarin Aiayegbusi.

Also speaking, the Head of Communications at Google Africa, Ms Dorothy Ooko, said, “At Google, we are committed to providing women entrepreneurs in Africa with access to funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Through our programs, we aim to bridge the gap and empower women to succeed in their respective fields.”

The startups will undergo Google’s Hustle Academy, a bootcamp-style training program designed to help entrepreneurs increase revenue, position themselves for investment, and build sustainable businesses for the future.

As part of its International Women’s Day celebrations, Google plans to host six women-focused cohorts of the Hustle Academy program in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa throughout the month of March, and women entrepreneurs in these countries can apply to join these cohorts at g.co/hustleacademy.

Finally, Google is celebrating inspiring women in Africa’s technology sector through its #WomeninIT social media series. The series features the stories of six inspiring women who are breaking barriers and making an impact in the fields of technology, business, entrepreneurship, innovation, and startups on the continent.

Below are the 15 startups picked for the scheme: