A total of 15 startups from seven African countries have been selected to participate in Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 7. According to Google, thousands of applications were received and the final selection was done by evaluating product stage, program alignment and market suitability.
Cote D’Ivoire has joined the class for the first time.
The selected startups will undergo a three months engagement with Google mentors and facilitators, equipping them with knowledge on Artificial intelligence, Big Data, organizational culture, growth strategies among other areas of modern business.
Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programs are conducted through a hybrid system incorporating seminars, one-on-one coaching sessions as well as peer-to-peer learning opportunities. The bootcamp runs from March- May this year.
In the last four years, this initiative has helped to accelerate 82 startups from 17 African nations, creating more than 2500 direct jobs and raising over $112 million. Within this period, Google has pumped investments worth $5M in form of equity-free funding and product credits for Google services.
Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa said that it’s fascinating to see diverse African companies leveraging on technology, “to tackle the problems that many people on the continent face every day,” Adding that, “Google is committed to Africa’s growing startup and developer ecosystem,”
Startups that have been selected for this 7th edition of the bootcamp are :
- Clafiya(Nigeria): Clafiya connects patients to health practitioners to provide fast and affordable on-demand primary care services in Africa.
- Fleetsimplify (Kenya): Fleetsimplify is a fleet management platform for shared mobility.
- HydroIQ (Kenya): HydroIQ is a virtual water network that gives consumers and utilities a single, transparent platform to manage their water consumption and management.
- ng(Nigeria): iVerify.ng is a digital identity onboarding platform.
- LaRuche Health(Côte d’Ivoire): LaRuche Health offers inclusive apps that simplify care delivery and improve patient access to preventive healthcare services.
- LyRise(Egypt): LyRise is a platform that provides companies with an easier, faster way to hire and work with vetted AI and data talents from Africa.
- MDaaS Global(Nigeria): MDaas builds and operates modern, technology-enabled diagnostic services in clinically-underserved communities in Nigeria.
- Multiplied(South Africa): Multiplied offers data-driven design at scale through infinite personalised content for marketing.
- Nulitics(South Africa): Nulitics is a specialist Mixed Reality (XR) software development and system integrator with a focus on XR wearable technology.
- Ridelink(Uganda): Ridelink makes cargo mobility affordable and accessible for small businesses at the tap of a button.
- SmartClass(Tanzania): SmartClass is a skill-learning network that enables youth to learn from their peers.
- Sukhiba(Kenya): Sukhiba is a decentralised community-based commerce platform.
- Terawork(Nigeria): Terawork is a pan-African online freelance marketplace plugging African talent into the global workforce.
- The Marking App(South Africa): The Marking App provides a data-free application that automatically marks handwritten school assessments while also automating school administration.
- truQ(Nigeria): truQ is a tech-enabled logistics platform automating and optimising short-haul (or intracity) logistics for automated retail distribution companies in Africa.
Balqis Chepkwony, CEO of Kenyan startup Fleetsimplify, expressed his excitement over the selection, saying that “Fleetsimplify is thrilled to have been selected for the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa! We’re looking forward to working with the Google team to bring sustainable shared mobility solutions in Africa.”
