Google today unveiled the first cohort for its ‘Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First’ program. The 11 startups, picked from a vast pool of innovative talent, are using cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence to address both Africa’s challenges and broader global issues.
The transformative power of AI in Africa is highlighted by a McKinsey report which suggests that AI could add $1.3 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2030.
The selected startups will undergo a 10-week accelerator journey. Beyond benefiting from Google’s AI expertise and a $350k allocation in Google Cloud Credits, they’ll benefit from mentorship sessions, technical guidance, and networking opportunities to enhance their reach and impact.
The selected startups include Avalon Health from South Africa, Chatbots Africa from Ghana, Dial Afrika Inc and Fastagger Inc from Kenya as well as Famasi Africa, Vzy and Izifin from Nigeria. Others are Garri Logistics from Ethiopia, Lengo AI from Senegal, Logistify AI from Uganda, and Telliscope from Ethiopia).
The 11 African startups selected for Google's inaugural Africa AI First Accelerator program pic.twitter.com/qQdVDFyxzO
— Kanali (@NicKanali) October 5, 2023
Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa, says this cohort embodies Google’s vision, leveraging AI in pioneering ways to address both local and global challenges.
“At Google we’ve been working on AI for over a decade, and we’ve shown how useful AI is in our products and for developers externally. AI is not only a powerful enabler, it’s also a major platform shift. That’s why we’re focused on making it easy and scalable for others to innovate with AI. ”
Since 2017, Google has consistently supported African startups across diverse programs. Collectively, these startups have raised $263 million and created over 2,800 job opportunities.
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