11 African Startups to Join the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Program

On Thursday, September 6, 2023, Google announced the 11 African startups that will benefit from its first cohort “Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First” programme. Application for this program started in September when Google made the announcement.

This was first announced by the Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa, Folarin Aiyegbusi, who listed 11 startups that were qualified for the “Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First” programme. 

In his statement, he said that the qualified startups were screened from a vast pool of talents that make use of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The 11 startups selected make use of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address challenges faced in Africa and globally.

Folarin Aiyegbusi said that the 11 startups will undergo a 10-week accelerator journey from which they will benefit from Google’s AI expertise and also get a $350,000 allocation in Google Cloud Credits.

Additionally, the startups will get access to mentorship sessions, technical guidance, and vast networking opportunities to enhance their reach and impact. 

He said,

• Google has been working on AI for over a decade and has shown how useful AI is in our products and for developers.

• AI is not only a powerful enabler; it is also a major platform shift, which is why Google is focused on making it easy and scalable for others to innovate with AI.

• Our chosen startups for the AI First programme embody this vision, leveraging AI in pioneering ways to address both local and global challenges.

• 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 Gross Domestic Product by 2030.

Aiyegbusi said that Google has been supporting startups across different programmes since 2017, and these startups have raised $263 million and created over 2,800 job opportunities.

While commending the effort Google put into supporting startups, Adeola Ayoola, co-founder of Famasi Africa, who was fortunate to be among the 11 selected startups, said that Famasi Africa is growing AI-powered digital health solutions to reach more communities, especially those in rural areas.

She also added that joining the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First programme was a great step for her firm to realize its goals of providing quality healthcare solutions.

“With Google’s mentorship, we are confident of scaling our solutions, reaching more pharmacies, and ultimately improving healthcare outcomes.”

The co-founder of Dial Afrika, Kenya, Japheth Dibo, said that his firm is dedicated to transforming customer support in Africa with cutting-edge AI-powered solutions.

He also noted that being privileged to be among the 11 startups selected allows the startup to leverage advanced AI technology.

“With this support and mentorship, we aim to revolutionize customer support and equip businesses across the African continent with the tools to thrive and excel.”

The selected startups include 

• Avalon Health (South Africa)

• Chatbots Africa (Ghana)

• Dial Afrika Inc (Kenya)

• Famasi Africa (Nigeria)

• Fastagger Inc (Kenya)

• Garri Logistics (Ethiopia)

• Izifin (Nigeria)

• Lengo AI (Senegal)

• Logistify AI (Uganda)

• Telliscope (Ethiopia)

• Vzy (Nigeria)