The 60 startups chosen to be part of the 2nd edition of the Google For Startup Black Founders Fund, where they will receive a total of $4 million in funding and support to enable them to scale up their ongoing work.
Each of the selected startups will receive support in the form of a 6-month training program that includes access to a network of mentors to help them face unique challenges.
They will also be part of bespoke workshops, support networks and community building sessions. The 60 fellows will also receive non-diluting prizes between $50.000 and $100.000 and up to $200.000 in Google Cloud credit.
Fellows, made up of 50% female-led startups, hail from Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda.
They specialize in sectors such as fintech, health, e-commerce, logistics, agtech, education, hospitality and smart cities.
The five countries with the most startups selected for the program are Nigeria, with 23 fellows, Kenya, with twelve fellows, Rwanda with six fellows, South Africa with five fellows and Uganda with four fellows.
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Botswana and Senegal have one selected startup each, Cameroon and Ghana have three fellows each, while Ethiopia has two selected fellows.
"Africa is a diverse continent with enormous opportunities, but the continent is challenged by limited diversity in the flow of venture capital funding. We hope that the Black Founders Fund program will be able to bridge the disproportionate funding gap between expatriate startups over local and Black-led companies.“, said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Director of Startup Ecosystem at SSA.
Launched in April 2012, the Google for Startups program has created over 4.600 jobs and raised over $290M in funding.
The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund program will introduce fellows in Africa to Google's products, connections and best practices, which will help founders level the playing field as they build better products and services that add value to the African economy.
"Programs like the Black Founders Fund improve the African ecosystem – where we currently have funding and infrastructure gaps. Google's involvement and power behind thriving entrepreneurs in Africa is a beautiful thing, and I am delighted that Google has continued the Black Founders Fund in Africa initiative in 2022“, stressed Abimbola Adebakin, CEO of MyMedicines.
Below is the list of the 60 startups that were selected for the second class of the Black Founders Fund in Africa.
- Botswana: Brastorne, PesaChoice
- Shrimp: Bee, CAVE, Healthlane
- Etiópia: Garri Logistics, ZayRide
- Ghana: Built, KUDIGO, Zuberi
- Kenya: Ajua, BuuPass, DohYangu, FlexPay, Keep IT Cool, Leja, Solutech, Synnefa, TIBU Health, TopUp Mama, Zanifu, Zuri Health
- Niga © ria: Awabah, Bookings Africa, Clafiya, Eden Life, Estate Intel, Flex Finance, Gamr, Haul 247, Heathtracka, HerVest, Kyshi, LifeBank, Norebase, OneHealth, Pivo, QShop, Scrapays Inc, Shiip, Spleet, Stears, TERAWORK, Topset Education, Wellahealth
- Rwanda: BAG Innovation, Bailport, Exuus, Kapsule, Pindo
- Senegal: Cauri Money
- South Africa: Agrikool, CreditAIs, Mapha, Rekisa
- Uganda: ClinicPesa, Easy Matatu, Eversend, Xente
