The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 7 participants have been announced, with the selected startups set to receive mentorship and expert advice throughout the course of the three-month program.
The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, announced in 2017, is a three-month program that connects early-stage African tech startups with Google’s best products, people, and advanced technology.
The seventh class consists of 15 tech startups from seven African nations, who were selected from hundreds of applications based on product stage, program alignment, and market fit.
Five of the participants are Nigerian, namely Clafiya, which connects patients to health practitioners on-demand; iVerify.ng, a digital identity onboarding platform; MDaaS Global, which builds and operates modern, technology-enabled diagnostic services; Terawork, a pan-African online freelance marketplace; and truQ, a tech-enabled logistics platform.
South Africa has three representatives, in the shape of data-driven design platform Multiplied, mixed reality software development startup Nulitics, and ed-tech solution The Marking App, as does Kenya, which is represented by fleet management platform Fleetsimplify, virtual water network HydroIQ, and decentralised community-based commerce platform Sukhiba.
The other selected startups are Tanzanian ed-tech startup SmartClass, Egyptian recruitment platform LyRise, Ugandan cargo mobility platform Ridelink, and LaRuche Health, an inclusive healthcare app from Ivory Coast, which is represented within the accelerator for the first time.
Over the next three months, these startups will work with Google mentors and facilitators learning best practices on a range of topics including artificial intelligence, big data, organisational culture, growth strategies and more. Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programmes are organised around a virtual bootcamp concept that includes seminars, one-on-one coaching sessions, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Bootcamps will take place in March, April and May.
“We’re thrilled to be starting off our seventh cohort with such a diverse and inspiring group of companies who are harnessing technology to tackle the problems that many people on the continent face every day. Startups in Africa are solving some of the region’s most pressing issues -from employment to logistics, banking, healthcare, and education. This is a journey that we’re happy to be on,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, head of startup ecosystem for Africa at Google.
