Google Is Receiving Applications From African Startups For Its Imminent Three-month Virtual Accelerator Program

Good news for African startups as they can now apply for Google’s accelerator program. Google has announced that it will be receiving applications from 17 African countries for its upcoming virtual accelerator program scheduled to hold for three months.

The announcement came from the tech giant on Wednesday and according to the company, startups from these selected 17 African countries can begin to send in their applications to be a part of the African edition of its virtual accelerator program scheduled to hold for three months in 2022. Startups who want to participate must be from the following 17 countries – Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Keya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

The virtual program, according to Google, is scheduled to run from March to May 2022, with a one-week virtual boot camp per month. Google, which is known as a strong supporter of African startups aims to provide intensive virtual training boot camps, mentorships and Google product support, with its accelerator program. The aim is to contribute to the growth of startups in Africa.

Through this program, the startups which make it into the program will be exposed to the best of Google’s networks, technology as well as experts and mentors. These startups will also receive access to Google’s equity-free support.

The accelerator program comes shortly after the company announced that it was pledging $6 million in grants and support to the Black Founders Fund (BFF) Africa program and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. This was aimed at boosting Africa’s startup ecosystem.

Speaking on the imminent accelerator program, Andy Volk, Google’s head of developer and startup ecosystem efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa, said that  “we are honoured to have yet another opportunity to connect with African innovators and empower them through the seventh Class of GFSAA. We know that, as with previous Classes, we are on the cusp of uncovering some outstanding technology-led solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, developed by Africans themselves”.

Startups that wish to participate in the 7^th edition of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Program can apply here starting now. The application ends on the 14^th of January, 2022.

Since the accelerator program launched in 2018, 67 startups including big names like Nigeria’s Piggyvest, Kenya’s Flexpay, Ghana’s OMG Digital, etc., across 17 African countries have graduated from the program.

The imminent edition of the program promises to be another packed event to help startups in Africa become better and grow up to their potentials.