Black Founders Fund
The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund provides cash awards — without giving up equity in return — and hands-on support to help Black entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses.
About the initiative
About the initiative
Established in 2020, the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund has awarded more than $30 million to help Black-led startups in Africa, Brazil, Europe, and the United States secure funding, strengthen communities, and create generational change.
In addition to equity-free cash awards, Black Founders Fund recipients receive ongoing Google mentorship, Google Cloud credits, and product support to help them navigate every stage of their startup journey.
Key benefits
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Access to capital
Receive equity-free cash awards.
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Custom mentorship
Receive tailored product and leadership support from Google mentors and industry experts.
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Leadership training
Become a more effective leader through research-based strategies and expert coaching.
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Founder network
Connect and get support from fellow founders as a part of Google for Startups alumni network.
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Google Cloud credits and support
Receive Google Cloud credits and dedicated support via the Google for Startups Cloud Program.
Entry Criteria
Entry Criteria
- Diverse companies with at least one Black founder on their founding team.
- Between Pre-seed and Series A
- Scalable product or service with a significant total addressable market and defensible growth model
- Ready to go global
Current programs
Find a Black Founders Fund for you
Thanks to the Black Founders Fund, our tech team tripled, product direction sharpened, and v1 of our community platform launched. MoM revenue almost doubled, with a 22-person team in 7 countries across Europe and Africa and a 50-50 gender split.
Some of our Alumni
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Bruno Mendes Da Silva
Heex
Heex Technologies accelerates AI development by enabling engineering teams to get the most value out of their data.
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Josephine Philips
Sojo
Sojo is a sustainable fashion tech startup centralising & modernising the clothing repair and tailoring industry.
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Steven Oji
Hyfindr
Hyfindr is the rapidly growing digital B2B marketplace for reliable products and services in the hydrogen economy.
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Tebogo Mokwena
Akiba Digital
Akiba Digital is a Fintech that provides alternative credit scoring to lenders and also enables small businesses to access better financing from lenders.
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Hilda Moraa
Pezesha
Pezesha provides affordable working capital to underserved and excluded MSMEs across Africa.
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Nohoa Arcanjo
Creators
CREATORS is a startup that connects brands with squads of content creators.
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Paulo Tenorio
Trakto
Online tool for editing and producing arts for social networks, websites, and other pieces of digital marketing.
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Carlos Augusto
Certdox
A platform for simplifying and accelerating the credit contracting process, facilitating the granting of operations by financing agents.
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Arthur Rufino
Octa
Octa promotes a circular economy in the vehicle recycling sector, linking vehicle owners, legal dismantling centers and customers.
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Genau Lopes
Yoobe
Yoobe automates the whole process of creating, producing, managing and delivering products that promote company culture.
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Guilhermino Afonso
Wellbe
A platform that integrates various health data and offers indicators for employers healthcare management.
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Del Smith
Acclinate
Acclinate helps healthcare organizations engage communities of color so their research efforts are inclusive and reflect the populations they serve.
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Damola Ogundipe
Plural
Plural helps organizations follow legislation, pinpoint focus areas, and access information about the policies that impact them.
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Emily Brown
Free From Market
Free From Market provides curated food selection, integrated tele-nutrition and educational support to improve patient health outcomes.
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SaLisa Berrien
COI Energy
COI Energy is a digital energy management platform that detects and eliminates energy waste in buildings.
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Christine Izuakor
Cyber Pop-up
Cyber Pop-up is an on-demand cybersecurity service platform powered by vetted and highly skilled freelance experts.
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Edna Martinson
Boddle Learning
Boddle is a gamified education platform for grades K-6 that makes learning fun, personalized, and effective.
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Chantelle Bell
Syrona Health
Syrona is a digital health company that focuses on providing vertically integrated healthcare services for those with chronic gynaecological conditions.
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Anna Samuels
Boxx
Boxx offers flexible at home and studio workouts across boxing, HIIT, Strength and Yoga and serves every type of customer.
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Christian Facey Wilfrid Obeng
Audiomob
Audiomob is the world’s first and only audio advertising company capable of serving non-intrusive audio ads into games and general apps.
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Minuifuong Nghombombong
Bongalo
Bongalo is a digital marketplace for African travel accommodation.
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Yvonne Williams
Topset
Topset is an edtech platform that makes quality education accessible to Africans everywhere
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Morgane Kablan
Leja
Leja is a book keeping app enabling African microbusinesses to digitize all their business transactions and manage all their finance in one place
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Kingsley Abrokwah
Kudigo
KUDIGO is a one-stop shop for a complete omni-channel digital commerce experience for retailers, consumers, and stakeholders in retail across Africa
