Africa

Lagos, Nigeria - Virtual
3 months
Seed to Series A

A three-month virtual accelerator program for high-potential Seed to Series A tech startups based in Africa.

Google for Startups Accelerator Africa accepts applications from startups in Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte D'ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Lagos, Nigeria - Virtual
3 months
Seed to Series A

Accelerator Programs in Africa

Google for Startups Accelerator:
Women Founders

Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders is designed to bring the best of Google’s expertise, products, people and technology to women-led tech startups up to Series A stage, based in Africa or building Africa-centered solutions with technology.

The program includes content and mentorship tailored to the unique needs of women founders and opportunities to network with our global women founders community.

Applications are now closed.

Register your interest for future programs.

Register your interest

Google for Startups Accelerator:
Africa

This accelerator focuses on supporting growth-stage startups solving problems using advanced technology, such as AI/ML or data across key verticals.

The startups are paired with relevant Google & industry experts to solve their startup’s top challenges and are provided with insights/best practices to improve their product & business.

Applications are currently closed

Startups up to Series A can express interest for the future classes.

Register your interest

Meet the Cohort: Women Founders

Key benefits

  • Equity-free support

    Three months of equity-free support

  • Mentoring

    Mentoring from 20+ Google teams

  • Training

    Training on design, marketing, and leadership

  • Strategic support

    Support on company and product strategy

  • Google product credits

    Eligible startups receive product credits

  • Early access

    Early access to new Google products and tools

  • Access to experts

    Access to Google's network of industry experts

  • Technical project partnership

    Work hand in hand with experts from Google on your biggest tech challenges.

Accelerator Alumni

Frequently asked questions

What is the structure of the program?

The program will run in a hybrid format. At the beginning of the program, we work with the selected startups to identify their unique challenges and the support required from the program.

The startups will go through three intensive boot camps, centered on topics such as product, design, hiring, fundraising etc., followed by the OKR (Objective Key Results) workshop to define their objectives for the program.

Startups also receive 1:1 mentorships. They will also be paired with a dedicated Startup Success Manager (SSM) to help them get the best of Google - its people, network, thought leadership, and technology.

At the end of the program, startups will be given opportunities to pitch their product or service to Google teams, mentors, VCs and stakeholders from the tech ecosystem. Post-program engagement with the graduated startups continues through the Alumni network.

Who should apply for the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa?

Seed to Series A-stage technology startups are eligible for the program. The Accelerator program is sector-agnostic and thus welcomes startups leveraging machine learning (or plan to in future) from any vertical.

Who should apply for the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders?

Women-founded technology startups up to Series A-stage are eligible for the program. The Accelerator is sector-agnostic and welcomes startups leveraging machine learning (or plan to in future) from any vertical.

How is Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders different from Google for Startups Accelerator?

Both programs are fundamentally the same however Accelerator: Women Founders aims to help women startup founders address challenges that are unique to their experience, including fundraising, hiring and building products. The program structure is the same with access to the best of Google, content and mentorship tailored to the unique needs of women founders, and opportunities to network with our global women founders community.

When will the program run?

Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Class will run from March 2023 to May 2023. Women founders can apply up to Feb 20th.

Applications to Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa is closed, but you can express interest in the future classes above.

What countries are eligible for the program?

Accelerator Africa accepts applicants from 17 African countries. These are:

  • Algeria
  • Botswana
  • Cameroun
  • Côte D'ivoire
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Morocco
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • Senegal
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Zimbabwe
What benefits do startups gain from participating in the program? And do they receive any financial support?

Selected startups are given

  • Access to Google engineers, resources, and mentors, during and after the program
  • Hands-on Google for Startups collaboration and support
  • Inclusion in the Google for Startups Accelerator Global Community and network of alumni and mentors
  • Google Cloud Credits
  • Marketing spotlight opportunities

*No grants or funding are given to startups on the program

Does the entire team have to participate in the Accelerator program?

The CEO and CTO must participate in all three online bootcamps of the program, and a third core team member can also attend, but this is optional. A maximum of three total company representatives can participate in each bootcamp.