This archive report was first published on 5 November 2021.
Google has renewed its commitment to growing Africa's startup ecosystem through various initiatives, including a $6 million grant and funding for the Black Founders Fund (BFF) Africa programme and the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
As part of this commitment, the tech giant has announced the seventh edition of its Google for Startups accelerator programme, which is now open to technology startups in 17 countries, including Kenya.
Applications for the three-month virtual accelerator programme are now open to technology startups located in these countries, with successful applicants gaining access to free support alongside Google's networks, advanced technology, experts, and mentors through virtual boot camps every month from March to May 2022.
The accelerator programme, launched in 2017, is designed to help startups scale their solutions across the continent. To date, 82 startups from 17 African countries have participated and successfully raised more than $117 million in funding and created more than 2,800 jobs on the continent.
The Black Founders Fund for Africa, worth $3 million, is expected to benefit 50 budding startups in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
