Nigeria has taken centre stage in Africa’s tech scene, with six homegrown startups chosen for the 2025 Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9, more than any other country in this year’s cohort. The announcement on Tuesday signals Nigeria’s growing influence in artificial intelligence and digital innovation, as these ventures join a select group of 15 AI-driven startups from across the continent.
Nigerian startups dominate Google’s 2025 Africa accelerator.
Google’s latest accelerator class is about artificial intelligence, and Nigerian startups are leading the charge. Out of nearly 1,500 applicants from seven countries, six Nigerian companies were cut, reflecting the country’s rising status as a powerhouse for tech innovation in Africa.
Meet the standout Nigerian startups:
E-doc Online: Streamlines compliance and credit intelligence using real-time banking data.
GoNomad: Empowers African businesses and freelancers to operate globally and receive international payments as local entities.
Middleman: Simplifies importing from China for African businesses through a unified sourcing and payments platform.
Myltura: Delivers AI-powered digital health solutions, enabling remote care and integrated health data services.
Pastel: Provides AI tools for financial institutions, including fraud detection and anti-money laundering.
Scandium: Offers AI-powered quality assurance for software teams, reducing bugs and speeding up delivery.
Folarin Aiyegbusi, Google’s Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa, praised the cohort: “African startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across the continent, and their work with AI is truly transformative. We are incredibly excited to support these founders who are building for impact and helping to shape an inclusive AI ecosystem across Africa.”
AI innovation and global support for Nigeria’s tech talent
The three-month accelerator, running from June 23 to August 22, 2025, offers more than mentorship. Each selected startup receives up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, guidance from Google engineers and AI experts, and access to a global network of investors and partners. This support is designed to help startups scale their solutions and amplify their impact across Africa’s fintech, health tech, logistics, and agritech sectors.
Since the program’s launch in 2018, Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa has supported 153 startups from 17 countries. Collectively, these companies have raised over $300 million and created more than 3,500 jobs, with Google investing $5 million in equity-free funding and product credits.
Aiyegbusi emphasised the importance of local context in AI innovation, stating, “AI will transform African technology when built through the local context. The accelerator exists to scale startups that understand these contexts and challenges.”
Other startups in the 2025 cohort hail from Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa. Each leverages AI to address sector-specific challenges, from health services to compliance automation. Nigeria’s strong showing highlights the country’s potential to become a global leader in AI-driven solutions, with Google’s backing accelerating this momentum.
