Google has recently announced the graduation of the inaugural cohort of 15 promising South African businesses from its Startups Accelerator: South Africa program.
This milestone marks a crucial step in Google’s efforts to support and empower Black-led technology startups in South Africa.
Program overview and benefits
The Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa is a three-month hybrid program explicitly designed for Seed to Series A Black-led technology startups. It aims to bring the best of Google’s programs, products, people, and technology to Black founder communities across South Africa. The program offers a range of benefits, including equity-free support, dedicated mentoring from Google teams, exclusive invitations to technical boot camps, access to Google’s network of industry experts, and up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits.
As part of the program, startups are paired with relevant Google and industry experts to solve their top technical challenges. This includes deep dives and workshops focused on product design, customer acquisition, and leadership development for founders. The program is free for participating startups, and Google does not take any equity, providing non-dilutive funding and support.
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Graduation and impact
The inaugural cohort’s graduation was announced on Monday. This milestone highlights Google’s commitment to fostering innovation and growth among Black-led startups in South Africa. The program’s focus on leveraging technologies like machine learning and AI reflects Google’s broader strategy to support deeply technical and scalable startups.
The graduates of this program have gained valuable insights, mentorship, and access to Google’s global network, positioning them for further success in the tech industry.
Google’s support for these startups aligns with its broader initiatives, such as the Black Founders Fund, which has awarded over $40 million to help Black-led startups secure funding and strengthen communities.
The announcement of these graduates underscores Google’s role in nurturing a vibrant startup ecosystem in South Africa, providing opportunities for growth and innovation among Black-led businesses.