Five thousand three hundred African SMEs have graduated from the Google Hustle Academy’s bootcamp this year.
The announcement was made at a graduation ceremony for participants in the initiative; the ceremony was streamed live by Google Africa in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.
In 2022, Google launched the Google Hustle Academy to provide as a free instructional resource for SMEs. Since its inception, Google Africa claims to have educated over 10,300 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, from basic business management to advanced topics like pitch writing and financial planning.
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Dr. Alistair Mokoena, Google’s Country Director in South Africa, thinks small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should be commended for their persistence and growth.
“The Hustle Academy program exemplifies the potential of providing participants with real-world instruction and a wide range of tools. Today’s graduation ceremony is not only a celebration of their efforts, but also a recognition of the positive impact they have had on the business climate in South Africa. Dr. Alistair Mokoena”
At the event, Google also released an evaluation of the Hustle Academy’s effectiveness. The company claims that it compiled the report to demonstrate its dedication to regional economic growth and evaluate the program’s success.
Eighty percent of Hustle Academy business owners saw an increase in revenue, and an average of four new jobs were created for every 10 businesses, representing a sizable increase in employment through a mix of permanent and contract roles.
The data also shows that program alumni have altered their support for their companies. Among program grads, the proportion who actively seek out alternative funding nearly doubles from 11% to 20%.
Lufuno Rasoesoe, who started the South African company TOSH Detergents, says the education he received there was very beneficial.
“The academy equipped us with concrete tools and methods that were built particularly for firms such as ours. We have been able to strengthen our operational efficiency and better appreciate the dynamics of the South African market, both of which have been vital for our growth and our ability to innovate while being bound by our financial resources. Chieftain Lufuno Rasoesoe”.
A Little On The Google Boot Camp
The goal of the Google Boot-camp is to give AI enthusiasts a chance to learn from professionals in the field, interact with other students and have meaningful discussions with mentors and other members of the AI community. Anyone who meets the requirements and who is a Turkish resident can enrol in the boot camp. Beginning with a Deep Learning Study Group, the program progresses through two further stages. Participants who finish the DeepLearning.ai Specialization course and pass the associated certification exam will be invited to join the TensorFlow Study Group and will be awarded a TensorFlow Developers Certificate. Kaggle challenges are the third and final phase of the program, and participants must pass all of them in order to receive their certificates of completion.