Google Backs 15 AI-Driven African Startups in Latest Accelerator Cohort

Google  has announced the selection of 15 exceptional startups for the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9, highlighting the continent’s burgeoning innovation scene and its commitment to leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for impact. These startups, chosen from nearly 1,500 applications, hail from Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa, and are tackling critical challenges across diverse sectors like fintech, agritech, healthtech, and professional services.

The Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa program, launched in 2018, aims to empower African entrepreneurs who are developing bold, tech-driven solutions to deeply rooted problems. To date, the program has supported 153 startups from 17 African countries, which have collectively raised over $300 million in funding and created more than 3,500 jobs, demonstrating significant economic and social development.

The Class 9 cohort, running as a hybrid program from June 23 to August 22, 2025, will benefit from:

• Mentorship from experienced Google mentors and industry experts.
• Training in AI/ML development, product strategy, business growth, and leadership.
• Technical support, including access to Google engineers and up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits.
• Networking and visibility opportunities with investors, partners, and customers.

This intensive three-month program is designed to help these startups refine their products, develop robust business strategies, and secure further funding. Google emphasizes its long-term commitment to their sustained growth beyond the accelerator.

The 15 selected startups are notably focused on harnessing AI to drive positive change in Africa. They include:

• AFRIKABAL (Rwanda): A blockchain and AI-powered platform for secure and transparent crop trading.
• Apexloads (Kenya): A logistics SaaS platform enhancing cargo movement efficiency.
• E-doc Online (Nigeria): Simplifies compliance and credit checks using real-time banking data.
• GoNomad (Nigeria): Enables global entity operations and international payments for businesses and solopreneurs.
• Midddleman (Nigeria): An intelligent platform for faster, safer, and cheaper imports from China.
• Myltura (Nigeria): An AI-powered digital health platform for remote care and health data management.
• Pastel (Nigeria): Offers Enterprise AI solutions, including fraud detection and anti-money laundering.
• Rapid Human AI (South Africa): An AI design-thinking platform that transforms ideas into code rapidly.
• Regulon (Ghana): An AI-powered compliance and onboarding platform for businesses across Africa and EMEA.
• Scandium (Nigeria): An AI Quality Assurance suite for faster, bug-free software shipping.
• Shamba Records (Kenya): An AI-powered platform empowering farmers with smart credit and market access.
• Smartel Agri Tech (Rwanda): Uses AI-powered, solar-driven devices for early crop pest and disease detection.
• TOLBI (Senegal): Leverages AI and satellite imagery for precise crop yield forecasts in sustainable agriculture.
• YeneHealth (Ethiopia): An AI-driven digital health app streamlining access to affordable medications and healthcare.
• Zerone Analytiqs (Ghana): A solution addressing data scarcity in Africa by revolutionizing data sourcing, analysis, and utilization.

Google states that it is “incredibly proud” to welcome these innovators, seeing their journey as a “testament to the continent’s immense potential” and a step towards a more inclusive, technologically enabled world.