Nigerian startups have taken a commanding lead in Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9, with a total of seven participating companies among the 15 selected across Africa. The program, announced today, showcases the continent’s burgeoning AI scene, with startups from Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Nigeria applying artificial intelligence to address major challenges in fintech, agritech, healthtech, and professional services.
“African startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across the continent, and their work with AI is truly transformative,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google. “This program reflects our belief that AI can be a force for good when shaped by those who deeply understand local contexts. We are excited to support these founders in building an inclusive AI ecosystem across Africa.”
Over the next three months, the selected startups will participate in a hybrid accelerator, receiving technical mentorship from Google engineers and industry experts, up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, and strategic support in AI integration, product development, and business scaling.
Participants will also access a global network of investors, partners, and collaborators, amplifying their growth potential. Since its launch in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa has supported 153 startups across 17 countries, helping them raise over $300 million and create more than 3,500 jobs.
The Nigeria-focused startups include:
- E-doc Online, GoNomad, Middleman, Myltura, Pastel, Scandium, and Zeron Analyzeitsi
- Alongside regional innovators such as AFRIKABAL (Rwanda), Apexloads (Kenya), Rapid Human AI (South Africa), Regulon (Ghana), Shamba Records (Kenya), Smartel Agri Tech (Rwanda), TOLBI (Senegal), and YeneHealth (Ethiopia).
This cohort exemplifies Africa’s rising AI capabilities and its potential to drive impactful solutions across vital sectors, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a key hub for tech innovation on the continent.
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