Google has opened registration for the next class of Google Launchpad Africa. The programme is slated to begin early next year although applications are now open. The programme graduated its latest cohorts a few days ago.
Google Launchpad Africa is one of the Google Accelerator programmes for startups and innovators. The three-month programme supports fast rising and innovative startups to develop and scale their ideas.
Launched in 2017, Google Launchpad Africa aims to support 60 African startups with up to $3 million in equity-free funding over the next three years.
Google LaunchPad Accelerator Africa empowers seed-stage startups to thrive in the global ecosystem through mentorship, training & partnerships. Watch the founders of @OkadaBooks, @PiggyBankNG, @tangotv_vod & more share their experiences.
Watch here → https://t.co/XxDg33z2DT pic.twitter.com/A375MkGpOe
— Google Developers (@googledevs) November 3, 2018
The programme not only provides funding and mentoring, but it also grants the startups access to some of Google’s important technological resources and a network of experts. This helps to improve technology transfer to Africa and ensure participants are well equipped with data and support to improve their products and services.
So far, the launchpad has graduated two sets of cohorts with quite a number of Nigerian startups as participants. The first set of cohorts included startups like Piggybank, Babymigo, Thrive Agric and OkadaBooks.
The second set of cohorts for the programme graduated only recently. It includes 11 startups from 6 African countries. Four Nigerian startups took part in this class.
We are live at the graduation of Google Launchpad Africa’s Class 2 at @impacthublagos. #LaunchpadForAfrica pic.twitter.com/WAwnBiuuGL
— TechCabal 👨🏾🚀 (@TechCabal) November 9, 2018
According to Google, these recent cohorts have so far created 253 jobs between them created. Interestingly, these startups have also pulled in around $12 million in funding, including the $110,000 equity free funding from Google.
Eligibility for the next class is open to startups in just 17 African countries. The countries include Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
To apply for the Google Launchpad Africa programme, click here.
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