Google has proudly announced the graduation of its inaugural cohort of 15 promising South African startups from the Startups Accelerator: South Africa programme. This milestone represents a significant boost to the country’s burgeoning technology ecosystem, which has been gaining momentum in recent years. Launched in November 2024, the initiative aimed to provide selected startups with a comprehensive three-month mentorship programme designed to equip founders with essential skills and resources necessary for scaling their businesses.
The support from Google extends well beyond mentorship, offering participants valuable Google Cloud Platform credits for application development and, importantly, non-dilutive funding. While the specific amounts of funding vary for each startup, Google has tailored the financial support to meet the unique needs of each venture, taking into account their success in attracting external investment during the programme.
Folarin Aiyegbusi, head of the startup ecosystem for Africa at Google, remarked;
This programme is one of our many efforts to support startups globally, but in this instance, across Africa, and specifically South Africa. We’re connecting these startups with the best of Google in terms of our people, methodologies, and advanced technologies. Our goal is to help them grow and scale while addressing the community challenges they face in their respective markets.
Although this marks the first dedicated cohort for South Africa, Google has been actively nurturing African tech talent through a broader accelerator programme since 2018. According to Aiyegbusi, this wider initiative has engaged over 1,100 startups globally, with an impressive 95 percent of them remaining operational. The global programme has also produced notable success stories, including 19 alumni achieving “unicorn” status—valuations exceeding US$1 billion—and one reaching the prestigious “decacorn” milestone with a valuation surpassing $10 billion.
The 15 startups graduating from the South African programme represent a diverse array of sectors, underscoring the rich tapestry of innovation within the local tech landscape. Among the graduating companies, there is a strong representation from the e-commerce sector, with seven of the 15 startups operating in this domain. Health-tech and logistics also feature prominently, indicating significant entrepreneurial activity in these areas within South Africa. The graduating companies, along with key metrics, are detailed below:
| Company | Industry | Funding to Date | Monthly Recurring Revenue | Active Users (Past Year) | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AssetShare | Construction | $5,000 | $1,000 | 30 | Less than 5 |
| Aveade | E-commerce | Undisclosed | $7,000 | 34 | 7 |
| Botlhale AI Solutions | Linguistics | $550,000 | $6,000 | 13 | 12 |
| Breaze Delivery | E-commerce | $390,000 | $40,000 | 100 | 9 |
| Cure Root | Biotechnology | $500,000 | Undisclosed | 10 | Less than 5 |
| Delivery ka Speed | E-commerce | $500,000 | $50,000 | 15 | 150 |
| Fixxr | E-commerce | $800,000 | $13,000 | 1,300 | 5 |
| Jobox | Ed-tech | $280,000 | $10,000 | 30,000 | 14 |
| Mapha Logistics | E-commerce | $194,000 | $2,500 | 240 | 13 |
| Simple Influence | Ad-tech | $15,500 | $1,100 | 12,000 | Less than 5 |
| Swagshack | E-commerce | $80,000 | $115 | 32 | 5 |
| Vuleka | E-commerce | $494,000 | $13,000 | 1,300 | 13 |
| Welo Health | Health-tech | $700,000 | $35,000 | 7 | 7 |
| Wisi-Oi | Fashion | $5,000 | $860 | 700 | Less than 5 |
| Zoie Health | Health-tech | $605,000 | $144,100 | 14,500 | 12 |
Google emphasized that the participants in the programme span a wide range of industries, including construction, biotechnology, education, fashion, and linguistics. This diversity showcases the multifaceted nature of the South African startup ecosystem. All selected companies are positioned between the seed and Series A funding stages, indicating that they have moved beyond the initial conceptual phase and are actively seeking to scale their operations.
The success of this South Africa-specific cohort builds upon the foundation established by the broader Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme. Notable South African startups that have previously benefited from Google’s pan-African initiative include Voice AI, Akiba Digital, and Pineapple Insurance, highlighting the potential for local startups to achieve significant growth with the right support.
As South Africa continues to cultivate its technology ecosystem, initiatives like Google’s accelerator programme play a vital role in providing essential resources, mentorship, and funding to promising ventures. The graduation of this first cohort signals a positive step towards unlocking further innovation and economic growth within the country, paving the way for future entrepreneurs to thrive in the dynamic tech landscape.
