Google has recently unveiled the names of 25 remarkable African startups chosen for the third cohort of Google for Startups’ Black Founders Fund. This cohort highlights the innovative solutions developed by these startups and emphasizes Google’s commitment to Africa’s digital economy.
Notably, 10 out of the 25 selected startups hail from Nigeria, showcasing the country’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. With a focus on various sectors such as healthcare, fintech, logistics, and more, these Nigerian startups hold immense potential for driving Africa’s future growth.
Similar to the remarkable Nigerian startup dominance in 2022, where they claimed the majority of recipients for Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in Africa, this year’s cohort showcased an equally diverse array of Nigerian startups, accounting for an impressive 40% of the total selected ventures.
The Selected Nigerian Startups:
- Akoma Health: Based in Nigeria, Akoma Health provides a tech platform that offers accessible and culturally conscious mental health services across Africa.
- Evolve Credit: Evolve Credit, a Nigerian startup, specialises in SaaS solutions for digitizing and managing banking services.
- Fez Delivery: Fez Delivery, another Nigerian startup, operates a last-mile logistics platform catering to various industries.
- Herconomy: Herconomy, aiming to become Africa’s first women’s bank, is a female-focused fintech startup based in Nigeria.
- MDaaS Global: MDaaS Global, headquartered in Nigeria, leverages technology to establish tech-powered diagnostic centers for affordable healthcare.
- My Pocket Counsel: My Pocket Counsel, a Nigerian legal tech platform, facilitates contract generation and management.
- Orda: Orda, a pan-African neobank, provides cloud-based software solutions for the restaurant industry.
- Periculum: Periculum, a Nigerian data company, specializes in aiding credit assessment and mitigating fraud and churn risks.
- Raenest: Nigeria-based Raenest is a fintech startup offering global financial services to freelancers and startups in Africa.
- TruQ: TruQ, headquartered in Nigeria, streamlines mid-mile logistics across Africa by connecting third-party vehicle owners and operators.
The Black Founders Fund by Google for Startups offers cash awards to Black entrepreneurs in Africa without taking equity in return. The recipients of the fund, including the selected Nigerian startups, also receive valuable support from Google, including mentorship, Google Cloud credits, and product assistance. This comprehensive support equips these startups to navigate and thrive at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
Africa’s population is rapidly growing, and by 2050, it is projected that one-third of Africans will be under 35 years old. This demographic trend presents an immense opportunity for startups to cater to a booming market.
Entrepreneurs across various sectors, from healthcare to agriculture and fintech, are leveraging technology to address Africa’s challenges while tapping into the continent’s vast market potential. HealthDart, led by CEO Njabulo Skhosana, exemplifies the spirit of Africa’s entrepreneurial journey.
Drawing on his extensive healthcare consulting experience across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, Njabulo co-founded HealthDart. This digital health maintenance organisation (HMO) facilitates easy access to affordable healthcare through an integrated digital pharmacy and telemedicine platform.
