Google has recently declared that it is now accepting applications for the 2024 iteration of its Hustle Academy, a specialized initiative designed to foster the expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Sub-Saharan African region.
The Hustle Academy is an all-encompassing program that delivers an in-depth business education, offers guidance through mentorship, and facilitates connections through networking events for SMEs. Since its inception in 2022, the program has been instrumental in the growth of over 10,000 businesses.
In a significant enhancement to the program this year, the Hustle Academy has integrated business-oriented artificial intelligence (AI) training into its educational offerings. The newly added AI components are tailored to teach participants about making informed, data-centric business decisions, refining business operations, and devising AI-infused marketing strategies.
Kristy Grant, who leads the Business-to-Business (B2B) marketing efforts for Google in Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the transformative power of AI for African SMEs. She noted that AI can be a catalyst for innovation, operational efficiency, and economic expansion.
Grant highlighted the Academy’s track record, with over 10,000 businesses that have benefited from the program by securing funding and generating employment opportunities. The integration of AI into the Hustle Academy’s curriculum is intended to magnify these successes, empowering SMEs to leverage AI technology to enhance their business performance and contribute to broader economic development.
Applications for the 2024 Hustle Academy cohort are open to SMBs in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa here.
