Startups in twelve more African countries can now apply for the LaunchPad Accelerator Programme to stand a chance of receiving funding and training, Google has announced.
The 12 additional countries include: Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Cameroon, Botswana, Sénégal, Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Algeria.
Previously the accelerator Programme was opened to startups in South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.
The Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa programme which was officially announced in 2017 provides selected startups with equity-free funding and links with mentors from Google, Silicon Valley amongst other benefits.
According to Folagbade Olatunji-David, Head of Startup Success and Services at Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa, “The three month programme has connected the 12 participating startups with more than 20 teams from Google as well as 40 mentors from nine countries including India, the UK, USA and Jamaica. Each has received $10 000 in an equity-free cash grant, and between them they have raised over $7 million. The startups have directly created 132 jobs and impacted 4.5 million users.”
As part of criteria for being part of the Programme, applying startups must be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, must have raised seed funding at some point and must be targeting the African market.
While speaking on the 12 startups, Olatunji-David said, “We are humbled to be part of the success stories of these 12 startups, and as individuals we have learned great lessons from their dedication, focus and drive. The companies will now go on to be part of the global Launchpad Alumni network, joining over 100 companies from 40 countries across 5 continents.”
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