Second cohort of Google for Startups Black Founders Fund revealed

Source: Pexels

Startups from South Africa include Agrikool, CreditAIs, Mapha, Rekisa and Technovera. Each of the selected startups will receive support in the form of a six-month training programme that includes access to a network of mentors to assist in tackling challenges that are unique to them.

They will also be part of tailored workshops, support networks and community-building sessions. The 60 grantees will also get non-dilutive awards of between $50,000 and $100,000 and up to $200,000 in Google Cloud credit.

The grantees, made up of 50% women-led businesses, hail from Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. They specialise in sectors such as fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, logistics, agritech, education, hospitality and smart cities.

The top five countries with the most startups selected for the programme are Nigeria with twenty-three grantees, Kenya with twelve grantees, Rwanda with six grantees, South Africa with five grantees and Uganda with four grantees. Botswana and Senegal have one selected startup each, Cameroon and Ghana both have three grantees each while Ethiopia has two selected grantees.

Launched in April 2012, the Google for Startups program has created over 4,600 jobs and raised more than $290m in funding. The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund programme will introduce the grantees in Africa to Google's products, connections, and best practices which will help the founders to level the playing field as they build better products and services that add value to the Africa economy.

Below is the list of the 60 startups that were selected for the second cohort of the Black Founders Fund in Africa.

1. Agrikool - South Africa
2. Ajua - Kenya
3. Awabah - Nigeria
4. Bag Innovation - Rwanda
5. Bailport - Rwanda
6. Bee - Cameroon
7. Bookings - Africa Nigeria
8. Brastorne - Botswana
9. Built - Ghana
10. BuuPass - Kenya
11. Cauri Money - Senegal
12. Clafiya - Nigeria
13. ClinicPesa - Uganda
14. Cova - Cameroon
15. CreditAIs - South Africa
16. DohYangu - Kenya
17. Easy Matatu - Uganda
18. Eden Life - Nigeria
19. Estate Intel - Nigeria
20. Eversend - Uganda
21. Exuus - Rwanda
22. Flex Finance - Nigeria
23. FlexPay - Kenya
24. Gamr - Nigeria
25. Garri Logistics - Ethiopia
26. Haul 247 - Nigeria
27. Healthlane - Cameroon
28. Healthtracka - Nigeria
29. HerVest - Nigeria
30. Kapsule - Rwanda
31. Keep IT Cool - Kenya
32. Kudigo - Ghana
33. Kyshi - Nigeria
34. Leja - Kenya
35. LifeBank - Nigeria
36. Mapha - South Africa
37. Norebase - Nigeria
38. OneHealth - Nigeria
39. PesaChoice - Rwanda
40. Pindo - Rwanda
41. Pivo - Nigeria
42. QShop- Nigeria
43. Rekisa - South Africa
44. Scrapays Inc - Nigeria
45. Shiip - Nigeria
46. Solutech - Kenya
47. Spleet - Nigeria
48. Stears - Nigeria
49. Synnefa - Kenya
50. Technovera - South Africa
51. Terawork - Nigeria
52. Tibu Health - Kenya
53. Topset Education - Nigeria
54. TopUp Mama - Kenya
55. Wellahealth - Nigeria
56. Xente - Uganda
57. Zanifu - Kenya
58. ZayRide - Ethiopia
59. Zuberi - Ghana
60. Zuri Health - Kenya