Google To Support African Entrepreneurs With $6 Million Funding

Google has announced the opening of three new programmes targeted at supporting African entrepreneurs.

The tech giant is rolling out the 6th cohort of Google for Startups Accelerator (GFSA) Africa, $3 million Black Founders Fund (BFF) Africa, and Google.org-backed $3 million grants for female entrepreneurs.

Fifteen startups have been selected for the sixth class of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, which aims to support African tech startups through their crucial growth phases.

The Google for Startups Accelerator, which is a three-month online programme that includes three intensive virtual training boot camps, mentorship, and Google product support is starting today June 21, 2021.

Black Founders Fund (BFF) Africa

Simultaneously, applications will be opened for the $3 million Black Founders Fund for African startups in their early stage. The programme will have 50 African startups, led by Black founders, receive cheques between $50k and $100k.

However, it is non-dilutive equity-free funding, which means the startups do not have to give up part of their shares to Google following the financing. In addition, the startups will get $220k in Google ads grants and cloud credits alongside training sessions and access to Google’s network of mentors.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this, interested businesses must be a tech startup headquartered in either Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, or Zimbabwe; have a founding team of at least one black founding member, and possess technical skills to use Google’s resources. 

Head of Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, Onajite Emerhor, adds that, for inclusiveness, the fund is open to companies that are focused on supporting the black community, not only those led by black C-level founders.

Qualified startups can apply here as applications close on July 7, 2021.

SME grants and support for 500 female entrepreneurs

Meanwhile, another $3 million has been earmarked as SME grants. This fulfils the company’s promise to open funding initiatives to small businesses that are not online. The $3 million funds will be used to provide mentorship, coaching, and access to key markets for 5,000 female entrepreneurs with low digital skills who come from rural areas and currently operate in an informal sector.

This will also include seed capital in the form of cash grants and Google product support for 500 aspiring female entrepreneurs. Beneficiaries will be chosen from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and select Francophone countries. 

For two of the programmes, Google will be working with two African partners, with a thriving community of entrepreneurs, to disburse the funds — Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB) for BFF, while Tony Elumelu Foundation will be in charge of grants for female entrepreneurs.