Google has opened applications for the 2025 edition of its Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, marking another significant push by the global tech firm to back African innovators harnessing artificial intelligence to solve real-world challenges.
Now in its seventh year, the initiative targets early-stage startups on the continent that are deploying AI-first solutions, with a particular focus on products that can scale impact across key sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, finance, and climate action.
The three-month accelerator is open to Seed to Series A startups operating in Africa, provided they already have a live product, at least one founder of African descent, and a strong commitment to responsible AI development. According to Google, these criteria are designed to ensure that the startups not only have traction but also understand the cultural, economic, and social dynamics of the communities they are aiming to serve.
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Selected startups will receive access to world-class technical mentorship from Google’s engineering teams and industry experts. They will also gain entry into an expansive network of global investors, business partners, and collaborators. In addition, Google is offering up to $350,000 in cloud credits to help startups build and scale their infrastructure. Startups will also participate in high-impact workshops that will cover a range of critical areas including technology strategy, people management, product design, and AI implementation.
The program, which has supported 140 startups across 17 African countries since 2018, is already making waves. Google disclosed that alumni of the program have collectively raised over $300 million in external funding and created more than 3,000 jobs. These startups are now actively shaping their sectors, many of them expanding across regions and gaining global recognition.
One notable example is Nigeria’s Crop2Cash, an agritech platform that uses AI to onboard smallholder farmers, build their digital identities, and connect them to traceable payments, productivity tools, and lines of credit. According to Google, Crop2Cash has significantly improved agricultural productivity and financial inclusion for farmers locked out of the formal economy. The company’s trajectory underscores the kind of transformative impact the accelerator seeks to achieve.
Google’s decision to double down on Africa’s AI space is rooted in a firm belief that the technology holds vast potential for the continent’s growth. Citing McKinsey’s forecast that AI could contribute as much as $1.3 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, the company emphasized that bold innovation—especially at the grassroots—is critical if that promise is to be realized.
Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem for Africa at Google, said the accelerator is part of the company’s long-term vision to empower local innovators to lead the charge.
“Startups are Africa’s problem solvers. With the right resources, they can scale their impact far beyond local communities,” he said.
Aiyegbusi added that responsible AI development shaped by local context is key to unlocking solutions that truly work for African societies.
However, Google’s accelerator is seen as not just a lifeline for startups, but also a necessary intervention in a space that remains fraught with infrastructural and regulatory hurdles. Beyond the capital and mentorship, the program offers credibility and access—two key ingredients many startups struggle to secure in their formative years.
The 2024 cohort featured 10 startups from Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa, all using AI to address major developmental bottlenecks. Their work spanned sectors from fintech and climate resilience to health tech and public services—further proving the versatility of AI when applied to Africa’s unique problems.
Startups interested in joining the 2025 cohort can now apply via the official portal at https://startup.google.com/programs/accelerator/africa. While the application deadline has not been specified, the program’s rising popularity means competition will be fierce.
According to Google, Africa’s next leap forward may not come from legacy institutions but from agile, AI-driven startups able to navigate the continent’s challenges with fresh eyes and bold ideas.