African Technology Pioneers Join Google's Ninth Startups Accelerator Program in Africa
The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 9 has announced the selection of 15 African startups that are using artificial intelligence (AI) to address key challenges across various sectors such as finance, health, agriculture, trade, and logistics.
The three-month initiative, which runs from June 23 to August 22, 2025, will provide these startups with a hybrid accelerator program, combining virtual and in-person activities. The selected startups will receive dedicated technical mentorship from Google engineers and industry experts, up to US$350,000 in Google Cloud credits, and strategic support in AI implementation, product leadership, and business growth.
The 15 startups hail from seven countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Senegal, and South Africa.
### Nigerian Startups
Six startups from Nigeria will participate in the program. E-doc Online simplifies compliance and credit checks using real-time banking data for faster onboarding and smarter lending decisions. Other Nigerian AI-driven startups include those tackling financial services, digital health, and software quality assurance.
### Rwandan Startups
AFRIKABAL, a blockchain and AI-powered platform, facilitates secure and transparent crop trading among farmers, buyers, and logistics providers. Smartel Agri Tech is another AI startup in agriculture.
### Kenyan Startups
Apexloads is a logistics SaaS platform that streamlines cargo movement with verified partners. Shamba Records uses AI to serve the agricultural sector.
### Ghanaian Startups
Zerone Analytiqs and Regulon are AI startups applying technology to various sectors.
### Ethiopian Startup
YeneHealth focuses on digital health through AI.
### Senegalese Startup
TOLBI is another AI-driven startup in the cohort.
### South African Startup
Rapid Human AI leverages AI for innovative sector-specific solutions.
The benefits received by the selected startups include a three-month hybrid accelerator program, technical mentorship from Google engineers and AI experts, up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, strategic business mentorship, access to a global network of investors, partners, and collaborators, and equity-free funding support and product credits from Google's $5 million investment pool dedicated to African startups.
Since 2018, the program has supported 140 startups from 17 African countries, helping them collectively raise over $300 million in funding and create more than 3,500 jobs. Folarin Aiyegbusi, head of startup ecosystem for Africa at Google, stated that African startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across the continent, and their work with AI is truly transformative.
The selection follows a highly competitive application process that drew nearly 1,500 applications from across the continent. The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme has been open to seed to Series A startups since its inception.
References: [1] Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 9 Announcement (2025) [2] Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 9 Highlights (2025) [3] Google's Commitment to Africa's Tech Ecosystem (2021) [4] Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 9 Selected Startups (2025) [5] Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 9 Benefits (2025)
The selected Nigerian startups, E-doc Online, along with other AI-driven startups focused on finance, digital health, and software quality assurance, will receive dedicated technical mentorship from Google engineers and AI experts as part of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 9.
AFRIKABAL, an Rwandan AI startup using blockchain technology, will also be part of the program, offering a secure and transparent crop trading platform among farmers, buyers, and logistics providers.
