Twelve tech startups have graduated from the third Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa class in Lagos and Nairobi, raising close to $9 million in funding before and during the program.
U.S. tech giant Google said startups in the third class created more than 120 jobs and their products and services have 270,000-plus users, Ventureburn reports.
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Details of specific investments raised by each startup were not disclosed.
By comparison, the first class that graduated in June 2018 raised more than $7 million during the course of the program, directly creating 132 jobs, according to Techfinancials.
The 23 startups from classes 1 and 2 created 385 direct jobs and raised more than $19 million before, during and after participating in Google Launchpad, according to Techhawk.
Graduates from the third cohort include Kenyan companies Data Integrated Limited, Kwara, OkHi and Tambua Health Inc., Ugandan fintech platform Swipe2pay, Egyptian startup Instadiet.me, and Nigeria’s 54Gene. 54Gene describes itself as Africa’s answer to DNA genetic testing and analysis company 23andMe.
Other early-stage startups that completed the program include South Africa’sVoyc.ai and Zelda Learning, Nigerian companies WellaHealth and ScholarX, and Senegalese logistics startup PAPS, TechEconomy reports.
Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa has committed to offering $3 million in equity-free funding to more than 60 startups across the continent between 2018 and 2020, PCTechmag reported.
The program includes mentorship, working space, travel, public relations support, and access to tech and business experts from Google, Silicon Valley, and Africa.
Applications are now open for the fourth class of the accelerator program.
The fourth cohort begins in September and is expected to run in Lagos and Nairobi until late November or early December, BiztechAfrica reports.
The Google Launchpad Space in Nigeria is the first onsite location for the program outside of the U.S.
Startups in 17 African countries are eligible to apply to participate in the next program including Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe, Ventureburn reports.
