The burgeoning youth population in Africa offers a promising market for startups to seize. However, these startups are faced with bottlenecks, including racial inequality, that hinder their progress. Several initiatives are being put in place to level the playing field.

Google for Startups has selected 25 African startups for its Black Founders Fund (BFF), addressing racial inequality in venture capital funding. The chosen startups, representing diverse entrepreneurship across the continent, will receive $4 million in funding and support to fuel their growth. This is the third cohort of the Founders Fund.

Each startup will receive up to $150,000 in cash awards, $200,000 in Google Cloud credits, advertising support, mentoring, and access to Google's network. Leveraging technology, these innovative startups aim to tackle Africa's challenges in healthcare, logistics, and fintech. For example, Tushop, a Kenyan startup, is revolutionizing retail through a group purchasing platform, while Herconomy -Nigeria’s first Fintech company for women -aims to establish Africa's first women-focused bank.

With Nigeria leading with 10 grantees, Kenya with 5, and South Africa with 3, the selected startups highlight the importance of women in Africa's startup ecosystem, as 72% of the chosen ventures are led or co-founded by women. Google has launched additional initiatives to empower women in technology, including the Hustle Academy and the Women Founders Cohort.

Through the Black Founders Fund and associated initiatives, Google for Startups aims to bridge the venture capital funding gap, nurture diverse entrepreneurship, and unlock Africa's immense potential. By supporting these visionary founders, Google seeks to stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities, and foster innovation that addresses the continent's unique challenges.

“In 2020, with less than 0.5% of global venture capital (VC) funding going to Black-led startups, Google announced the Black Founders Fund and has since deployed $20M in funding to founders across the US, Europe, Africa, and Brazil,” Google wrote in a statement issued on its website.

Hikmatu Bilali 

Here are the chosen startups:

• Akoma Health (Nigeria): Tech platform for accessible, culturally conscious mental health services in Africa.

• BezoMoney (Ghana):Digital banking for Africa's underbanked via mobile/web platforms.
• Chargel (Senegal):Digital trucking platform connecting shippers/carriers in Francophone West Africa.
• Charis UAS (Rwanda):Provides 3D geospatial data via drone technology.
• Evolve Credit (Nigeria):SaaS for digitizing and managing banking services.
• Excel At Uni (South Africa):Supports student funders via digital services.
• EzyAgric (Uganda):AI-powered mobile technology to enhance Africa's farming sector.
• Fez Delivery (Nigeria):Last-mile logistics platform for various industries.
• Fleetsimplify (Kenya):Monetization platform connecting gig drivers & vehicle owners.
• HealthDart (South Africa):Digital HMO providing end-to-end health services with insurance.
• Herconomy (Nigeria):Female-focused fintech aiming to be Africa's first women's bank.
• Jumba (Kenya):Improving Kenya's construction sector supply chain via B2B platform.
• MDaaS Global (Nigeria):Tech-powered diagnostic centers for affordable healthcare.
• My Pocket Counsel (Nigeria):Legal tech platform for contract generation and management.
• Orda (Nigeria):Pan-African neobank for restaurants, offering cloud-based software.
• Periculum (Nigeria):Data company aiding in credit assessment, fraud/churn risk.
• Raenest (Nigeria):Fintech offering global financial services to freelancers/startups in Africa.
• Ridelink (Uganda):E-logistics platform providing shipping and real-time tracking.
• Susu (Côte d'Ivoire):Health platform providing healthcare services/insurance funded by the African diaspora.
• Talamus Health (Ghana):Tech solutions targeting healthcare inefficiencies in Africa.
• TruQ (Nigeria):Streamlining mid-mile logistics across Africa with third-party vehicle connectivity.
• Tushop (Kenya):Tech platform for group buying of daily essentials in Kenya.
• Uzapoint (Kenya):Mobile/web POS for digitizing bookkeeping in Africa's informal sector.
• Zinacare (South Africa):Online platform for accessible, affordable healthcare services.
• Zydii (Kenya):Localised digital training solutions for African SMEs.