Calling all African startuppers to apply for Launchpad Africa. Google has launched launchedpad Africa– an acceleration program that matches the best African startups with the best of Google. This includes Google’s people, network, advanced technologies to help African startups build great products.
The launch of the acceleration program comes after the tech giant’s CEO Sundar Pichai announced in his visit to Lagos that Google would launch its first accelerator outside of the US.
It’s exciting time for African startups as this opportunity comes right in time where new tech hubs are being formed – From Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa. Coincidentally, Google will be picking 10 startups set to start early next year in Lagos, Nigeria — from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The focus for companies is now on pan-African collaboration and this would be an opportunity to bring entrepreneurs together across the Continent to work together.
If you’re wondering who the mentors would be, Google will select mentors from across Africa that can offer their time voluntarily.
Some of the mentors will be drawn from those that participated in Google’s weeklong bootcamps – Launchpad Start – run in Nairobi and Johannesburg, as well as in Lagos .
Google is now currently accepting applications for the first Launchpad Africa class, which will take place in Lagos, Nigeria starting in early 2018. For this first class, applications are open to tech startups that have already raised seed funding and are from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
You can now apply for Google Launchpad Africa accelerator here.
Google LaunchPad Program Details:
As part of the program, startups will receive:
• Equity-free support
• Access to Google’s engineers and intensive mentoring from over 20 teams
• Access to Silicon Valley experts and Africa’s top mentors
• Three months of workspace in Lagos
• PR training and global media opportunities
• Exposure though demo day events
