With its newly launched 3-month accelerator program, Google is handing resources, tools and opportunities to women tech founders in Africa to scale their ideas, products and services.
A Forbes report states, "Whether it be in the classroom or workplace, women get less support from higher-ups, less opportunity for advancement...." especially in the tech startup ecosystem.
It is worse in developing countries in Africa and elsewhere. That's why "We believe that investing in women founders in Africa is critical for economic empowerment that will enable the creation of jobs for the growing African youth population," said Folarin Aiyegbusi, head of Startup Ecosystem at Google.
Applications for the programme are accepted until February 20, 2023. The programme, which will commence in March 2023, is hybrid, meaning some sessions would hold in-person and some virtually.
Selected participants will receive access to Google's products, mentoring from industry experts, resources, tools and technology, networking opportunities and connections with investors.
Women in Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe who are building tech startups in Africa or for Africa can apply through this link.
Applicants must have a working product or service, a viable business model, and a functional team.
Although no grants or funding are available to startups on the program, selected participants would further have access to Google engineers, resources and mentors during and after the program, hands-on Google for Startups collaboration and support, and inclusion in the Google for Startups Accelerator Global Community and network of alums and mentors, Google Cloud Credits, and marketing spotlight opportunities.
"We are excited about the open call for applications for our 3-month accelerator program, specifically tailored to address the unique challenges faced by women founders in Africa," said Aiyegbusi.
He added that the programme is an extension of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Programme established in 2017 and reflects Google's dedication to supporting startups and addressing the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Africa.
