Google Announces 15 Women Founder Cohort for Debut Startup Accelerator Program

In honor of International Women’s Day, Google today unveiled three fresh projects focused on empowering and supplying African women business owners with the tools they require for success.

Among the initiatives are the Hustle Academy for Women-Led Businesses, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa: Women Founders Cohort, and a social media campaign honoring influential women working in Africa’s technology sector.

“We are happy to announce the selected firms for the inaugural class of our Google for Startups Accelerator Africa: Women Founders Cohort,” said Folarin Aiayegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa. We’re thrilled to help these women as they forge the future as they take on some of Africa’s most critical issues. The 15 firms chosen for the program come from eight different African nations and are developing cutting-edge solutions that enhance community livelihoods.

The goal of Google’s Hustle Academy is to assist entrepreneurs in growing their revenue, positioning themselves for investment, and creating long-lasting businesses.

Google has scheduled six Hustle Academy cohorts with a female focus for the entire month of March in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa as part of its festivities for International Women’s Day. At g.co/hustleacademy, female entrepreneurs in these nations are invited to apply to join these cohorts.

Last but not least, Google is honoring remarkable women in Africa’s technology industry through its #WomeninIT social media campaign. The documentary series tells the lives of six remarkable women who are pushing boundaries and changing the face of business, technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, and startups on the continent.

“At Google, we are committed to giving women entrepreneurs in Africa access to investment, mentorship, and networking opportunities,” says Dorothy Ooko, Head of Communications, Google Africa. We want to close the gender gap and give women the tools they need to excel in their respective industries through our programs.

The cohort of African women founders in the Google for Startups Accelerator (in alphabetical order).

• Afriwell Health (Congo)
• Alajo App (Nigeria)
• eWaka (Kenya)
• Farmer Lifeline (Kenya)
• Maxibuy (Nigeria)
• MosMos (Kenya)
• Gobeba (Kenya)
• Hepta Pay (Rwanda)
• Jem HR (South Africa)
• Kola Market (Ghana)
• Mipango (Tanzania)
• Smart Ikigega (Rwanda)
• Suitch (Cameroon)
• Tyms Africa (Nigeria)
• Zydii (Kenya)

For more information on International Women’s day initiatives by Google, please visit the website.