11 Start-ups From Google’s Launchpad Africa Second Class Raises $12m, Created 253 Jobs

Google accelerator’s head of start-up success and services, Folagbade Olatunji-David recently announced that the 11 start-ups from its second class of Google’s Launchpad Africa accelerator created a total of 253 jobs and have raised over $12-million before and during the programme.

33 founders from six countries who made up the programme also raised $110 000 in equity-free funding from Google.

As cited in a statement released by Olatunji-David, over the course of the three-month programme, the 11 start-ups comprising Launchpad Accelerator Africa Class 2 engaged with 48 mentors from nine countries. The nine countries include Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US.

Launchpad Accelerator Africa was announced in July 2017 and will run till 2020, with two intakes of 10 to 12 start-ups every year. The start-ups will have access to $3-million in equity-free support, working space, and access to expert advisers from Google, Silicon Valley, and Africa over the three years. Participants will also receive travel and PR support during each three-month programme.

The 11 start-ups from six countries that participated at the Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa Class 2 include:

AppZone (Nigeria), Chalkboard Education (Ghana), Cloud9xp (Kenya), EzyAgric (Uganda), Formplus (Nigeria), Medsaf (Nigeria), Mintrics (Egypt), PayGo Energy (Kenya), Pineapple (South Africa), Preeva (South Africa) and Thank U Cash (Nigeria).

“Google believes that empowering entrepreneurs and startups is essential to drive employment growth, and enable both economic and social development on the continent,” Olatunji-David said.