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.
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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.
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