Google announced the 25 African startups selected for the third cohort of Google for Startups' Black Founders Fund.
Each startup will receive up to$150,000 in non-dilutive cash awards,$200,000 in Google Cloud credits, Google Ads support, and one-on-one mentoring from Googlers and industry experts. The startups, 72% of which are led or co-founded by women, are diverse in their leadership, geographical representation and sector focus highlighting innovative solutions, the fund's commitment to Africa's digital economy, and their significant potential for the continent's future.
The African population is growing, and projections are that by 2050, one-third of the continent will be under the age of 35. Helping startups to develop and cater to a young demographic is expected to help market development from agriculture and fintech to health tech across the continent.