Nigeria gets 10 slots as Google announces 40 startups getting up to $150,000

Google has announced 40 black-led startups as winners of the third round of its annual Black Founders Fund.

The $4 million fund aims to tackle racial inequality in venture capital funding. Google gives the firms equity-free grants and mentors early-stage, Black-led, and high-growth businesses across Africa and Europe.

– Key points to note

This year’s cohort has 25 African startups, 10 of them from Nigeria, less than last year’s figures when Nigeria clinched 23 of total 60.

Seventy-two percent of all the companies this year are led or co-founded by women, covering fintech, logistics, food, healthcare, construction, and legal services, Google said.

“The program’s track record speaks volumes: since its inception in 2021, participating founders have seen a 21% rise in employment, with women filling 46% of these positions, and a notable 7% increase in monthly recurring revenue to over $6.1 million,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Google’s head of Startup Ecosystem, Sub Saharan Africa.

The firms will receive up to $150,000 in equity-free money, $200,000 in Google Cloud credits, and Google ads support.

Here are the winners:

• Akoma Health (Nigeria): Tech platform for accessible, culturally conscious mental health services in Africa.
• BezoMoney (Ghana) : Digital banking for Africa’s underbanked via mobile/web platforms.
• Chargel (Senegal): Digital trucking platform connecting shippers/carriers in Francophone West Africa.
• Charis UAS (Rwanda): Provides 3D geospatial data via drone technology.
• Evolve Credit (Nigeria): SaaS for digitising and managing banking services.
• Excel At Uni (South Africa): Supports student funders via digital services.
• EzyAgric (Uganda): AI-powered mobile technology to enhance Africa’s farming sector.
• Fez Delivery (Nigeria): Last-mile logistics platform for various industries.
• Fleetsimplify (Kenya): Monetization platform connecting gig drivers & vehicle owners.
• HealthDart (South Africa): Digital HMO providing end-to-end health services with insurance.
• Herconomy (Nigeria): Female-focused fintech aiming to be Africa’s first women’s bank.
• Jumba (Kenya): Improving Kenya’s construction sector supply chain via B2B platform.
• MDaaS Global (Nigeria): Tech-powered diagnostic centres for affordable healthcare.
• My Pocket Counsel (Nigeria): Legal tech platform for contract generation and management.
• Orda (Nigeria): Pan-African neobank for restaurants, offering cloud-based software.
• Periculum (Nigeria): Data company aiding in credit assessment, fraud/churn risk.
• Raenest (Nigeria): Fintech offering global financial services to freelancers/startups in Africa.
• Ridelink (Uganda): E-logistics platform providing shipping and real-time tracking.
• Susu (Côte d’Ivoire): Health platform providing healthcare services/insurance funded by African diaspora.
• Talamus Health (Ghana): Tech solutions targeting healthcare inefficiencies in Africa.
• TruQ (Nigeria): Streamlining mid-mile logistics across Africa with third-party vehicle connectivity.
• Tushop (Kenya): Tech platform for group buying of daily essentials in Kenya.
• Uzapoint (Kenya): Mobile/web POS for digitising bookkeeping in Africa’s informal sector.
• Zinacare (South Africa): Online platform for accessible, affordable healthcare services.
• Zydii (Kenya): Localised digital training solutions for African SMEs.