Business a.m.
Google has opened applications for the 2025 Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme, a three-month initiative designed to support early-stage startups using artificial intelligence to address Africa’s most pressing challenges.
The development comes amid reports showing that across the continent, startups are demonstrating how local innovation can solve deeply rooted problems. A notable example of this can be found in West Africa where Crop2Cash, an agritech platform and alumni of the programme, is using AI to digitally onboard smallholder farmers, build their financial identities, and provide them with access to credit, traceable payments, and productivity tools. Through these efforts, Crop2Cash is improving agricultural outcomes and unlocking economic opportunity for farmers who have long been excluded from formal systems—illustrating the kind of impact that’s possible when African startups receive the support they need to scale.
Business a.m. gathered that the Accelerator programme is open to Seed to Series A startups based in Africa that are building AI-first solutions. To ensure participation, startups must have a live product, at least one founder of African descent, and a clear vision for responsible AI innovation. Selected participants will receive:
- Dedicated technical mentorship from Google and industry experts
- Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits
- Access to a global network of investors, partners, and collaborators
- Workshops focused on technology, product strategy, people leadership, and AI implementation
AI’s potential to accelerate Africa’s development has proven overtime to be real, and Google is investing in ensuring that African startups lead that charge. According to McKinsey, AI could add $1.3 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, but only if bold innovation is supported at the grassroots.
“Startups are Africa’s problem solvers. With the right resources, they can scale their impact far beyond local communities,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, head of startup ecosystem, Africa at Google. “This program reflects our belief that AI can be transformative when shaped by those who understand the context deeply,” he added.
Since 2018, the programme has supported 140 startups from 17 African countries. These alumni have raised more than $300 million in funding and created over 3,000 jobs. Many are now regional and global leaders in their categories.
Applications for the 2025 cohort are now open. Startups interested in participating can apply at: https://startup.google.com/programs/accelerator/africa
