Google has unveiled the ninth cohort of its Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa, with six Nigerian startups among the 15 AI-driven companies chosen to spearhead the continent’s digital transformation.
The newly announced Class 9 includes startups from across Africa,including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Senegal, all leveraging artificial intelligence to address pressing issues in finance, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, and more.
“African startups are solving some of the continent’s most complex challenges with AI. We’re thrilled to back these founders who are building for impact and helping shape an inclusive AI landscape in Africa.”
Speaking on the announcement, Folarin Aiyegbusi, Google’s Head of Startup Ecosystem in Africa, stated:
The Six Nigerian Startups in the Spotlight
Google’s announcement highlighted the following Nigerian startups selected for the program:
- E-doc Online – A platform that uses live banking data to improve compliance and credit checks, streamlining onboarding and lending for financial institutions.
- GoNomad – Enables African freelancers and businesses to create global companies and receive international payments with ease.
- Middleman – Simplifies sourcing and cross-border payments for African businesses importing goods from China.
- Myltura – A digital health solution using AI to deliver remote medical care, diagnostic testing access, and integrated healthcare data.
- Pastel – Builds enterprise-level AI tools for banks and financial institutions, focusing on fraud prevention and anti-money laundering.
- Scandium – Offers AI-powered software quality assurance tools that accelerate development and reduce bugs for tech teams.
These startups were selected from nearly 1,500 applicants across the continent after a rigorous review process that began in April 2025.
Program Details and Support
The selected companies are currently undergoing a three-month accelerator program that runs from June 23 to August 22, 2025. The hybrid initiative provides:
- Mentorship from Google engineers and AI specialists
- Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits
- Guidance in product leadership and business development
- Connections to a global network of investors, partners, and collaborators
Google said the accelerator aims to scale the impact of participating startups while further building Africa’s AI ecosystem and fostering cross-border collaboration.
Other Participants in the 2025 Class 9 Cohort
In addition to Nigeria’s representation, the Class 9 cohort features other notable startups including:
- Shamba Records (Kenya) – Agritech
- YeneHealth (Ethiopia) – Healthtech
- TOLBI (Senegal) – Climate solutions
- Rapid Human AI (South Africa) – AI-powered automation
- Zerone Analytiqs and Regulon (Ghana) – Data analytics and regulation
- Smartel Agri Tech (Rwanda) – AI in agriculture
Together, these 15 companies reflect Africa’s growing leadership in AI innovation, tackling local problems with global potential.
