By Thompson ABISOLA
Google on Saturday revealed that its Lunchpad Accelerator Africa Class 1, has graduated with 12 startups creating 132 jobs and impacting 4.5 million users.
Head of Startup Success and Services, Launchpad Accelerator Africa, Google, Mr.FolagbadeOlatunji-David, said this in a statement in Lagos.According to him, the graduation of Class 1, has opened calls for applications for Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa Class 2.
TBI Africa reports that the Lunchpad Accelerator inaugurated in March, saw 12 startups emerging from six African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
TBI Africa also reports that Launchpad Accelerator Africa was announced less than a year ago by Google Chief Executive Officer, SundarPichai at Google for Nigeria on July 27.
Pichai had said that the Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa programme would provide African startups with more than three million dollars in equity-free support, working space.
He noted that it would also provide access to expert advisers from Google, Silicon Valley, and Africa over the next three years.
Participants would also receive travel and PR supports during each three-month programme.
Olatunji-David said Google was also extending the programme to include startups from additional 12 African countries, bringing the number to 18 countries all together.
He listed the additional 12 countries to include: Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Cameroon, Botswana, Sénégal, Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria.
“The Class 1 three months programme connected the 12 participating startups with more than 20 teams from Google as well as 40 mentors from nine countries including India, the UK, U.S. and Jamaica.
“Each has received 10 000 dollars in an equity-free cash grant, and between them they have raised more 7 million dollars.
“The startups have directly created 132 jobs and impacted 4.5 million users.
“Applications for Class 2 will close on July 8, and interested startups should apply through https://developers.google.com/startups/regional/,’’ he said.
Olatunji-David said that to qualify, startups had to be technology driven, based in Sub-Saharan Africa, targeting the African market, and have raised seed funding.
He said that Google would additionally consider the problem the startup was trying to solve, how it creates value for users, and would address real challenge for its home city, country or Africa broadly.
“We are humbled to be part of the success stories of these 12 startups, and as individuals we have learnt great lessons from their dedication focus and drive.
“The companies will now go on to be part of the global Launchpad Alumni network, joining over 100 companies from 40 countries across five continents,” Olatunji-David said.
He noted that Google was committed to the Sub-Saharan Africa developer ecosystem and had since April 2016, hosted 13 Launchpad Build and Start events across Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
The official said the events featured some 228 speakers as well as engaged 590 attendees from local startups in each country.
