Two Kenyan startups have been selected for the inaugural Google for Startups Accelerator AI First programme.
They include Dial Afrika Inc and Fastagger Inc who are part of a team of 11 African startups that were picked for the first cohort.
The other selected startups include Avalon Health (South Africa), Chatbots Africa (Ghana), Famasi Africa (Nigeria), Garri Logistics (Ethiopia), Izifin (Nigeria), Lengo AI (Senegal), Logistify AI (Uganda), Telliscope (Ethiopia), and Vzy (Nigeria).
According to Google, the 11 were chosen from a pool of innovative talent, with knowledge in using cutting-edge AI to address both Africa’s and more global issues and challenges.
They will undergo a 10-week accelerator where they will benefit from Google’s AI expertise and receive a $350,000 (52.2 million) fund allocation, mentorship sessions, technical guidance, as well as networking opportunities to enhance their reach and impact.
According to a McKinsey report, the transformative power of AI in Africa could add $1.3 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2030.
Africa’s head of startup ecosystem Folarin Aiyegbusi said the tech giant’s focus is on making it easy and scalable for others to innovate with AI.
He added that AI is not only a powerful enabler, but also a major platform shift.
“At Google, we’ve been working on AI for over a decade, and we’ve shown how useful AI is in our products and for developers externally,” Aiyebusi said.
“Our chosen startups for the AI First programme embody this vision, leveraging AI in pioneering ways to address both local and global challenges. We’re excited to support and amplify their impact.”
Dial Afrika Inc CEO and co-founder Japheth Dibo said that their selection for the programme will allow them to leverage advanced AI technology to make their startup’s vision a reality.
“Dial Afrika is revolutionising customer support in Africa with cutting-edge AI-powered solutions,” he said.
“With this support and mentorship, we aim to revolutionise customer support and equip businesses across the African continent with the tools to thrive and excel.”
Since 2017, Google has supported African startups across diverse programs.
Collectively, these startups have raised $263 million and created over 2,800 job opportunities.
