Google Opens Applications for 10th Startups Accelerator Africa Cohort
Google has announced the opening of applications for the 10th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, a 12-week programme focused on artificial intelligence–driven innovation across the continent.
In a statement released on Thursday, the company said applications will remain open until March 18, 2026. The accelerator is a hybrid, AI-first programme designed for Series A startups that are either based in Africa or building Africa-focused solutions using artificial intelligence and machine learning.
According to Google, selected startups will gain access to its AI expertise and technical resources, receive mentorship from experienced AI professionals, and benefit from networking opportunities with peers and industry leaders across the global technology ecosystem. The programme aims to help participating startups strengthen their products, scale responsibly, and translate advanced research into real-world solutions.
Speaking on the launch of the new cohort, Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem Africa at Google, said the continent’s technology ecosystem is evolving toward more advanced innovation.
“Africa’s tech landscape is seeing a vibrant shift toward deep tech innovation,” Aiyegbusi said. “For Class 10, we are focusing on the potential of AI to drive health and societal benefits, providing the infrastructure and expertise to turn these startups into the research labs of the continent.”
Since its launch in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa has supported more than 180 startups across 17 African countries. Google disclosed that participating startups have collectively raised over $350 million in funding and created more than 3,700 direct jobs, highlighting the programme’s role in strengthening Africa’s startup ecosystem and attracting investor interest.
The company noted that the focus for the 10th cohort reflects growing interest in applying AI to sectors such as healthcare, climate, agriculture, and other areas with broad societal impact.
Last year, six Nigerian startups were selected for cohort 9 of the accelerator. They were part of 15 AI-driven ventures chosen from across Africa. The cohort featured startups from Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa, all leveraging AI to address challenges in sectors including fintech, healthtech, logistics, and agritech.
The Nigerian startups selected were E-doc Online, a compliance and credit intelligence platform using real-time banking data to streamline onboarding and lending; GoNomad, which enables African businesses and freelancers to build global companies and receive international payments; and Midddleman, a sourcing and payments platform that simplifies imports from China for African businesses.
Others include Myltura, a digital health platform using AI to provide remote care, testing access, and integrated health data services; Pastel, which delivers enterprise-grade AI tools for financial institutions such as fraud detection and anti-money laundering solutions; and Scandium, an AI-powered quality assurance platform that helps software teams reduce bugs and speed up delivery.
From simplifying cross-border payments to improving access to healthcare and automating software quality checks, Nigeria’s strong representation in the accelerator reflects the country’s growing influence in Africa’s innovation and technology landscape.
