In a fresh signal of Africa’s growing relevance in the global AI race, Google has unveiled its ninth cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa — a program focused this year on startups building with artificial intelligence at the core of their solutions. Of the 15 companies selected from across the continent, 9 are AI-powered startups tackling some of Africa’s most persistent challenges — ranging from agriculture and logistics to digital health and financial compliance.
The selected startups span seven African countries — Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa — demonstrating both the geographic breadth and thematic diversity of innovation emerging across the continent.
“African startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across the continent, and their work with AI is truly transformative,” 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.”
A High-Stakes Selection Process
The announcement follows a rigorous selection process that began in April 2025, drawing nearly 1,500 applicants from across Africa. The final 15 were chosen for their potential to harness artificial intelligence in scalable, high-impact ways.
The chosen startups will undergo a three-month hybrid accelerator program running from June 23 to August 22. Each will receive technical mentorship from Google engineers and external experts, alongside strategic business support and up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits. Google’s broader goal: helping these startups move from idea to impact — faster, smarter, and on firmer footing.
Since its launch in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa program has supported 153 startups from 17 countries. According to Google, these alumni have collectively raised over $300 million in follow-on funding and created over 3,500 jobs. Google itself has contributed $5 million in equity-free funding and product credits to support this effort.
The 9 AI Startups Shaping Africa’s Future
Here’s a closer look at the nine AI-focused companies in this year’s Class 9 cohort:
1. Shamba Records (Kenya)
AI for Climate-Smart Agriculture
A data-driven agriculture platform that empowers more than 50,000 farmers with AI-enabled market insights, climate-resilient tools, and access to credit. It uses satellite and on-ground data to improve yield forecasts and financial inclusion in rural farming communities.
2. TOLBI (Senegal)
AI + Satellite for Sustainable Farming
TOLBI applies AI and satellite imagery to provide precise crop yield forecasts, aiding food security and sustainability efforts. Its tools are especially targeted at governments and large-scale agricultural organizations.
3. Smartel Agri Tech (Rwanda)
AI to Combat Crop Diseases
Deploys solar-powered, AI-enabled devices to help smallholder farmers detect pests and diseases early. Farmers receive real-time SMS alerts — enabling them to take preventive action, even in low-connectivity regions.
4. Myltura (Nigeria)
AI-Powered Remote Health Access
A digital health platform using AI to enable remote consultations, lab test access, and personalized health insights. Myltura is part of a growing wave of startups addressing Africa’s healthcare access gaps through mobile-first innovations.
5. YeneHealth (Ethiopia)
AI for Women’s Digital Health
Provides an AI-driven mobile and web platform for women to access affordable medications and healthcare services. Its algorithms personalize care and reduce friction in the healthcare value chain.
6. Pastel (Nigeria)
AI for Financial Integrity
Offers enterprise-level AI solutions for fraud detection and anti-money laundering compliance. Pastel is part of a broader fintech ecosystem in Nigeria that is increasingly leaning on AI to boost trust and transparency.
7. Scandium (Nigeria)
AI for Quality Assurance in Software
A robust test automation and quality assurance suite that allows software teams to deploy bug-free applications faster. It’s one of the few African startups squarely focused on developer tools and engineering infrastructure.
8. Rapid Human AI (South Africa)
AI-Powered Software Development
This no-code platform accelerates software creation by transforming business ideas into code using AI in days — cutting development cycles by up to 80%. Rapid Human AI combines design thinking with generative AI to help non-engineers build fast.
9. Zerone Analytiqs (Ghana)
Fixing Africa’s Data Gap with AI
A dual-layer platform addressing Africa’s endemic data scarcity by combining new data generation methods with AI analytics. Its tools aim to help African governments, NGOs, and enterprises make evidence-based decisions.
AI Innovation, Shaped by African Realities
What binds this cohort together isn’t just AI — it’s the insistence that artificial intelligence must be deployed with local contexts in mind. Many of these startups are innovating precisely where Western AI firms fall short: integrating low-bandwidth environments, accounting for informal economies, and working with limited data infrastructure.
“Africa’s AI potential isn’t about copying Silicon Valley,” said one Lagos-based investor familiar with the accelerator. “It’s about reimagining AI through constraints — and building tools that work where the need is greatest.”
As the world debates AI ethics, regulation, and the role of global tech giants, Google’s initiative here aims to democratize access to both AI tools and the know-how to use them effectively.
For now, the real test lies ahead. Over the next three months, these nine startups will pitch, prototype, and refine their solutions with the backing of one of the world’s most powerful tech firms.