By Zuko Komisa
Google is devoted to its entrepreneur-focused programs in Africa, and this time around, the Google for Start-up Black Founders Fund is a Black-focused initiative meant to assist entrepreneurs (BFF).
According to reports, the web search engine announced on Tuesday that the second cohort of BFF would award a total of $4 million to 60 qualified Black-founded start-ups.
The following start-ups were chosen in South Africa.
- Agrikool is an agritech platform that connects farming producers and buyers to a fair and reliable market.
- CreditA Is provides credit scoring tools for micro-businesses and individuals that do not fit the existing traditional credit scoring models.
- Mapha provides delivery-as-a-service to businesses in peri-urban & township areas.
- Rekisa helps businesses create their e-commerce websites and assists them with various digital marketing activities.
- Technovera is a tech startup developing simple technologies aimed at improving last-mile access in Africa.
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Kaya Biz with Gugulethu Mfuphi spoke with Asher Patel, the Head of Marketing at Google South Africa and Head of B2B Sub Sahara Africa to speak more about Google’s initiative.
LISTEN TO THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE:
Patel says the fund was established last year, making this year the second year where eligible start-ups receive capital funding and support to enable them to scale up their businesses.
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The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund program will introduce grantees in Africa to Google’s tools, connections, and best practices in order to level the playing field as they develop better goods and services that contribute to the continent’s economy.
Nigeria, with twenty-three grantees, Kenya, with twelve, Rwanda, with six, South Africa, with five, and Uganda, with four, are the top five nations with the most startups chosen for the program.
Ethiopia has two chosen grants, while Cameroon and Ghana each have three recipients. Senegal and Botswana each have one chosen startup.
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