Google has officially opened applications for the 2025 cohort of its Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program, focusing exclusively on AI-first startups across the continent.
The initiative, which has already supported more than 140 startups across 17 African nations, aims to empower early-stage companies leveraging artificial intelligence to solve real-world challenges at scale.
This year’s accelerator will run as a hybrid, three-month program designed to support startups from seed to Series A stage.
Selected participants will receive access to intensive technical training, strategic mentorship from Google employees and industry experts, investor and partner networking opportunities, and up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, completely equity-free.
To be eligible, startups must be based in Africa with at least one African founder.
They must also have a live product in the market with demonstrated product-market fit and a clear potential to scale.
Furthermore, Google emphasizes the need for a strong AI component, either as the core of the product or deeply integrated into operations.
Applicants must also be willing to explore and integrate Google products into their solutions.
The accelerator comes at a pivotal time, as AI continues to reshape industries ranging from agriculture and education to health care and fintech across the continent.
Google’s commitment through this program underscores the company’s long-term vision of nurturing local innovation ecosystems with global potential.
According to Google, startups that have gone through previous cohorts have collectively raised over $300 million in funding and created more than 3,000 jobs.
Among the notable alumni is Nigeria-based Crop2Cash, an agritech startup using digital tools to bridge informal agricultural networks with the formal economy.
The company empowers farmers with digital identities that enable traceable payments and access to credit.
Applications are now open for startups ready to harness the power of AI to drive meaningful impact on the continent.
