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Tag: Google for Startups Accelerator Africa

  • Google Opens Applications for Milestone 10th Cohort of Startups Accelerator Africa, Targeting AI-Driven Scientific Breakthroughs

    Google Opens Applications for Milestone 10th Cohort of Startups Accelerator Africa, Targeting AI-Driven Scientific Breakthroughs

    Google today announced the opening of applications for the 10th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa. This milestone edition marks nearly a decade of support for the African tech ecosystem and reinforces Google’s commitment to accelerating AI-driven scientific and technological breakthroughs across the continent.

    The 12-week “AI First” hybrid program is designed for Series A startups based in Africa or building Africa-centric solutions with AI and machine learning. Participants will benefit from access to Google’s AI expertise and technical resources, alongside mentorship from seasoned AI professionals and invaluable networking opportunities.

    “Africa’s tech landscape is seeing a vibrant shift toward deep-tech innovation,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa. “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 inception in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa program has supported 180+ startups from 17 African countries. Collectively, these startups have raised over $350 million in funding and created more than 3,700 direct job opportunities in the region.

    Applications are open from today until March 18, 2026. Startups are invited to apply at g.co/acceleratorafrica.

    Applicants are also to take not of the programme timeline- Applications Open on February 5, 2026, and close on March 18, 2026. The programme is expected to start in April 2026

  • Google Equips University Students Across Africa with Free Access to Advanced AI Tools

    Google Equips University Students Across Africa with Free Access to Advanced AI Tools

    …12-Month Google AI Pro Plan Launched for Students in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to Build Foundational AI Skills 

    Google today announced a major initiative to support higher education across Africa by offering its premium AI subscription, Google AI Pro for free to university students for 12 months. The offer is available to eligible students aged 18+  in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, providing them with access to Google’s most advanced AI tools to enhance their learning, research, and creative work.

    Through Google’s most capable model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, this initiative will equip the next generation of African leaders, innovators, and creators with fundamental AI literacy. By placing powerful generative AI tools directly in the hands of students, Google is helping to prepare them for a workforce where AI proficiency is increasingly essential.

    “We are seeing a new wave of innovation in Africa, driven by the energy and ingenuity of our young people,” said Alex Okosi, Managing Director for Google in Sub-Saharan Africa. “By providing students with access to our most advanced AI tools, we want to empower them to not only excel in their studies but also to become critical builders and shapers of the future. This offer is about democratizing access to technology and giving African students the skills to compete and lead on a global stage.”

    The Google AI Pro plan provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed for the demands of academic and creative life:

    • Supercharged Learning and Research:  With new features like Guided Learning to help students with in-depth research, summarizing academic papers, debugging code, and  step-by-step guidance on complex problems. 
    •  Time-Saving Efficiency: Use Deep Research to generate comprehensive, cited reports from hundreds of web sources in minutes, transforming how students approach long-form assignments and dissertations.
    • Enhanced Organization and Creativity: Leverage NotebookLM to organize notes and connect ideas, and use Veo 3 to instantly transform text prompts or images into short, high-quality videos for presentations and projects.
    • Massive Storage: Receive 2 TB of cloud storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Photos, ensuring ample space for coursework, research data, and creative portfolios.

    How to Sign Up 

    University students in eligible higher education institutions and countries can verify their status and activate the 12-month free plan by visiting gemini.google/students. The process is designed to be simple, requiring students to verify their status through various methods and to add or confirm a form of payment (without incurring any charges). The offer will be available for redemption for 60 days, from October 7, 2025, to December 9, 2025.

    This student offer builds on Google’s long-standing commitment to Africa’s digital transformation through programs like the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa and the Digital Skills for Africa initiative, which have helped millions of people and businesses grow.