5 Kenyan Startups Selected for Google for Startups’ Black Founders Fund

Five Kenyan startups have been selected for the third cohort of Google for Startups’ Black Founders Fund, a $4 million program that provides equity-free cash awards, Google Cloud credits, ad support, and mentorship to early-stage Black-led high-growth businesses across Europe and Africa.

The Kenyan startups selected are:

  • Fleetsimplify, a monetization platform connecting gig drivers and vehicle owners
  • Tushop, a tech platform for group buying of daily essentials in Kenya
  • Jumba, a B2B platform that is improving Kenya’s construction sector supply chain
  • Uzapoint, a mobile/web POS for digitizing bookkeeping in Africa’s informal sector
  • Zydii, a company that provides localized digital training solutions for African SMEs

The other 35 startups selected for the program come from 15 countries across Africa and Europe. The program is designed to help Black founders overcome the systemic racial inequality in venture capital (VC) funding and build successful businesses.

“Startups play a major role in advancing Africa’s digital transformation,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startups Ecosystem, Africa at Google. “We look forward to working with this group of innovative founders who are using technology to solve some of the most pressing challenges in Africa. The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund is committed to addressing the stark inequality in VC funding by providing Black founders with the resources and support they need to succeed.”

The Black Founders Fund is part of Google’s commitment to supporting Black entrepreneurs and building an inclusive tech ecosystem. Google has a number of other programs and initiatives that support Black founders, including the Black Founders Network, the Black Founders Fund for Startups in the United States, and the Black Founders Fund for Startups in India.

“We are excited to support these 40 Black-led startups as they work to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Aiyegbusi. “We believe that these startups have the potential to make a significant impact on their communities and the world.”

About the Black Founders Fund

The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund is a $4 million program that provides equity-free cash awards, Google Cloud credits, ad support, and mentorship to early-stage Black-led high-growth businesses across Europe and Africa. The program is designed to help Black founders overcome the systemic racial inequality in venture capital (VC) funding and build successful businesses.

The Black Founders Fund is open to startups that are at least 18 months old and have raised less than $1 million in VC funding. To apply, startups must submit a pitch deck and answer a few questions about their business.

Every startup from Africa and Europe that will receive the $4 Million in Funding to Scale Their Businesses

Africa

  • Akoma Health (Nigeria): Tech platform for accessible, culturally conscious mental health services in Africa.
  • BezoMoney (Ghana) : Digital banking for Africa’s underbanked via mobile/web platforms.
  • Chargel (Senegal): Digital trucking platform connecting shippers/carriers in Francophone West Africa.
  • Charis UAS (Rwanda): Provides 3D geospatial data via drone technology.
  • Evolve Credit (Nigeria): SaaS for digitising and managing banking services.
  • Excel At Uni (South Africa): Supports student funders via digital services.
  • EzyAgric (Uganda): AI-powered mobile technology to enhance Africa’s farming sector.
  • Fez Delivery (Nigeria): Last-mile logistics platform for various industries.
  • Fleetsimplify (Kenya): Monetization platform connecting gig drivers & vehicle owners.
  • HealthDart (South Africa): Digital HMO providing end-to-end health services with insurance.
  • Herconomy (Nigeria): Female-focused fintech aiming to be Africa’s first women’s bank.
  • Jumba (Kenya): Improving Kenya’s construction sector supply chain via B2B platform.
  • MDaaS Global (Nigeria): Tech-powered diagnostic centres for affordable healthcare.
  • My Pocket Counsel (Nigeria): Legal tech platform for contract generation and management.
  • Orda (Nigeria): Pan-African neobank for restaurants, offering cloud-based software.
  • Periculum (Nigeria): Data company aiding in credit assessment, fraud/churn risk.
  • Raenest (Nigeria): Fintech offering global financial services to freelancers/startups in Africa.
  • Ridelink (Uganda): E-logistics platform providing shipping and real-time tracking.
  • Susu (Côte d’Ivoire): Health platform providing healthcare services/insurance funded by African diaspora.
  • Talamus Health (Ghana): Tech solutions targeting healthcare inefficiencies in Africa.
  • TruQ (Nigeria): Streamlining mid-mile logistics across Africa with third-party vehicle connectivity.
  • Tushop (Kenya): Tech platform for group buying of daily essentials in Kenya.
  • Uzapoint (Kenya): Mobile/web POS for digitising bookkeeping in Africa’s informal sector.
  • Zinacare (South Africa): Online platform for accessible, affordable healthcare services.
  • Zydii (Kenya): Localised digital training solutions for African SMEs

Europe

  • Afropreneur (France): Online platform connecting Black entrepreneurs in Europe.
  • Crowdforce (Greece): Platform for connecting businesses with freelance workers.
  • Emerge (United Kingdom): Platform for connecting Black professionals in the tech industry.
  • Femcapital (United Kingdom): Platform for connecting women investors with female-led businesses.
  • InsureWell (United Kingdom): Platform for providing affordable health insurance to low-income families.
  • Karibu (Germany): Platform for connecting African migrants with businesses and services in Germany.
  • Moyo Health (United Kingdom): Digital health platform for providing mental health services to young people.
  • Nubi (Germany): Platform for providing financial services to migrants.
  • Skore (United Kingdom): Platform for connecting young people with apprenticeships and jobs.
  • Ubamarket (Spain): Platform for connecting farmers with buyers in Spain.

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