Applications open for the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Class 7
Radhika Bhachu is the co-founder and CEO of Ndovu, a startup dedicated to empowering Africans to develop wealth by promoting financial literacy and providing tools to aid with diversifying financial risks, strengthening security, and increasing financial resilience. Ndovu lays a strong emphasis on closing the gender wealth gap in Africa by intentionally focusing on women. This commitment is reflected in its female client base, which now accounts for 53%, as well as its gender-balanced staff, which presently comprises 50% female staff and 50% female advisory board members.
Ndovu is an alumnus of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program (GFSAA), and like other startups on the continent, it is tackling some of the region's most pressing issues while also providing economic opportunities and jobs. Together, startups in Africa have made some impressive moves in 2021, attracting incredible investments up to the sum of $1.1 billion to date: 69% higher than the entirety of 2020.
We launched the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program in 2017 to support startups to scale their solutions across the continent. So far, 82 startups from 17 African countries have participated in the program, and have gone on to raise over US$117 million in funding and created over 2,800 jobs around the continent. We are delighted to see the progress being made by these companies, and look forward to seeing what the future holds for them.
Today, we are pleased to announce that applications to the 7th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Program are now open at g.co/AcceleratorAfrica
Ahead of a promising 2022, we have designed the program based on feedback from participating startups and with the continuous support of our global network of mentors. The program will run for 3 months, with a one-week virtual bootcamp per month, running from March through May 2022.
Applications for GFS Accelerator Africa are open from today through 14 January 2022. If you're building a great tech startup in Africa, or for Africa, you are welcome to apply!
Andy Volk, Head of Ecosystem, Sub-Saharan Africa
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