Google has expanded its six-month, equity-free Launchpad Accelerator programme to seven more African countries.
Disrupt Africa reported in February Google was bringing the Launchpad Accelerator to Africa, aimed at assisting startups in leveraging Google’s latest technologies to scale their businesses through mentoring.
At that time, only startups from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa were eligible to apply, but with the latest expansion Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda are also now covered.
“Launchpad Accelerator gives us an opportunity to work with and empower amazing developers, who are solving major challenges all around the world – whether it’s streamlining digital commerce across Africa, providing access to multimedia tools that support special needs education, or using AI to simplify business operations,” Google said.
“That’s why we’re doubling down on our efforts and opening up applications for the next class of the programme to more countries for the first time.”
Additional Asian, European and Latin American countries have also been added to the list, with applications for the programme open here until October 2. Later in the year, the list of selected developers will be invited to the Google Developers Launchpad Space in San Francisco for two weeks of all-expense-paid training.
The training at Google HQ includes intensive mentoring from more than 20 Google teams, and expert mentors from top technology companies and VCs in Silicon Valley. Participants receive equity-free support, credits for Google products and PR support, and continue to work closely with Google back in their home country during the six-month programme.
