Google has picked about 11 startups from Africa to take part in its accelerator program, AI First. The program will assist African startups in utilizing AI to address issues in both Africa and other parts of the globe. Three Nigerian businesses are among the 11 firms selected for the program’s initial batch. Africa is not as late as usual to the party as artificial intelligence, or AI is altering the world of business. Google has endorsed the efforts of a new generation of African innovators who are using AI to address issues facing the continent, such as healthcare, logistics, and agriculture. Google established a number of programs in August 2023 as part of its Google Accelerator programs, one of which is the AI-First project.
According to BusinessInsider, the program offers mentorship, technical advice, networking opportunities, and a $350,000 allocation in Google Cloud Credits to entrepreneurs.
These startups are harnessing the power of AI to address a wide range of issues, spanning from enhancing healthcare accessibility to fueling economic advancement:
- Avalon Health (South Africa): Empowers patients with streamlined online healthcare access and offers doctors digital tools to enhance care.
- Chatbots Africa (Ghana): Spearheading SMEs’ transition into the Social Commerce era with AI-driven online storefronts.
- Dial Afrika Inc (Kenya): Tailoring customer support tools for global businesses, with a focus on African SMBs.
- Famasi Africa (Nigeria): Building the OS for pharmacies in emerging markets.
- Fastagger Inc (Kenya): Using AI to amplify sales and loyalty, supporting MSMEs’ growth.
- Garri Logistics (Ethiopia): Digitalizing freight brokerage and transport services.
- Izifin (Nigeria): Providing an end-to-end credit infrastructure via API for small businesses.
- Lengo AI (Senegal): Launching the first Data-Driven OS for the Informal Sector.
- Logistify AI (Uganda): Minimising inventory losses in industrial facilities.
- Telliscope (Ethiopia): Offering an AI-enabled business intelligence platform.
- Vzy (Nigeria): Revolutionising website building with AI-driven tools that craft sites in mere minutes.
