Google for Startups

Google for Startups is an initiative launched in 2011 that focuses on supporting startups globally by providing access to Google's products, connections, and best practices. The program partners with over fifty leading startup organizations to foster entrepreneurial ecosystems in more than 135 countries. It offers various resources, including financial support and exclusive programming, to help these partners and their startups thrive. Central to this initiative are six Google for Startups Campuses located in London, Tel Aviv, Seoul, Madrid, São Paulo, and Warsaw. These Campuses serve as collaborative spaces where startup founders can access mentorship, educational resources, and networking opportunities within their local communities. Startups benefit from free workspaces, community events, and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs, all aimed at nurturing their growth and innovation across diverse sectors such as healthcare, retail, finance, and technology.

Matthew Brittin

President, EMEA

Sundar Pichai

CEO, Google

Past deals in East Africa

Garri Logistics

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Garri Logistics is a digital platform that streamlines cargo transportation in Ethiopia. It connects shippers and importers with approved carriers, offering services such as real-time tracking, frequent updates, and analytics to ensure efficient and reliable freight movement.

EzyAgric

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
EzyAgric is an ag-tech company focused on enhancing agricultural productivity and efficiency for farmers and agribusinesses. It operates a mobile and web application that provides access to essential resources, including genuine agro-inputs, educational content, GPS mapping for gardens, and tools for managing farm records. Additionally, EzyAgric facilitates connections to profitable markets and offers financial services tailored to the needs of farmers. By digitizing the agricultural value chain, EzyAgric helps users make informed business decisions, reduce operational costs, and improve overall crop yields in Uganda. Through its innovative platform, the company aims to bridge the gap in information and service delivery within the agricultural sector.

Zydii

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Zydii Limited is an online learning and teaching platform based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2016. The company focuses on delivering localized digital training solutions specifically designed for the African workforce. Zydii offers a range of affordable and relevant personal development courses, digital courses, and virtual programs, catering to learners, instructors, and businesses. Its proprietary platform supports both online and offline access through USSD and SMS, ensuring that educational resources are engaging and widely accessible. By providing tailor-made courses, Zydii aims to facilitate skill development and drive transformative growth for its users.

Jumba

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Jumba is a construction technology platform based in Nairobi, Kenya, established in 2022. The company focuses on optimizing B2B construction material purchases and financing, serving as a vital link between manufacturers and retailers. Its platform allows businesses to order a range of materials, including cement, steel, paint, tiles, plumbing, electrical supplies, and finishes for kitchens and bathrooms, with the option to pay later. By connecting small hardware stores with medium-sized retailers in their vicinity, Jumba facilitates inventory updates and streamlines the construction supply chain in Africa, making the procurement process more efficient for hardware retail establishments.

Charis Unmanned Aerial Solutions

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
CHARISUAS is the first ever unmanned Aerial vehicles leading company in Rwanda. We provide diversified services in UAV industries. These include UAS consulting, UAV building and system integration, pilot and safety training, maintenance of UAVs and much more. Our reputation and professionalism has helped to obtain hard to get exclusive permits to fly in restricted areas.

Zydii

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Zydii Limited is an online learning and teaching platform based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2016. The company focuses on delivering localized digital training solutions specifically designed for the African workforce. Zydii offers a range of affordable and relevant personal development courses, digital courses, and virtual programs, catering to learners, instructors, and businesses. Its proprietary platform supports both online and offline access through USSD and SMS, ensuring that educational resources are engaging and widely accessible. By providing tailor-made courses, Zydii aims to facilitate skill development and drive transformative growth for its users.

HeptaPay

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
HeptaPay is a bill payment application that caters to the East African region. The company focuses on providing a user-friendly platform that simplifies various payment processes, aiming to improve financial accessibility for its users. In addition to its payment services, HeptaPay utilizes data analysis to enhance decision-making for its clients, presenting information through visualizations and effective presentations. This comprehensive approach combines financial transaction capabilities with robust infrastructure, cloud solutions, and big data analytics, positioning HeptaPay as a versatile and essential tool in the digital payment landscape in East Africa.

BuuPass

Pre Seed Round in 2023
BuuPass is a digital transport solutions provider based in Kenya, focusing on simplifying the movement of people through innovative booking systems. As the first marketplace in the country for bus, shuttle, and train bookings, BuuPass offers a fast and user-friendly platform that allows commuters to easily reserve their seats and make payments. The company is powered by a team of young entrepreneurs dedicated to addressing everyday transportation challenges and enhancing accessibility. By enabling users to book tickets through both online and SMS-based methods, BuuPass ensures that urban commuters can manage their travel plans conveniently and efficiently. The company emphasizes the importance of time and choice, striving to empower individuals to travel on their own terms while connecting them to various opportunities.

BuuPass

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
BuuPass is a digital transport solutions provider based in Kenya, focusing on simplifying the movement of people through innovative booking systems. As the first marketplace in the country for bus, shuttle, and train bookings, BuuPass offers a fast and user-friendly platform that allows commuters to easily reserve their seats and make payments. The company is powered by a team of young entrepreneurs dedicated to addressing everyday transportation challenges and enhancing accessibility. By enabling users to book tickets through both online and SMS-based methods, BuuPass ensures that urban commuters can manage their travel plans conveniently and efficiently. The company emphasizes the importance of time and choice, striving to empower individuals to travel on their own terms while connecting them to various opportunities.

Bookings Africa

Grant in 2022
Bookings Africa, established in 2018, is a pioneering online marketplace that connects clients in the entertainment, media, and lifestyle industries with creative professionals across Africa. Its platform enables users to efficiently source, compare, and book services such as models, makeup artists, voiceover artists, DJs, and filming locations. With a mission to reduce unemployment and foster creativity among African youth, Bookings Africa leverages technology to empower freelancers, facilitating secure online payments and transactions. The company, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, also has operations in Kenya and Johannesburg, South Africa, benefiting all stakeholders, including service providers, clients, employees, and local media communities.

Eden Life

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Eden Life Inc., based in Lagos, Nigeria, specializes in tech-enabled housekeeping services for professionals. Through its online platform and mobile application, the company offers a range of services including laundry, meal preparation, house cleaning, equipment maintenance, and meal delivery. By aggregating vendors offering diverse services, Eden Life enables clients to efficiently manage their household chores.

Zuri Health

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Zuri Health is a telemedicine company based in Nairobi, Kenya, established in 2020. It aims to provide affordable and accessible healthcare solutions through its app, website, and SMS services. The platform allows patients to schedule lab and diagnostic tests, consult with doctors via chat, purchase medications from pharmacies, and arrange home visits with qualified medical professionals. Zuri Health also employs an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot to enhance user experience. By catering to individuals without smartphones and those in rural or underserved areas, the company strives to ensure that healthcare is universally accessible, thereby addressing gaps in the traditional healthcare system.

Garri Logistics

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Garri Logistics is a digital platform that streamlines cargo transportation in Ethiopia. It connects shippers and importers with approved carriers, offering services such as real-time tracking, frequent updates, and analytics to ensure efficient and reliable freight movement.

BAG Innovation

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
BAG Innovation Ltd is a digital platform based in Kigali, Rwanda, that connects academic institutions and businesses in East Africa. Established in 2017, the company offers a gamified experience for university students, providing access to various internship programs and skills development modules. Through its platform, BAG Innovation collaborates with employers to deliver interactive assessments that align with industry skill requirements, enabling students to build personalized skills profiles and receive tailored career guidance from the beginning of their studies. This approach allows businesses to efficiently engage with a larger pool of students for internships, facilitating work-life experience transfer without additional effort. The company's innovative use of gamification, developed by a team that includes creators from the gaming industry, enhances student engagement and retention. BAG Innovation operates on a freemium model, attracting users while generating revenue through premium subscriptions for businesses and educational institutions, thereby integrating career development support into university curricula.

Exuus

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Exuus Limited is a financial technology company based in Kigali, Rwanda, established in 2014. It specializes in web-based software services designed to enhance operational performance and decision-making for organizations. Its primary products include Cartix, a platform that optimizes strategic investments, and Save, a digital solution that supports and empowers savings groups through user-friendly ledger management. Exuus also provides digital data collection, data mining, and data visualization services. The company's mission is to inspire resilience and enable communities to achieve optimal satisfaction by offering credit infrastructure for unbanked individuals and businesses, as well as micro-loans and micro-insurance products tailored to support informal social saving groups and smallholder farmers.

Xente

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Xente is a company that specializes in providing smart Visa cards and payment solutions aimed at simplifying financial management and administrative tasks for businesses operating in Africa. It has developed a payment platform that facilitates e-commerce and cashless transactions, offering services for various sectors including mobile, utilities, travel, events, and entertainment. Through its neo-bank, Xente aims to drive digital transformation in East Africa, where cash-based transactions are prevalent. The platform enables customers and businesses to conduct reliable and secure transactions on mobile devices from anywhere in the world, thereby enhancing the overall payment experience.

AC Group

Grant in 2021
AC Group Ltd is a Hi-tech & ICT company registered under the Rwandan registrar of companies. As a “Technology enabler”, they are a leading Solution Provider of Intelligent and Interactive Solutions in Rwanda, expanding to regional markets with an aim of being part of building a regional ICT hub. In December 2015, They launched Tap&Go card for passengers under the “One card one City campaign” on the biggest bus operator in Kigali - Kigali Bus Services (KBS) in partnership with the Government of Rwanda.

Treepz

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Treepz is a technology-driven transportation company focused on enhancing mobility across Africa. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Treepz operates in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya, providing users with a reliable and comfortable commuting experience. Its application allows users to book trips for daily, inter-city, or corporate travel at the tap of a button. The platform offers features such as vehicle assistants, licensed drivers, and e-wallet payments, ensuring that users can book and pay for fast and convenient trips in real-time. Through its innovative approach, Treepz aims to create a safer and more efficient transportation system for commuters in the region.

Pezesha

Grant in 2021
Pezesha is a digital financial marketplace based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2016. The company focuses on connecting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to various financial resources, including working capital, float financing, and LPO financing. By leveraging credit and data analytics, Pezesha facilitates affordable credit options for underserved micro-businesses, enabling them to access the formal financial system. The platform serves as a bridge between lenders and low-income borrowers, promoting a shared economy and broadening financial access for SMBs. Through its innovative approach, Pezesha aims to be a leading player in Africa's digital financial landscape, enhancing the growth potential of small businesses across the region.

Angaza Elimu

Grant in 2021
Angaza Elimu is an ed-tech company dedicated to transforming education in Kenya and across Africa by addressing classroom inefficiencies and the lack of adequate educational resources. The company offers a comprehensive e-Learning platform that simplifies classroom management, allowing teachers to focus more on delivering quality education. Angaza Elimu enhances student engagement through a Student Portal that promotes critical thinking and technological interaction. Additionally, the company provides supplemental training in STEM subjects, fostering innovation and creativity among young learners. With a commitment to empowering African youth, Angaza Elimu also features an Internet of Things school that offers hands-on training in hardware engineering, enabling students to learn at their own pace both inside and outside the classroom.

Amitruck

Grant in 2021
Amitruck Limited is a logistics platform that connects cargo owners with trucking logistics professionals, streamlining the delivery process. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the company offers a mobile and web-based application that allows customers to easily book deliveries for their loads. Amitruck also provides a driver application, enabling transporters to access clients and communicate effectively. The platform enhances user experience by allowing clients to track their deliveries in real-time, receive timely updates, and obtain instant quotes while ensuring access to the nearest available trucks. Through its intuitive interface, Amitruck aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of the logistics process.

Finplus Group

Grant in 2021
Finplus Group is a technology company building a new credit & commerce infrastructure for emerging markets. We believe that access to markets & financial services should be a human right, available to everyone, everywhere, who wishes to participate in the modern economy. Our goal is to help close the massive $5.2Tn credit deficit faced by SMEs in developing countries every year. Finplus provides white-label digital finance & vertical ecommerce software to: 1. Enable banks & micro-lenders to lend to SMEs, at scale, across multiple markets 2. Help consumer goods companies to digitise sales end-to-end, effectively turning their supply chain into a demand chain 3. Unlock access to an instant line of credit for tens of millions of SMEs and individuals in emerging markets Finplus software has already processed over $1 Billion in transaction value across 5 emerging markets (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Eswatini, South Africa), enabled more than 3 Million MSMEs & individuals to access credit and saved business customers over 1.2 Million man-hours through automation.

MarketForce

Grant in 2021
MarketForce is a technology company headquartered in the United States, with operations in Kenya and Nigeria, focused on enhancing B2B commerce and fintech solutions for African merchants. Launched in 2018, the company has developed the "RejaReja" platform, which allows merchants to digitally source, order, and pay for inventory. In addition to these services, MarketForce offers access to financing, enables digital payment collection, and allows merchants to resell digital financial services like airtime and utility tokens. Operating in five markets across Sub-Saharan Africa, MarketForce has established a rapidly growing network that includes over 200,000 merchants and 50 consumer brands. The company employs an asset-light business model to drive efficiency and productivity in the distribution of goods, utilizing advanced technology to streamline operations for its users.

Taskmoby

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Taskmoby is a home services application operating in Ethiopia that connects clients with skilled service providers for various tasks. The platform allows users to request services such as cleaning, plumbing, home security, handyman services, and laundry either through the application or by calling a designated customer care number. Once a request is made, nearby service providers receive a notification and can respond to the request, facilitating a quick and efficient service delivery. Taskmoby aims to streamline the process of finding reliable help for everyday home needs, ensuring that users can access instant and hassle-free services.

Kwara

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Kwara GmbH is a technology company that specializes in developing a digital banking platform tailored for savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOs). Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, Kwara aims to modernize credit unions by providing a comprehensive cloud-based solution. The platform facilitates loan application servicing and approval for members, while also offering integration services, customer support, real-time financial tracking, and compliance assistance. Kwara's offerings include Kwara Pronto, a tool for managing loans. Currently, the company serves over 200 SACCOs across Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines, enabling these financial institutions to enhance their operations and improve access to formal financial services.

PayWay Ethiopia

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
PayWay Ethiopia is a company that specializes in providing comprehensive payment solutions across various platforms, facilitating convenient online bill payments and other financial transactions. The company designs and develops user-friendly payment applications and devices, catering to everyday payment needs. By creating independent payment software, PayWay Ethiopia serves as a vital link between service providers, dealers, and end-users, enabling businesses to efficiently process payments from their clients. Through its innovative approach, the company aims to enhance the overall payment experience for users in Ethiopia.

Tabiri Analytics

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Tabiri Analytics is a cybersecurity company based in Kigali, Rwanda, established in 2018, that addresses local solutions to global security threats. The company specializes in cybersecurity monitoring and remediation, employing machine learning within a global sourcing framework from East Africa. Its services encompass the use of low-cost hardware sensors, open-source software agents, and cloud-based computing to gather and analyze system logs and networks. Tabiri Analytics collaborates with clients to provide guidance on containing and remediating identified cyber threats, ultimately enhancing their overall cybersecurity posture.

Angaza Elimu

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Angaza Elimu is an ed-tech company dedicated to transforming education in Kenya and across Africa by addressing classroom inefficiencies and the lack of adequate educational resources. The company offers a comprehensive e-Learning platform that simplifies classroom management, allowing teachers to focus more on delivering quality education. Angaza Elimu enhances student engagement through a Student Portal that promotes critical thinking and technological interaction. Additionally, the company provides supplemental training in STEM subjects, fostering innovation and creativity among young learners. With a commitment to empowering African youth, Angaza Elimu also features an Internet of Things school that offers hands-on training in hardware engineering, enabling students to learn at their own pace both inside and outside the classroom.
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