Meet the 5 African startups selected for Google.org AI accelerator

Google has selected 20 startups for its newest Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI cohort. These include 5 that are making an impact across Sub-Saharan Africa. 

According to an announcement, the selected startups will use generative AI to address significant societal problems like crisis response, antimicrobial resistance and children’s mental health. They were selected through an open call for nonprofits, social enterprises, civic entities and universities.

Each will receive a share of $30 million along with six months of technical training, pro bono support from Google’s AI experts and access to Cloud credits.

Google.org launched the Generative AI Accelerator in 2024 to bring the benefits of AI to the social sector by providing nonprofits with funding and technical expertise, and featured organisations with impact in Africa like EIDU, Tabiya and Jacaranda Health.

In a recent Google.org survey, nearly two-thirds of nonprofits using AI tools reported feeling more confident in serving their organisation’s mission when they use AI, yet only one in five say that at least half their organisation uses generative AI.

Seven months after graduating, members of the first cohort, such as Tabiya, have testified that they are seeing the benefits.

Tabiya used Google Cloud tools like Vertex AI to develop Compass, an open-source, gen AI-powered conversational agent designed to tackle youth unemployment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The startup plans to increase the number of job seekers that a single human career counsellor can reach by 100%. 

The startup has reached more than 8,000 job seekers in half the time and at a quarter of the cost, thanks to Compass: an open-source conversational agent built using Gemini.

Read also: Ministry of Communications unveils N2.8bn Google fund to advance AI talent development in Nigeria

Google.org AI accelerator: Meet the 5 African startups selected

Below is a brief of the 5 startups selected from across Sub-Saharan Africa:

Darsel- [Nigeria]

Darsel is a supplemental tool for K12 school systems. All its content is curriculum-aligned. Its personalised learning algorithm automatically adapts to students’ levels and provides hints and explanations to address learning gaps in a friendly, gamified, and engaging manner.

The startup also partners with schools and gives math teachers data on their students’ skills and needs.

In partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Darsel is improving math learning rates for over 15,000 Grade 9 students in Nigeria through a gen AI-powered tutor that delivers 5 million personalised answers to student questions.

Signvrse– [Kenya]

Signvrse is creating real-time, offline sign language avatars to overcome communication challenges and interpreter shortages for millions of deaf individuals across Africa.

The startup works with organisations committed to removing communication barriers and reaching deaf and hard-of-hearing communities more effectively.

Using AI, it enables instant sign language interpretation using 3D avatars. It also provides API integration tools for websites and apps that support deaf users and improve accessibility.

Aga Khan University- [Kenya]

Aga Khan University addresses Kenya’s severe doctor shortage by providing doctors with real-time, evidence-based clinical guidance in English and Swahili, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, treatment decisions, and adherence to local guidelines.

The startup is built on the belief that data can offer significant advantages, especially in low-income communities.

Hence, it makes it easier for more people at the Aga Khan University to use powerful analytics daily, shorten the path from data to insight, and inspire bold discoveries that drive progress.

3iS- [Nigeria & Ethiopia]

3iS is strengthening crisis response capabilities by enabling real-time insights that increase risk management skills, drive anticipatory action, and support efficient resource allocation for hundreds of thousands of people across Nigeria and Ethiopia.

The startup uses data and cutting-edge technology to generate knowledge that equips leaders and change agents to better achieve their objectives in the humanitarian, development, and academic sectors. 

 CETA Global- [Zambia & South Africa]

Alongside partners in Zambia and South Africa,  CETA Global is addressing critical care shortages by equipping thousands of mental health providers globally with standardised, evidence-based, and cost-effective training through a simulation platform for realistic role-play and personalised feedback.

It streamlines and solves the workforce challenges with its groundbreaking software and workforce training system. Then, it easily administers the highest quality, cost-effective, transdiagnostic, evidence-based system going forward.