TEFConnect to admit 1m more Africans as TEF, Google.Org raise fellowship
PAN-AFRICAN PHILANTHROPIC ORGANISATION, THE TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION (TEF) and technology giant, Google, are joining forces for an inaugural Google.org fellowship that will enable one million additional Africans to access TEFConnect, a digital networking platform for African entrepreneurs, as part of the foundation’s mission to empower young African entrepreneurs.
The collaboration is the first Google.org fellowship in Africa and includes a $3 million grant by Google.org to support the 2021 TEF entrepreneurship programme that will support an additional 500 African women to start or scale their businesses.
It is also an addition to the initial $100 million TEF initiative which has supported over 15,000 African entrepreneurs, offering enormous opportunities for Africa’s digital community by catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and job creation across all 54 African countries, making it the largest entrepreneurship programme in the continent.
According to Google.org, nine full-time Google employees, including software engineers, UI/UX researchers, and policy experts, will work with TEF to design and build an upgraded version of the TEFConnect platform, which is already home to over one million African entrepreneurs, offering tailored tools, market partnerships, and access to coaches and investors to small businesses.
Speaking on the partnership, Awele Elumelu, co-founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, said TEF is pleased to share its unique ability and platform to identify, train, mentor and fund young entrepreneurs across Africa with like-minded institutions such as Google.org, who share similar commitment towards empowering young African entrepreneurs.
“It will be exciting to see the ways in which the refreshed TEFConnect platform will continue to provide a space for growth, personal development, and meaningful exchange for African entrepreneurs.
“In line with our founding philosophy of Africapitalism, we believe that entrepreneurs are the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent,” she said.
GOOGLE, GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY GIANT, HAS PICKED 15 PARTICIPANTS FOR ITS UPCOMING STARTUPS Accelerator Africa Class 7, a three-month accelerator programme designed to bring the best of Google’s products, people and advanced technology to startups.
Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programmes are organised around a virtual bootcamp concept that includes seminars, one-on-one coaching sessions, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities, with bootcamps taking place in March, April and May.
This seventh class includes 15 tech startups from seven African countries, developing solutions in areas including, healthcare, eduFDWLRQ aeHHW PDQDJHPHQW ORJLVtics automation and recruiting.
The class was selected from thousands of applications, with åQDO VHOHFWLRQ EDVHG RQ SURGXFW stage, programme alignment and PDUNHW åW
Over the next three months, the seventh cohort will work with Google mentors and facilitators, learning best practices on a range RI WRSLFV LQFOXGLQJ $UWLåFLDO ,QWHOligence, Big Data, organisational culture, growth strategies, among others.
The programme began four years ago, and has since supported 82 startups from 17 African countries. Collectively, they have raised an estimated $112 million and created 2800 direct jobs.
During this time, Google said it has invested $5 million through a combination of equity free funding and product credits for Google services.
Folarin Aiyegbusi, head of startup ecosystem, Africa, said Google is thrilled to be starting off the seventh cohort with a diverse and inspiring group of companies who are harnessing technology to tackle the problems that many people on the continent face every day.
“Startups in Africa are solving some of the region’s most pressing issues - from employment to logistics, banking, healthcare, and education. This is a journey that we’re happy to be on,” he added.
Speaking further on the programme, Aiyegbusi said Google is committed to Africa’s growing startup and developer ecosystem by providing end-to-end support and investment to startups which pays off for everyone in the long run.
“As these startups grow, they advance their local economies, create jobs and opportunities, and provide solutions in their communities.
“A stronger African economy is great for everyone, and Google is committed to helping African businesses thrive,” he concluded.
Zita Agwunobi, chief executive officer of iVerify.ng, one of the selected startups based in Nigeria, expressed delight to have been selected for the programme amidst its need to deploy more robust technology infrastructure and scale operations across Africa.
Balqis Chepkwony, chief executive of Fleetsimplify, another selected startup, said the Kenyabased company is thrilled to have been selected for the programme, adding that Fleetsimplify is looking forward to working with the Google team to bring sustainable shared mobility solutions in Africa.
The 15 selected startups include; Clafiya (Nigeria); Fleetsimplify (Kenya); HydroIQ (Kenya); iVerify.ng (Nigeria); LaRuche Health (Côte d’Ivoire); LyRise (Egypt); MDaaS Global (Nigeria); Multiplied (South Africa); Nulitics (South Africa); Ridelink (Uganda); SmartClass (Tanzania); Sukhiba (Kenya); Terawork (Nigeria); The Marking App (South Africa); truQ (Nigeria).