of MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Office
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – APPS are open for a program that aims to empower and support women founders in Africa to scale their startups and address the continent’s issues.
This is under the auspices of Google’s inaugural Accelerator for Startups: Africa Women Founders Program.
Registration closes on February 20.
Women founders who are building tech startups in or for Africa can apply through the program website at g.co/acceleratorafrica.
The 12-week program will begin in March 2023 and will include one bootcamp per month, held in a hybrid style of online and face-to-face sessions.
Selected participants will receive access to Google products, mentorship from industry experts, resources, tools and technology, as well as networking opportunities and connections with investors to support the growth of their new ventures.
“We are excited about the open call for applications for our three-month accelerator program, specifically designed to address the unique challenges facing women founders in Africa,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google.
“We believe that investing in women founders in Africa is critical for economic empowerment that will enable job creation for the growing population of young Africans,” the official added.
African female founders face challenges in their entrepreneurial activities, including limited access to finance.
Despite these challenges, women make up a significant portion of African entrepreneurs, with 58% of businesses in Africa owned by women.
“Raising women’s participation and leadership in the business ecosystem is crucial to promoting gender equality and boosting economic growth in Africa,” said Aiyegbusi.
– CAJ News
