Denis Opudo
Google invites applications for its second Launchpad for startups in 2018 where the winner will potentially walk away with US$3 Million equity-free support from Google. The applications should be sent by July, 8th.
During the first time of this program, the program had reported on the 12 startups, which took part in the first Launchpad Accelerator Africa class with representatives from Nigeria (Piggybank.ng), Kenya (Pezesha), and South Africa (swiftVEE).
The second program is designed for the local markets and giving access to the best of Google through its network, people, and advanced technologies and as a result, it would help various startups to develop great products. Moreover, this program will encompass mentorship, training, exclusive events, and training. The program will go for three months outside Lagos and in the next three years, it will give African startups access to over US$3 Million in support that is free from equity. Additionally, the program will provide the startups with accessibility to expert advisers from Google Africa and Silicon Valley.
This program is open to some of the top African startups, and the application is accepted from Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Cameroon, and Algeria. Some of the Google Launchpad Accelerators, which are open currently include Launchpad Accelerator Africa (for African startup), Launchpad Accelerators Sao Paulo (for next generation Brazilians), and Launchpad Accelerator Tel Aviv (for the promising applied-ML startups in Israel). Some of the benefits of this program include free equity, PR training, access to Google engineers, mentoring, and Silicon Valley experts, as well as a close alliance with Google for three months.
