Google ‘AI First’ Accelerator Has Chosen Garri Logistics and 10 African Other Startups for Its First Cohort

Over a month after Google expanded its ‘AI First’ accelerator to Africa, the tech giant has chosen 11 African startups for the first round of the program.

These startups are using advanced artificial intelligence to tackle local and global challenges.

During a 10-week accelerator program, the selected startups will benefit from Google’s AI expertise and receive a $350,000 allocation in Google Cloud Credits. They will also participate in mentorship sessions, receive technical guidance, and gain networking opportunities to expand their reach and impact.

The 11 selected startups include companies like Avalon Health (South Africa), Chatbots Africa (Ghana), Dial Afrika Inc (Kenya), Famasi Africa (Nigeria), Fastagger Inc (Kenya), Garri Logistics (Ethiopia), Izifin (Nigeria), Lengo AI (Senegal), Logistify AI (Uganda), Telliscope (Ethiopia), and Vzy (Nigeria).

Folarin Aiyegbusi, Google’s head of the startup ecosystem in Africa, highlights the role of AI in reshaping our world, saying: “At Google, we’ve been working on AI for over a decade, and we’ve shown how useful AI is in our products and for developers externally. AI is not only a powerful enabler, it’s also a major platform shift. That’s why we’re focused on making it easy and scalable for others to innovate with AI,”

“Our chosen startups for the ‘AI First’ program embody this vision, leveraging AI in pioneering ways to address both local and global challenges. We’re here excited to support and amplify their impact.”

Adeola Ayoola, CEO/Co-founder of Famasi Africa, expressed confidence in scaling their AI-powered digital health solutions with Google’s mentorship.

The Google ‘AI First’ accelerator program aligns with a McKinsey report that suggests AI could contribute $1.3 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2030. The program aims to support startups in harnessing this potential.

This 10-week equity-free program is open to early-stage startups in Africa, focusing on African-centred solutions using AI and machine learning innovations.

The program reflects Google’s commitment to supporting African startups, building on previous initiatives. These startups cover a wide range of innovative solutions, from digital healthcare access to AI-driven online storefronts and customer support tools tailored for African SMBs.