Google Chooses Four Nigerian Startups for Accelerator Africa
Google has announced the selection of four Nigerian startups—Bani, MasteryHive AI, Regxta, and Termii—out of approximately 2,600 applicants to be part of the 10th Accelerator Africa cohort. This initiative features 15 startups from across the continent, all harnessing the power of AI to tackle significant challenges in fintech, agritech, and healthtech.
Spotlighting African Innovation
Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem for Sub-Saharan Africa, expressed optimism about the selected startups, emphasizing that their founders represent the broader momentum of growth across the African continent. He highlighted the crucial role that these startups play in driving economic advancement and social progress through technology.
Commitment to Supporting Startups
Aiyegbusi emphasized Google’s commitment as a support partner for these innovators. “Our role is to provide the technical infrastructure, mentorship, and global network necessary for these founders to scale their solutions and amplify their real-world impact,” he stated.
Program Details
The Accelerator program will run from April 13 to June 19, 2026, offering a three-month hybrid experience for all 15 startups. Participants will benefit from mentorship, workshops focused on AI and machine learning, and resources aimed at assisting them in preparing for future funding rounds.
Diverse Applications of Artificial Intelligence
The selected startups span various sectors, including fintech, agritech, healthtech, mobility, and SaaS. Google noted that all participant startups leverage innovative AI applications to confront essential challenges in their respective nations.
Focus on Financial Inclusion and Communication
The four Nigerian startups are dedicated to using artificial intelligence to enhance financial inclusion and streamline communication processes. Bani is developing cross-border payment infrastructure to eliminate delays for African businesses operating on a global scale, while MasteryHive AI is focused on automating transaction reconciliation and fraud detection.
Expanding Financial Services
Regxta combines alternative data-driven credit scoring with a hybrid digital agent model, aiming to extend financial services to unbanked populations and micro-enterprises. Meanwhile, Termii offers AI-powered communications infrastructure designed to bolster the reliability of financial messaging for banks and fintech companies.
Broader African Impact
In addition to the Nigerian startups, the cohort includes 11 other startups from across Africa, representing countries like Angola, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Senegal, and Tanzania. Since its inception in 2018, Google for Startups Accelerator Africa has supported 106 startups in 17 African nations, collectively raising more than $263 million and generating over 2,800 jobs, underscoring the program’s significant impact on the regional startup ecosystem.
