African startups led by younger ladies have been invited to use for the AI Ventures Accelerator, a programme the place chosen groups would obtain $10,000 in equity-free seed funding.
The initiative is run by Technovation and Era Limitless and additionally gives mentorship assist.
The accelerator goals to assist younger feminine innovators with technology-driven options whereas strengthening entrepreneurship and AI abilities in growing economies.
What they’re saying
The AI Ventures Accelerator is a 12-week intensive programme that equips individuals with each technical and enterprise abilities required to launch and scale an AI enterprise.
- Groups will be taught foundational AI, entrepreneurship and human-centred design whereas growing and prototyping real-world know-how options. Individuals may also be taught to make use of generative AI instruments, practice machine studying fashions, curate datasets, and construct net or cellular functions that deal with actual issues.
- The programme offers knowledgeable mentorship and steering to assist individuals develop investor-ready enterprise pitches, strengthen management and communication abilities and refine their enterprise methods
- On the finish of the programme, the highest 10 groups will share $100,000 in equity-free seed funding and current their ventures at a dwell Demo Day occasion.
The funding is meant to assist groups rent builders, purchase clients, construct merchandise and scale their startups past the prototype stage.
Eligibility necessities
The accelerator is open to younger ladies aged 19 to 24. Groups of two to 4 are most well-liked, however solo founders can nonetheless apply.
- Candidates must be genuinely keen on know-how and AI, have an actual downside they need to resolve, and be able to commit about 10 to fifteen hours every week over the 12-week programme.
- Additionally they should be dwelling in a UNICEF programme nation. To use click on right here.
- To win a spot within the AI Ventures Accelerator, it is advisable present that you simply need to repair an actual downside in your neighborhood, clarify the issue clearly and why it issues.
- Present who it impacts and why individuals would need a answer. Show you may speak to the individuals who have the issue so you may check your concept and ensure it really helps, and present you and your staff actually cares about fixing the issue.
What it is best to know
Accelerator packages are like fast-track progress camps for startups. They’re quick, intensive programmes designed to assist founders flip an early concept or younger enterprise into one thing robust sufficient to draw clients, traders, and actual market traction.
Usually, an accelerator runs for a number of weeks to some months. Throughout that point, founders obtain hands-on steering from skilled entrepreneurs, traders, and trade consultants who assist them refine their product, sharpen their enterprise mannequin, and keep away from frequent errors.
Additionally they be taught sensible abilities reminiscent of pitching to traders, understanding clients, constructing scalable methods, and advertising and marketing successfully.
- Final month, Google opened functions for the tenth cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, reinforcing the rising push to assist AI-driven innovation throughout the continent.
- The 12-week hybrid programme targets Collection A startups constructing Africa-focused options utilizing synthetic intelligence and machine studying, with functions open till March 18, 2026. Chosen startups acquire entry to Google’s AI experience, technical assets, mentorship and international networking alternatives geared toward strengthening merchandise and scaling responsibly.
Final yr, six Nigerian startups had been chosen for cohort 9 of the Google for Startups Accelerator programme. The six startups had been among the many 15 AI-driven ventures chosen from throughout Africa.
