Google for Startups Growth Academy Unveils 2023 Cohort

The Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Health program has revealed its 2023 cohort, showcasing 30 transformative startups hailing from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

This selection process, which commenced in May, has culminated in the recognition of five innovative African startups poised to revolutionize healthcare through AI-driven solutions.

AI as a Transformative Tool

Startups worldwide are increasingly leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to address a wide array of critical challenges.

From early disease detection to ensuring accessibility to essential health information, these startups are harnessing AI to not only enhance billions of lives but also stimulate robust economic growth.

Google’s Commitment to African Innovation

Yuval Passov, Head of Google for Startup and the program’s leader, expressed his admiration for Africa’s innovative prowess in the AI for Health domain.

He lauded these startups as a testament to the continent’s capacity to create global healthcare solutions.

Google aims to provide unwavering support and collaboration to assist these startups as they strive to scale and disseminate their groundbreaking solutions.

African Startups in the Cohort

Among the five African startups selected for the cohort are the following:

Eden Care (Rwanda): A startup merging AI and digital health to reshape health insurance and corporate well-being.
iZola Limited (Kenya): Focused on enhancing support for families with neurodivergent children through an AI-integrated therapeutics platform.
mDoc (Nigeria): Elevating personal health practices through virtual health mentorship.
Pharmarun (Nigeria): Unifying regional pharmacies with an innovative, patient-centric platform.
Zuri Health (Kenya): A startup revolutionizing patient care with a comprehensive digital toolkit.

Innovations Beyond Africa

Beyond the African continent, several startups have introduced pioneering solutions:

Biocam: Offering a real-time digestive system scanning capsule to identify potential threats.
Mindstep: Providing an app dedicated to enhancing brain and mental health.
Rayscape: Equipping radiologists with a digital assistant embedded with AI tools for improved decision-making.

Google’s Ongoing Support for Startups in Africa

This initiative aligns with Google’s broader vision of supporting startups and accelerating their growth. In August, Google introduced the Google for Startups Accelerator:

AI First, a 10-week equity-free accelerator designed to aid African startups in utilizing artificial intelligence to address local challenges.

Since the launch of Google for Startups Accelerator programs in Africa in 2018, Google has extended support to 106 startups from 17 African nations.

These startups have collectively raised over $263 million in funding and have contributed to the creation of over 2,800 jobs.

For a detailed overview of the selected startups and the program, you can visit Google’s Africa blog.