by Benson T
Earning a spot on Google’s startup accelerator program is not a small achievement. But two of the eleven companies to earn a spot on the program are African, both social impact startups from Nigeria and Kenya.
All the startups will receive full funding.
The two startups will now take part in Google’s inaugural accelerator program on Sustainable Development Goals that will last five months. The program brings together startup businesses with solutions on three social problems- poverty, hunger, and inequality. The London-based program began this week (April 21), with initial meetings virtual due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
mDOC and Solar Freeze
The Nigerian startup to earn the coveted spot is mDoc, joining Kenyan startup Solar Freeze as two of Africa’s representatives.
According to a blog post by Google, virtual training sessions will be available for startups. Meanwhile, founders are to work with Google’s engineers on aspects like product development, engineering, and funding challenges.
mDoc is a tech startup whose technology provides for a digital platform that helps people with chronic illnesses. The platform also offers in-person hubs and tools with which individuals with conditions like diabetes and hypertension can track their health.
The startup is the brainchild of Yale University-trained pediatrician Nneka Mobisson and Johannesburg-based Imo Etuk. Nneka is a former executive director of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement-Africa.
Solar Freeze was selected for its work with small scale farmers. The startup offers access to renewable energy-powered mobile cold storage units that farmers use to significantly reduce losses suffered after harvests.
Other startups to make the cut are Apic.ai and Ororatech- both from Germany; UK’s Cervest.earth and Ellipsis.earth; Everimpact in France; Wondertree from Pakistani; Oko from Israel; Skilllab from the Netherlands and Flare- a Kenya-based startup but whose founders are American.
