The Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Health has selected five innovative African ventures as part of its 2023 cohort, spotlighting 30 transformative solutions representing 15 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
According to a press release by Google, these startups are all set to reshape healthcare with AI-empowered solutions.
“Startups worldwide are harnessing AI as a transformative instrument, addressing significant challenges from early disease detection to ensuring information accessibility. Their innovations not only improve billions of lives but also drive robust economic growth,” the statement read in part.
This comes a month after Google announced a broader program, the Google for Startups Accelerator.
It is an AI First, 10-week equity-free accelerator aimed at supporting African startups looking to use artificial intelligence to solve local challenges.
African startups selected in the cohort include Eden Care (Rwanda), iZola Limited (Kenya), mDoc (Nigeria), Phamarun ( Nigeria), and Zuri Health (Kenya).
The AI for Health is a three-month programme consisting of virtual workshops on best practices for AI and leadership development, responsible innovation, product design as well and customer acquisition.
It also includes one-on-one mentorship sessions and technical project support from experts from Google Research, Google Health, Verily, Fitbit, as well as Google DeepMind.
Google noted there will be two, in-person summits which also include the programme kickoff in London on September 27 and 28, designed to connect founders to venture capitalists, industry experts, and other founders building with AI in the healthcare and wellbeing space.
After the programme ends, founders are expected to continue receiving expert support through the Google for Startups alumni network.
Google for Startup head and lead of the programme Yuval Passov said Africa’s innovative spirit in the AI for Health domain is profoundly inspiring.
He added that these startups stand as a testament to the continent’s ability to develop global health solutions.
“We aim to stand alongside them, offering support and partnership as they strive to scale and disseminate their groundbreaking solutions. This initiative aligns with Google’s broader vision to support startups and accelerate their growth,” Passov said.
Since introducing the Google for Startups Accelerator programs in Africa in 2018, Google has supported 106 startups from 17 African countries and these startups have collectively raised over $263 million (Sh 38.8 billion) in funding and created over 2,800 jobs.
Some of the selected startups outside Africa include Biocam which has introduced a capsule that scans the digestive system in real-time to identify potential threats.
Others include Mindstep which offers an app focused on enhancing brain and mental health, and Rayscape which provides radiologists with a digital assistant equipped with AI tools for better decision-making.