• Google this week completed its inaugural Google for Startups Accelerator: South Africa.
• It saw 15 South African startups graduating, with a focus on early-stage ventures working on solving uniquely local problems with technology.
• The programme culminated in a Demo Day held in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Last week Google Cloud hosted an event in Johannesburg to highlight the significance of the cloud region for South Africa and the rest of the African continent. This week Google turned its attention to South African startups, and highlighted 15 startups that recently graduated from its Google for Startups Accelerator: South Africa programme.

The big tech firm explained that the initiative is aimed at helping, “early-stage ventures leverage technology to address significant challenges across Africa.”

The programme, which ran from November 2024 to March 2025, also equipped startup founders with resources and mentorship to scale their businesses and drive economic impact.

The tech giant also explained that the Accelerator programme offered participants up to $50 000 in non-dilutive funding, up to $200 000 in Google Cloud Credits, and access to mentorship from Google engineers, industry leaders, and developer experts.

The programme culminated in a Demo Day held in Bryanston, Sandton, where startup founders showcased their progress and innovative solutions to investors, mentors, and industry leaders, offering another opportunity for further opportunites.

The 15 South African startups that graduated the inaugural programme are:

• “Assetshare: An AI-enabled online platform that allows for construction machine rental while tackling significant pain points that include prolonged waiting times and bottlenecks in getting quotations.  
• Aveade: A technology company connecting buyers and sellers through the use of its digital marketplace platform.
• Botlhale AI: Helps organizations effectively engage with their customers in their preferred languages through AI-powered Natural Language Processing.
• Breaze Delivery: Offering e-Commerce merchants a turnkey service to fulfill customer orders with same-day delivery in major South African cities.
• Cure Root: Harnessing Africa’s biodiversity to discover safer, more effective drugs—faster than ever with AI.
• Delivery Ka Speed: Revolutionizing deliveries in Townships and Rural areas of South Africa, turning neglect into opportunity.
• Fixxr: A tech-enabled automotive services platform connecting vehicle owners with skilled mechanics for on-demand repairs and maintenance.
• Jobox: Connecting students, graduates, higher education institutions, and employers to simplify recruitment and bursary programs.
• Mapha Logistics: Empowers small businesses with the necessary digital tools to grow and compete.
• Simple Influence: An eCommerce African content creator marketplace connecting marketers with content creators at scale.
• Swagshack: online platform connecting emerging South African street fashion brands with a discerning customer base.
• Vuleka: Enabling and empowering the informal economy through providing direct, real time data analytics and insights into township economy businesses and their customers.
• Welo Health: Provides access to healthcare services through a platform which connects corporate clients with the best healthcare professionals.
• Wisi Oi: Video-based marketplace for second-hand clothes.
• Zoie Health: Making women’s and family health in Africa more convenient and affordable.”

“The talent and creativity demonstrated by these founders are inspiring. By building solutions that tackle real-world challenges, they are contributing to South Africa’s digital transformation. Our goal is to provide the support these entrepreneurs need to scale their impact and drive innovation across the continent,” noted Kabelo Makwane, country director of Google South Africa, regarding the startups.

It will be worthwhile keeping tabs on the 15 above startups to see what moves they make moving forward, as well as see how effectively they can tackle some of the country’s most pressing problems with technology.

[Image – Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash]