Location: Africa
Program: Postgraduate Program (AI Startup Accelerator and Co-Development Programme)
Eligibility: African Citizens
Duration: Mid-September to Early December
Deadline: August 31, 2026
JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP & GET UPDATES ON SCHOLARSHIPS WORLDWIDE
The Google Africa Applied AI Lab is a cutting-edge initiative launched by the Google AI Futures Fund (AIFF) and the Accra AI Community Centre (AICC) in Ghana, designed to support Africa’s elite AI entrepreneurs and researchers in building the continent’s first generation of AI-native unicorn startups. Based at the AICC in Accra, the programme serves as a zero-to-one commercialisation platform, bridging the gap between world-class foundational AI research and market-ready products by pairing selected African founders and researchers directly with Google experts for a joint co-development process. The programme focuses on five distinct technological futures reshaping Africa: the future of work, knowledge, software development, creativity, and entertainment. Selected startups and researchers receive early access to cutting-edge models from Google DeepMind including Gemini, Gemma, and Veo.
The Google AI Futures Fund (AIFF) is Google’s initiative backing those building what’s next in AI, providing capital, distribution, and early access to Google DeepMind models to global partners working at the frontier of AI innovation. The Accra AI Community Centre (AICC) is a pioneering hub dedicated to cultivating a thriving AI ecosystem in Africa, accelerating innovation and inclusive growth by providing collaborative workspace and tech hub support to bridge the AI skills divide and foster responsible innovation across the continent. Together, AIFF and AICC have established the Google Africa Applied AI Lab as a flagship initiative to accelerate African AI entrepreneurship and position Africa as a leading global hub for AI-native innovation.
Benefits of the Programme
This programme will provide the following to its recipients:
- Early access to Google’s latest AI models and tools
- Technical mentorship from Google AI experts
- Product development and commercialization support
- Mentorship and networking with leading VC firms
- Opportunity to pitch to investors and industry leaders
- Potential funding opportunities for eligible participants
- Access to the Google Africa Applied AI Lab community and ongoing support
Also Check:
Horatio Alger Association Undergraduate Scholarships 2027 – USA
Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) PhD Programme 2026–2027 – Italy
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this programme, applicants must meet the following:
- Must be a current full-time founder and/or a top researcher seeking to become a startup founder
- Must be based in or focused on Africa and working on ideas that drive impact across the continent
- Must have a startup idea or active startup that addresses one or more of the programme’s five thematic areas: the future of work, knowledge, software development, creativity, and entertainment
- Must commit to using Google AI models in a materially impactful way — this is not an exclusivity requirement
- Must commit to participating in the in-person product Demo Day in early December at the AICC in Accra, Ghana
- All startup stages are eligible to apply — Pre-Seed to Series C+ — though preference is given to startups with funding and commercial traction (pre-seed to Series A)
- A co-founder or team is not required but team composition and completeness are evaluated as part of the selection process
Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements.
Also Check:
King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme – Climate Resilience Fellowships 2026 – Jamaica
Malmö University Postgraduate Scholarships 2026–2027 – Sweden
Selection Criteria
Applications are reviewed by Google’s team against a series of criteria tied to the programme’s investment focus areas. Candidates are evaluated on the strength and impact potential of their startup idea across the five thematic futures; commercial traction and funding stage (with preference for pre-seed to Series A, though all stages are considered); technical proficiency and ability to drive successful outcomes using Google AI tools; team composition and completeness; and alignment with Google AI’s goals of building impactful, Africa-focused, AI-native products. Additional information may be requested from applicants during the review process. Selected applicants are notified in September 2026. Applicants not selected will be notified but will not receive individual feedback due to the high volume of applications expected.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to visit the official webpage and submit your application.
