NAIROBI, Kenya— Kenyan startups Shamba Records and Apexloads have been named among 15 standout African companies selected for Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9, a prestigious program supporting high-impact technology ventures leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address real-world problems.
The accelerator’s ninth edition brings together promising innovators from seven African countries Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa working across fintech, agritech, healthtech, and logistics.
Shamba Records is revolutionizing smallholder farming by offering AI-powered tools for smart credit access, climate-resilient practices, and data-driven market linkages, impacting over 50,000 farmers.
“African startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across the continent, and their work with AI is truly transformative,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google.
“This program reflects our belief that AI can be transformative when shaped by those who understand the context deeply.”
The selection follows a rigorous process that attracted over 1,500 applicants continent-wide. Over the next three months (June 23 to August 22, 2025), the chosen startups will receive up to $350,000 (Sh45,500,000) in Google Cloud credits, mentorship from Google engineers, and access to global investors and partners.
Since its inception in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa has supported 153 startups from 17 countries, enabling them to raise over $300 million (Sh38,760,000,000) and create more than 3,500 jobs across the continent.
