Google picks Kenyan tech start-ups for skills training

Mr Charles Murito, Google Country manager. FILE PHOTO | NMG

What you need to know:

  • The Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa provides a three-month equity-free support for selected start-ups, mostly at the seed stage, where Google staff work on volunteer basis, each providing support to at least two firms during the period. 

Kenyan technology start-ups Pezesha and Flex Pay have been selected for the Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa, a programme that provides skills training and mentorship for tech-based solution providers across Africa.

The platform provides a three-month equity-free support for selected start-ups, mostly at the seed stage, where Google staff work on volunteer basis, each providing support to at least two firms during the period. 

Flex Pay enables customers to buy products and services and pay for them in flexible payments over an agreed period through existing mobile money and bank transfer systems.

Pezesha seeks to financially empower low-income earners by connecting them to credit providers.

“This is part of the commitment by Google to start-ups in Africa,” Charles Murito, Google country manager, said on Monday when the company gave an update on the programme in Nairobi.

The start-ups can seek more support even after the end of the programme.

Google opened the African project in March in Lagos, providing start-ups with technological support and access to experts from Google, Silicon Valley and other external communities.

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