The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, in partnership with Google, has announced the selection of 10 Nigerian startups as beneficiaries of the N100 million Google AI Fund Boost. This initiative, led by the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in collaboration with Google, will provide each startup with N10 million in funding to support their AI-driven solutions.
Alongside financial backing, each startup will also receive up to $3.5 million in Google Cloud Credits, enabling them to scale their operations. The startups will gain access to Google’s advanced AI tools, expert mentorship from Google’s AI specialists, and opportunities to connect with an international network of innovators and partners.
Selected Startups
The following 10 startups have been chosen to receive the AI funding:
- BetaLife Health: Uses AI to predict demand and match blood types, helping to meet Africa’s blood supply needs.
- Bunce: An AI-based platform that centralizes and personalizes customer engagement for businesses.
- CDIAL AI: Provides text-to-speech and speech-to-text functionality in 13 languages, targeting underserved regions.
- Farmspeak: Supports livestock farmers with disease detection and climate control using AI.
- Lendsqr: Streamlines lending processes with AI to connect global lenders and borrowers efficiently.
- ProDevs: Uses AI-driven pre-classification and job matching to connect global companies with African tech talent.
- Rana Energy: Optimizes sustainable power management for underserved users through AI.
- SaaSPro Health: Offers AI-driven healthcare documentation tools tailored for Nigerian doctors.
- Towntalk: Utilizes AI to deliver contextual security insights for African communities.
- Trade Lenda: Facilitates credit analysis for MSMEs, easing access to financing through AI.
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Impact and Addressing Local Challenges
This initiative focuses on supporting sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance, areas identified as critical to Nigeria’s sustainable development. According to Google, the selected startups are poised to address local challenges and drive economic growth by applying AI to solve pressing societal issues.
“Across Africa, entrepreneurs are harnessing the power of technology, including AI, to address large-scale societal challenges,” said Matt Brittin, President of Google for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. “Google remains committed to supporting these innovators, helping them expand their impact across the continent and beyond. Our work in Africa has always been about unlocking the digital economy’s benefits for more people, and this collaboration continues that mission,” he added.
Google AI Fund Boost: Economic Potential of AI in Nigeria
The AI funding program aligns with broader research highlighting AI’s potential economic impact in Nigeria. According to a recent report by Public First, artificial intelligence could add as much as $15 billion to Nigeria’s economy by 2030. This initiative seeks to harness that potential by equipping local entrepreneurs with essential resources, tools, and training to leverage AI, supporting Nigeria’s vision of a digitally empowered economy.
Building on Google’s N1.2 billion commitment to Nigeria in 2023—an initiative aimed at training 20,000 Nigerians in digital skills—this AI Fund represents a significant step toward fostering innovation and economic growth in Nigeria’s digital sector.
As Nigeria embraces AI to tackle local challenges and boost its economy, what are your thoughts on this initiative’s impact on the future of technology in Nigeria? Share your opinions below about the Google AI Fund Boost!
