The program consists of virtual workshops on best practices for AI and leadership development, responsible innovation, and product design and customer acquisition.
The program aligns with Google’s broader vision to support startups and accelerate their growth. PHOTO: Courtesy
BY EB Content Studio
Three Kenyan startups are among five in Africa that have been selected for the 2023 Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Health program, a hybrid program that supports high-potential startups using AI technology in the healthcare and wellbeing industries.
The two include iZola Limited and Zuri Health. iZola assists families with neurodivergent children through an AI-integrated therapeutic platform. On the other hand, Zuri Health is a virtual hospital that provides quality affordable and accessible healthcare services to patients across Sub-saharan Africa via mobile app, website and SMS service. Zuri Health further aims to revolutionize patient care with an all-inclusive digital toolkit.
The remaining three winners comprise Eden Care (Rwanda) which merges AI and digital health to reshape health insurance and corporate well-being, mDoc (Nigeria), which seeks to elevate personal health practices through virtual health mentorship and Pharmarun (Nigeria) that unifies regional pharmacies with an innovative, patient-first
platform.
“Africa’s innovative spirit in the AI for Health domain is profoundly inspiring,” Yuval Passov, Head of Google for Startups and lead of the program, said.
“These startups stand as a testament to the continent’s ability to develop global health solutions,” Passov added.
“We aim to stand alongside them, offering support and partnership as they strive to scale and disseminate their groundbreaking solutions.”
Among the selected startups outside Africa, Biocam has introduced a capsule that scans the digestive system in real-time to identify potential threats. Mindstep offers an app focused on enhancing brain and mental health, while Rayscape provides radiologists with a digital assistant equipped with AI tools for better decision-making.
The program consists of virtual workshops on best practices for AI and leadership development, responsible innovation, and product design and customer acquisition.
Additionally, the program comprises one-on-one mentorship sessions and technical project support from Google Research, Google Health, Verily, Fitbit, and Google DeepMind.
Google noted there will be two, in-person summits which also include the programme kickoff in London on September 27 and 28, designed to connect founders to venture capitalists, industry experts, and other founders building with AI in the healthcare and wellbeing space.
After the programme ends, founders are expected to continue receiving expert support through the Google for Startups alumni network.
This initiative aligns with Google’s broader vision to support startups and accelerate their growth. In August Google announced a broader program, the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First, a 10-week equity free accelerator aimed at supporting African startups looking to use artificial intelligence to solve local challenges.
Since introducing the Google for Startups Accelerator programs in Africa in 2018, Google has supported 106 startups from 17 African countries and these startups have collectively raised over $263 million in funding and created over 2,800 jobs. For a detailed view of the selected startups and the program