Google for Startups

Google for Startups is an initiative launched in 2011 that focuses on supporting startups globally by providing access to Google's products, connections, and best practices. The program partners with over fifty leading startup organizations to foster entrepreneurial ecosystems in more than 135 countries. It offers various resources, including financial support and exclusive programming, to help these partners and their startups thrive. Central to this initiative are six Google for Startups Campuses located in London, Tel Aviv, Seoul, Madrid, São Paulo, and Warsaw. These Campuses serve as collaborative spaces where startup founders can access mentorship, educational resources, and networking opportunities within their local communities. Startups benefit from free workspaces, community events, and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs, all aimed at nurturing their growth and innovation across diverse sectors such as healthcare, retail, finance, and technology.

Matthew Brittin

President, EMEA

Sundar Pichai

CEO, Google

Past deals in South Africa

Aveade

Grant in 2024
Aveade is a South African technology company that operates an online marketplace, facilitating the purchase of products and services from various businesses. It offers services such as Aveade.com and Aveade Distribution, aiming to make these items accessible to a wider audience. The company's platform integrates robust technology for online marketplace, advertising, distribution, and logistics, helping clients optimize operations, expand reach, and improve business performance.

scanO

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
scanO is an innovative company based in Pune, India, founded in 2020, that specializes in AI-driven dental checkups through its mobile app. The app allows users to scan their teeth and receive immediate feedback on their oral health, facilitating personalized recommendations and tracking health over time. With a user base exceeding 50,000, scanO has successfully scanned over 3.85 million teeth and identified 7.2 million health issues across multiple countries, including India, UAE, South Africa, Zambia, and the Philippines. By combining cutting-edge technology with dental expertise, scanO aims to make dental care accessible, convenient, and a daily priority for individuals. The company's mission is to redefine preventive oral care globally, emphasizing the importance of regular oral health assessments to prevent serious diseases. Through its commitment to innovation and comprehensive dental wellness services, scanO is shaping the future of oral care with the goal of improving lives through better oral health practices.

Excel@Uni

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Excel@Uni, established in 2018 and located in Cape Town, Western Cape, focuses on enhancing educational outcomes for youth by providing comprehensive support services throughout their university experience. The company specializes in bursary administration, managing various aspects of the bursary ecosystem, including recruitment, selection, monitoring, documentation, reporting, and providing ongoing support to bursars. By streamlining these processes, Excel@Uni aims to increase students' chances of graduating and to better prepare them for future employment opportunities.

Bookings Africa

Grant in 2022
Bookings Africa, established in 2018, is a pioneering online marketplace that connects clients in the entertainment, media, and lifestyle industries with creative professionals across Africa. Its platform enables users to efficiently source, compare, and book services such as models, makeup artists, voiceover artists, DJs, and filming locations. With a mission to reduce unemployment and foster creativity among African youth, Bookings Africa leverages technology to empower freelancers, facilitating secure online payments and transactions. The company, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, also has operations in Kenya and Johannesburg, South Africa, benefiting all stakeholders, including service providers, clients, employees, and local media communities.

Rekisa

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Rekisa is a South African online marketplace that facilitates the buying and selling of a wide array of items, including second-hand goods, vehicles, properties, and services. It manually reviews and approves each advertisement to ensure quality and deter fraudulent activities, aiming to provide a secure and trustworthy platform for its users. The platform is accessible via desktop, tablets, and smartphones, and its name, Rekisa, is derived from the Setswana word for 'sell'.

Finplus Group

Grant in 2021
Finplus Group is a technology company building a new credit & commerce infrastructure for emerging markets. We believe that access to markets & financial services should be a human right, available to everyone, everywhere, who wishes to participate in the modern economy. Our goal is to help close the massive $5.2Tn credit deficit faced by SMEs in developing countries every year. Finplus provides white-label digital finance & vertical ecommerce software to: 1. Enable banks & micro-lenders to lend to SMEs, at scale, across multiple markets 2. Help consumer goods companies to digitise sales end-to-end, effectively turning their supply chain into a demand chain 3. Unlock access to an instant line of credit for tens of millions of SMEs and individuals in emerging markets Finplus software has already processed over $1 Billion in transaction value across 5 emerging markets (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Eswatini, South Africa), enabled more than 3 Million MSMEs & individuals to access credit and saved business customers over 1.2 Million man-hours through automation.

Pineapple

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Pineapple Tech Pty Ltd is a South African company that operates a peer-to-peer insurance platform, providing short-term insurance coverage to its members. Founded in 2017 and based in Johannesburg, the company allows users to pay and track their premiums online while selecting their preferred network for pooling. Pineapple aims to innovate the insurance experience by aligning incentives with users, offering transparency about premium usage, and returning any unused premiums to members. The platform simplifies the insurance process, enabling users to obtain coverage quickly, often in under 60 seconds, by utilizing AI technology. Pineapple launched its "My Stuff" per-item insurance in 2018 and expanded its offerings to include "My Ride" for auto insurance. The company has also formed a partnership with Travelers in the United States and provides a white-labeled version of its platform for that market.

Kwara

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Kwara GmbH is a technology company that specializes in developing a digital banking platform tailored for savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOs). Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, Kwara aims to modernize credit unions by providing a comprehensive cloud-based solution. The platform facilitates loan application servicing and approval for members, while also offering integration services, customer support, real-time financial tracking, and compliance assistance. Kwara's offerings include Kwara Pronto, a tool for managing loans. Currently, the company serves over 200 SACCOs across Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines, enabling these financial institutions to enhance their operations and improve access to formal financial services.

Envisionit Deep AI

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Envisionit Deep AI (Pty) Ltd. is a medical technology company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded in 2019. The company specializes in developing artificial intelligence solutions that enhance medical imaging diagnosis for radiologists. Its key offerings include a machine learning platform and RADIFY, an AI system designed to improve the detection of respiratory and congenital heart diseases. Envisionit Deep AI's technology aims to democratize access to diagnostic healthcare by streamlining the analysis of various imaging modalities, including chest X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, and CT scans. By utilizing advanced AI algorithms, the company enhances radiologists' ability to identify abnormalities, enabling faster and more reliable diagnoses while reducing costs associated with medical imaging.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.