Four Nigerian Startups Join Elite Google Accelerator

Getting into Google's Accelerator Africa is harder than getting into Harvard. Four Nigerian startups just made the cut.

Bani, MasteryHive AI, Regxta, and Termii secured four of only 15 spots in the program's 10th cohort. Nearly 2,600 startups from across Africa applied, putting the acceptance rate below 1%.

Each company is tackling a different pain point in African finance. Bani speeds up cross-border payments for businesses trading globally, cutting through the delays that slow down international commerce. MasteryHive AI automates the tedious work of tracking transactions, catching fraud, and monitoring money laundering for banks.

Regxta takes a different approach to an old problem. The company uses alternative data to judge creditworthiness for small businesses that traditional banks won't touch. Termii makes sure critical messages actually reach their destination, handling everything from login codes to fraud alerts for financial institutions.

The three-month program runs through mid-June and includes hands-on mentorship, AI training, and preparation for future funding rounds. Gbolade Emmanuel, CEO of Termii, says the value showed up fast. "Even in the first week, access to technical support and insights has been incredibly valuable for our next phase of growth," he shared.

The other 11 startups come from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Senegal, Tanzania, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, and Zimbabwe. Together they're working on agriculture technology, healthcare solutions, transportation, and business software.

The Ripple Effect

Since 2018, Google's accelerator has supported 106 African startups from 17 countries. Those companies have collectively raised over $263 million and created more than 2,800 jobs, turning technical support into economic momentum across the continent.

Folarin Aiyegbusi, who leads Google's Startup Ecosystem for Africa, sees these founders as part of something bigger. "African startups are driving essential economic growth and social development," he explained. Google's role is providing the infrastructure, mentorship, and global connections these teams need to scale.

The program focuses on what money alone can't buy: specialized technical support, cloud resources, and expert guidance. Africa's venture ecosystem raised $3.9 billion in 2025, but turning innovative ideas into sustainable businesses requires more than capital.

These four Nigerian teams now have three months to accelerate their growth with one of tech's biggest names backing them.