Google has selected 15 startups for the 10th cohort of its Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, with four Nigerian ventures, Bani, MasteryHive AI, Regxta, and Termii, making the highly competitive cut from nearly 2,600 applications, an acceptance rate of under 1%.

The selection shows Nigeria’s continued dominance in Africa’s innovation economy, particularly as the continent’s tech ecosystem attracts increasing global attention and investment.

This year’s cohort marks a strategic pivot toward deep-tech and AI-native solutions, with Google prioritizing startups tackling complex infrastructure challenges across finance and communications.

Bani is building cross-border payment systems to reduce settlement delays, while MasteryHive AI focuses on automating reconciliation, fraud detection, and AML monitoring .

Regxta is expanding financial inclusion through alternative credit scoring for underserved microbusinesses, and Termii is strengthening communication infrastructure for fintechs and banks, aligning with Africa’s rapidly growing digital economy.

Since launching in 2018, the accelerator has supported over 100 startups across 17 African countries, helping them raise more than $263 million and create over 2,800 jobs (program impact.

According to Folarin Aiyegbusi, Google’s role remains focused on providing equity-free support, technical mentorship, and global networks to scale African innovation without diluting ownership.

The 2026 cohort, running from April to June, will undergo a hybrid program with hands-on AI and machine learning training, validating Google’s long-term bet on Africa as a hub for transformative, tech-driven solutions.