Browsing: african investment

Google has committed US$6 million to support African startups as well as underserved communities on the continent.

In a statement, Nitin Gajria, Managing Director for Google Africa, and Rowan Barnett the Head of Google.org EMEA said the funding will go towards programs that will reaffirm its commitment to Africa.

The programs include a $3 million USD Black Founders Fund for African startups and a $3 million USD Google.org grant to help low-income communities develop entrepreneurial skills and funding.

The funding is expected to help African founders grow their businesses not only by providing capital but also by providing access to the best of Google resources.

At the same time, Google has also invited 15 companies from across the continent to the sixth class of the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa program

Startup Fund

The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund Africa provides grants and technical assistance to early-stage startups led …

Africa’s financial potential has become an interesting prospect for emerging market investors. Three decades ago a proposal to invest in Africa would have been considered ridiculous, but this is no longer the case. In fact, between 2006 and 2011, the continent was registering the highest returns on FDI at 11.4 percent, even higher than Asia at 9.1 percent, while the global average was 7.1 percent. To add to that according to the World Economic Forum, since 2000 “half of the world’s fastest-growing economies have been in Africa. As western markets mature and foreign investments saturate in Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, and India, Africa is fast becoming the most lucrative investment destination. The inefficient African markets are an excellent source of excess returns, given the level of perceived risks. …