The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy has unveiled the 10 Nigerian start-ups selected to receive funding from the newly launched ₦100 million AI Fund, a major boost for AI-driven innovation in Nigeria. Each selected start-up will receive ₦10 million, as announced by Minister Bosun Tijani in September. This AI Fund, created in collaboration between the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and Google, is intended to accelerate the growth of AI technology that addresses real-world challenges in Nigeria and Africa.
In addition to the funding, these start-ups will receive $3.5 million in Google Cloud Credits, providing access to Google’s advanced AI tools and resources. This support also includes mentorship from Google’s AI experts and networking opportunities within Google’s global innovation community, helping these start-ups develop and scale their AI-based solutions.
The selected start-ups cover a diverse range of sectors. For instance, BetaLife Health uses AI to predict blood demand and match blood types, aiming to meet Africa’s blood supply needs more effectively. Farmspeak is transforming the agricultural sector by using AI to assist livestock farmers in disease detection and climate control, while Towntalk uses AI to provide security insights to improve community safety across Africa. Another innovative recipient, CDIAL AI, has developed a text-to-speech solution in 13 underserved languages, expanding accessibility for communities.
Other start-ups on the list include Lendsqr, which streamlines lending operations for lenders and borrowers globally using AI; Bunce, an AI platform that centralizes customer engagement for businesses; and Trade Lenda, which simplifies credit analysis for MSMEs to support financing access. ProDevs leverages AI for job matching, connecting vetted African tech talent with global companies, while SaaSPro Health offers AI-driven healthcare documentation tools designed for Nigerian doctors, enhancing healthcare delivery.
Minister Tijani noted that the AI Fund marks a significant step toward positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI innovation, with Google and NCAIR aiming to unlock solutions that drive economic growth and social impact. Google emphasized the fund’s purpose in supporting AI-powered technology with transformative potential, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering digital and economic innovation.
