The Google for Startups Founders Funds provide cash awards — without giving up equity in return — and hands-on support to help Black and Latino entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses.

Established in 2020, the Google for Startups Founders Funds have provided more than $30 million to support Black-led startups in Africa, Brazil, Europe, and the United States, and Latino-led startups in the United States. The goals of the funds are to help promising founders grow their businesses and ultimately, to create generational wealth. Google has supported 400+ founders who have gone on to raise $400M+ in follow-on venture capital.

In addition to equity-free cash awards, Founders Funds recipients receive ongoing Google mentorship, Google Cloud credits, and product support to help them navigate every stage of their startup journey.

Key Benefits

• Access to Capital: Equity-free cash awards to help you build and grow your business.

• Custom Mentorship: Receive tailored product and leadership support from Google mentors and industry experts.

• Leadership training: Become a more effective leader through research-based strategies and expert coaching.

• Founder network: Connect and learn from fellow founders and access a peer-to-peer support network.

• Google Cloud credits and support: Receive Google Cloud credits and dedicated support via the Google for Startups Cloud Program.

Startup Criteria

• Diverse companies with at least one Black founder or Latino founder (for the respective funds) on their founding team.
• Between Pre-seed and Series A
• Scalable product or service with a significant total addressable market and defensible growth model
• Ready to go global

Apply for the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in Africa here. Also, click here for more information.