GreenHouse Lab in partnership with Google launches its first Cohort

In the coming years, markets outside of the Silicon Valley will increasingly impact the global startup and technology ecosystem. And while it’s easier than ever to start a company, access to success methodologies, expert mentors, and ecosystem best practices for building companies remain unevenly distributed.

On Tuesday, August 14th, GreenHouse Lab, the first female-focused tech accelerator program in Nigeria, launched its first cohort comprised of 9 promising ventures. The accelerator, located in the heart of Lagos and a subsidiary of GreenHouse Capital and Venture Garden Group – a catalyst for much of the tech ecosystem’s growth and development in recent years – has teamed up with Google Developers Launchpad to support Nigeria’s growing startup industry. This partnership with Google is the first of its kind in Africa.

Tosin Durotoye, GreenHouse Lab Director

Bukky Akomolafe, MC

Google Developers Launchpad is a branch of Google that operates a global acceleration program that helps startups grow. Google is a thought leader when it comes to building and scaling products and businesses using the most advanced technologies.

The “GreenHouse Lab Powered by Google Developers Launchpad” initiative will connect GreenHouse Lab to an elite group of the world’s top accelerators, allowing it to share information and leverage resources. GreenHouse Lab will also access Google’s global network, insights from the company’s Silicon Valley-based startup programs, and twenty years’ worth of Google research and best practice insights on building businesses, products, and teams at massive scale. These resources will help the GreenHouse Lab’s startup portfolio – which already includes some of the fastest-growing companies in the region – scale its businesses exponentially.

Nichole Yembra, Venture Garden Group CFO/GreenHouse Capital Managing Partner

Odunayo Eweniyi – Co-Founder/COO at Piggybank.ng

Kevin O’Toole, Head of International Growth at Google Launchpad, had to this to say on the partnership: “Google is thrilled to begin working with GreenHouse Lab. GreenHouse Lab’s mission to elevate women in technology is incredible, and we are humbled to work with their amazing leadership team to accelerate the Nigerian tech ecosystem. This is about building a lasting relationship – Google Developers Launchpad doesn’t take an equity stake in accelerator portfolio startups, but instead focuses on developing companies and their ecosystems over the long term.”

The “Powered by Google Developers Launchpad” program is about empowering startup communities around the world and helping them leverage each other for insights and resource sharing. Through its collaboration with Google Developers Launchpad, GreenHouse Lab and Nigeria will join a growing network of the top, independent accelerators across Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Fola Olatunji-David, Head of Startup Success at LaunchPad Africa/Google

Tomilola Adejana, Bankly

The 9 ventures in the cohort are AllPro, AMPZ.tv, Bankly, BitMama, Kozzi Homes, Nicademia, Social Lender, Versus, and Xigma. The program will run from mid-August to mid-November and will conclude with a Demo Day during which each venture will have the opportunity to receive a minimum of 100K USD.

To track the progress of the program, follow @greenhousecapital on Instagram.

Kunmi Demuren, Executive Director, Venture Garden Group/ Mrs. Osaretin Demuren, Chairman of Board of Directors, GTBank

Brenda Nwagwu, AMPZ.tv

Chika Uwazie, Versus

Ruth Iselema, Bitmama

Angela Essien, AllPro

Njoku Nneka, Nicademia

Faith Adesemowo, Social Lender

Xigma led by Joy Egbe

Tara and Fela Durotoye

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