Google has opened applications for its Black Founders and Women Founders startup accelerator programs in Canada. Applications are accepted until July 28.
The American tech giant initially launched the Women Founders program in Canada and the United States (US) in 2020. The Black Founders program was first introduced in the US in 2020, and expanded to Canada a year later.
Representing both programs’ third year since launch, ten to twelve North American startups will be selected for each accelerator for a three-month bootcamp. According to Google, these accelerators are designed to not only help startups grow their business, but also provide programming and mentorship focused on the specific barriers and challenges that underrepresented groups face.
Accelerator programming will feature workshops focused on product design, customer acquisition, and leadership development for founders. Google said there will also be a roster of speakers and facilitators who deliver programming “through the lens of their communities.”
Previous participants of the Women Founders accelerator include the likes of Vancouver-based SafetyDocs Global, Montréal’s Tengiva, as well as Toronto companies Braze Mobility and Paperstack.
RELATED: Toronto-based Mommy Monitor selected for Google’s Black Founders accelerator
In July last year, Toronto-based Mommy Monitor was the only Canadian company among a group comprising mostly American startups to join the second cohort of the Black Founders program. Black Founders’ inaugural cohort in 2020 consisted of 12 startups.
Black Founders, which is a 10-week digital program, offers participating startups equity-free support, mentorship from over 20 Google teams, and advice from industry experts. According to Google, selected founders also receive access to Google product credits and technical project partnerships.
Google launched its first Canadian accelerator in Kitchener-Waterloo in February 2020, laying out plans to open three new offices in Canada and hire 3,500 people across the country by this year. It has since launched five accelerator programs for Canadian startups, including Cloud, Voice AI, Climate Change, Black Founders, and Women Founders.
Featured image from WOCInTech via Nappy.co.