Google promotes tech entrepreneurs in Africa

CAPE TOWN - Google Africa plans to expand its reach and support for entrepreneurs in Africa. Building on its three-pronged strategy of access, relevance and sustainability, the internet giant aims to ease the way of doing business in Africa.

Google Africa Program Manager, Johanna Kollar told Entrepreneurship Africa that they will consolidate the Get African Business online initiative: "What it does is it assists small to medium size enterprises in getting their businesses from the roadside to the internet and show them the benefits that accrue from that."

Currently Google Africa is partnering with tech hubs across the continent. Through these synergies, they provide budding tech entrepreneurs with knowledge transfer, up skilling and incubation services.

 In Cape Town, South Africa for instance, Umbono is a program that is currently piloting. The start-ups in the program are matched with investor money and Google mentorship.

"At the end of the six months, we project that with the support they will go on to get follow up funding to grow their businesses further," said Kollar.

In 2012, Google Africa aims to expand on tools and services for business. This will be done through Google business groups. Effort will be concentrated on educating entrepreneurs on the use of tools such Google apps, AdWords, AdSense.