…Bani, MasteryHive AI, Regxta, Termii shine among 2,600 applicants…Experts highlight rising influence of Nigeria’s deep-tech ecosystem
By Kingsley Samuel
Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa’s artificial intelligence, AI, and deep-tech space has been reinforced, as four indigenous startups: Bani, MasteryHive AI, Regxta and Termii, secured places in the 10th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme.
The startups emerged from a competitive pool of nearly 2,600 applications across Africa, making the final list of 15 companies selected for the milestone cohort.Industry observers say the development reflects the increasing maturity of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, particularly in the deployment of AI to solve real-world challenges in finance, payments and digital infrastructure.
The selected startups are applying AI to tackle critical issues, including cross-border payments, fraud detection, financial inclusion and enterprise communications.
Bani is focused on eliminating delays in cross-border transactions for African businesses operating globally, while MasteryHive AI is deploying intelligent systems for transaction reconciliation, fraud detection and anti-money laundering, AML, compliance.
Regxta is leveraging alternative data and agent-driven distribution to extend credit access to underserved micro businesses, and Termii is strengthening financial communications infrastructure for banks and fintechs through AI-powered messaging solutions.
Commenting on the selection, Chief Executive Officer of Termii, Gbolade Emmanuel, said the accelerator would play a key role in advancing the company’s growth and innovation strategy.
“At Termii, we’re building AI-powered infrastructure that ensures financial transactions don’t fail, from login PINs to payment OTPs and fraud alerts.
The Google Startup Accelerator is helping us accelerate our AI roadmap and scale globally,” he said.
He noted that early participation in the programme had already provided valuable technical support and insights to enhance product development.Also speaking, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google, Folarin Aiyegbusi, said the cohort highlights the role of African startups in driving economic growth and innovation.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome these exceptional founders into Class 10. African startups are driving essential economic growth and social development,” Aiyegbusi said.
He added that the accelerator would equip the startups with advanced technical infrastructure, mentorship and access to global networks required to scale their solutions.
The programme, which runs from April 13 to June 19, 2026, will be delivered in a hybrid format, combining virtual and in-person engagements, with a strong focus on AI and machine learning.
Since its inception in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa initiative has supported 106 startups across 17 countries, enabling them to raise over $263 million and create more than 2,800 jobs.
Stakeholders say the inclusion of four Nigerian startups in the latest cohort signals sustained momentum in the country’s tech ecosystem and its expanding role in shaping Africa’s digital economy.
