Kenyan seed investment fund, 88mph partners with Google; plans West African expansion by 2013

Kenyan seed investment fund, 88mph recently partnered with Google to provide hands-on support to local startups. Through the partnership, both organisations will offer resources to tech entrepreneurs including mentoring, legal and IP advice, and technical workshops aimed at taking their businesses to the next level.
88mph had earlier launched its accelerator program through which it plans to invest abut $200,000 into African startups.
 
Speaking on its recent partnership with Google, 88mph’s founder Kresten Buch said a huge opportunity for tech people to come to Africa, create businesses, jobs and make money exists in a recent interview with Human IPO.
“In fact, we would love to see Africans returning to Africa by giving them a landing pad for building their own startups; they can also help boost the local startup talent pool,” he said.
“We aren’t simply copying the Y-Combinator model as we don’t believe it is appropriate in an emerging market context. With Google’s support, we are able to provide the extra resources necessary to compensate for a less developed angel and mentor network, which characterizes an emerging market,” Nikolai Barnwell, 88mph Program Manager in Nairobi, said.
Already plans are underway to expand 88mph to West Africa by 2013.
Startups can apply at 88mph.ac. Applications are currently open and close on August 15.

source: CP-Africa