Flutterwave chief executive Olugbenga Agboola just announced Go Time AI, the first accelerator from his venture studio Resilience17, offering substantial funding and mentorship to fledgling African AI startups-a first of its kind in the continent’s technology ecosystem.

Formerly Berrywood, Resilience17 provides funding packages up to 200,000 dollars for selected startups. The first cohort, starting early in 2024, has five promising startups: the AI sales management chatbot by Catlog; Sahel AI with its automated legal contract review tool; Tyms’ accounting software; AI Teacha’s educational platform; and FriendNPal’s mental health support application.

The accelerator program design has been really flexible, basically not taking stringent limits on the cohort size. Each startup will also receive a preliminary investment worth $25,000, alongside options for future funding based on performance. But that is not all; such companies also have very important cloud computing credits with API services toward scaling their various products.

Hasan Luongo, General Partner at Resilience17, singled out Nigeria as a powerhouse that could rise to become one of the technology hubs in the world despite the recent economic setback. The program’s structured four-month mentorship model ensures regular “Office Hours” sessions with industry experts. These touch on salient areas of business growth and strategic development.

The program does not depend on conventional business schooling; instead, the program provides very hands-on, pragmatic mentorship. In this way, founders focus on the nuts and bolts of creating and scaling early-stage startups. Following the success of the first cohort, Resilience17 will launch a second round; applications open in May 2025.

Go Time AI is a high-tech, innovative investment in the African tech scene. Resilience17 shapes the future of the continent’s ecosystem piece by piece, strengthening its position within the global tech area by empowering innovation and entrepreneurship.