Black Founders Fund
U.S - Hybrid
6 months
Google for Startups Black Founders Fund: United States provides cash awards — without giving up equity in return — and hands-on support to help Black-led startups in the U.S. build and grow their businesses.
U.S - Hybrid
6 months
About the program
About the program
Established in 2020, the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund helps Black-led startups in Africa, Brazil, Europe, and the United States secure funding, strengthen communities, and create generational change.
In addition to equity-free cash awards, Black Founders Fund recipients receive ongoing Google mentorship, Google Cloud credits, and product support to help them navigate every stage of their startup journey.
Key benefits
-
Access to capital
Up to $150,000 in equity-free cash will be awarded to each startup.
-
Google Cloud credits and support
Receive Google Cloud credits and dedicated support via the Google for Startups Cloud Program.
-
Founder network
Connect and get support from fellow founders as part of the Google for Startups alumni network.
-
Custom mentorship
Receive tailored product and leadership support from Google mentors and industry experts.
-
Leadership training
Become a more effective leader through research-based strategies and expert coaching.
-
Mental health & wellbeing
Being a founder is tough. Receive therapy that can help you perform at your best.
Entry criteria
Entry criteria
- Companies with at least one Black founder in their founding team
- Between pre-seed and Series A
- Seeking to raise an institutional round of funding to develop their next stage of growth
- Building a tech-driven scalable product or service with a significant total addressable market and defensible growth model
As a Founder in the Google for Startups community, you have a unique opportunity to leverage the collective thinking of Google and your fellow alumni. You also have a special responsibility to respect the culture and share with and support the community.
Founder of Ziscuit
Meet the latest cohort
Frequently asked questions
We believe that funding Black founders empowers entire communities. Access to capital and support leads to greater economic opportunity. Google is uniquely positioned to provide capital and support to help founders grow their businesses, and in turn, create space for founders to succeed and create greater impact for their community. The goal of the fund is to increase economic opportunity for promising Black startup founders. We hope this funding and support can catalyze the growth of Black-led startups, foster innovative solutions to tough problems, and ultimately generate wealth for these communities.
The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund provides founders with $150K in non-dilutive capital to help fuel their businesses. Recipients will also receive up to $100K in Google Cloud credits, hands-on mentorship and support across the company, and access to mental health therapy at no cost.
The program is hybrid: virtual with in-person opportunities taking place throughout the year.
Startups are eligible if they are based in the U.S., have raised less than $5M at the time of application, have a full-time founder/cofounder who identifies as Black (30% or more of the business must be minority-owned at the time of application), are post-revenue, and demonstrate traction (sales, monthly active users, beta sign-ups, revenue).
Due to the volume of applications we receive, we do not provide feedback on individual applications.
If you meet the eligibility criteria for both funds, you can apply to both. However, you will only be able to receive funding from one—even if you are accepted into both. You would have to choose which of the two funds to accept. If you are applying to both funds, we recommend that you write out your answers to the application questions in an external document so that you can repurpose your answers because the applications have the same questions.
Watch a recording of the Google for Startups 2023 Founders Funds Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session here. Learn more about previous Latino Founders Fund recipients here and Black Founders Fund recipients here. Read an interview with Latino Founders Fund recipient on the Google Cloud blog here, a feature of multiple Latino Founders Fund recipients on the Google Keyword blog here, and a highlight of the 50 Black Founders Fund recipients on the Google Keyword blog here.