Hustle Academy 2025 Applications Open

Building on the success of the 2024 edition of  the Hustle academy, Google has announced the opening of applications for the 2025 edition.

The Hustle Academy program, is a free online development program, aimed at empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s or SMB’s) across South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria, and will continue to emphasize AI-powered business training, alongside the launch of a new season of the popular “Hustle Academy Brings You” speaker series.

SME’s across the African continent often face multiple hurdles in establishing themselves with limited access to funding, inadequate business resources, and a lack of specialized skills hindering their ability to scale and thrive.

Assisting Business Entrepreneurs

Google’s Hustle Academy directly addresses these challenges by providing practical training, expert mentorship, and a robust entrepreneurial network, enabling SME’s to overcome obstacles and build their full potential.

Since 2022, Google’s Hustle Academy has provided critical support to over 15,000 SME’s who have completed the bootcamp program. The 2025 program will further equip entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to scale their businesses in today’s digital landscape.

“We are thrilled to launch the 2025 Hustle Academy, continuing our commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs,” said Kristy Grant, Head of B2B Marketing, SSA at Google. “This year, we are reinforcing our focus on AI-powered business training, enabling SMBs to leverage cutting-edge technology for growth. We are also excited to bring back ‘Hustle Academy Brings You’, featuring inspiring stories from successful African business leaders.”

The Hustle Academy 2025 bootcamp will provide participants with in-depth training on:

• AI Integration: Learning how to incorporate AI into operations, marketing, and customer engagement.
• Core Business Fundamentals: Covering business strategy, financial management, digital marketing, and leadership development.

To be eligible, SMBs must have been operating for at least one year in Kenya, Nigeria, or South Africa and be seeking to expand their business. Participants will benefit from expert mentorship, practical case studies, and networking opportunities.

Engagement with Prominent African Entrepreneurs

Complementing the bootcamp, the new season of “Hustle Academy Brings You” will feature candid conversations with prominent African entrepreneurs, including:

• Adenike Ogunlesi, Founder and Chief Responsibility Officer, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble
• Brian Jura, Founder & CEO, Home 254 Apparel
• Foluso Ogunwale, Founder of i-Fitness Gym and Wellness Center 
• Nobukhosi Mukwevho, Founder and CEO of Khosi Nkhosi Fashion House
• Yolanda Odida, Founder of  Pure Purple

These episodes, available on the Google Africa YouTube channel, will offer valuable insights into the challenges and successes of building businesses in Africa. “By combining practical training with inspiring stories, we aim to provide SMBs with the tools and motivation they need to succeed,” added Grant.

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