Resilience17, an African venture studio and fund, originally founded as Berrywood in 2021 by Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, is working to bridge a huge gap for African founders with a new accelerator programme, Go Time AI.
The accelerator, which was unveiled in 2024, aims to support startups building AI-driven products across Africa. With a solid focus on promoting innovation, Resilience17 is offering up to $200,000 in funding and mentorship to selected startups, taking an 8% equity stake in return.
Resilience17 rebranded to strengthen its focus on African technology entrepreneurship. Over the past few years, the fund has grown its portfolio with companies like Klasha, Pivo, and Bamboo.
Now, with the Go Time AI initiative, it is targeting sectors such as artificial intelligence. The accelerator seeks to provide the financial support, infrastructure, and expert guidance that African AI startups need to scale and compete globally.
General Partner of Resilience17, Hasan Luongo, said despite challenges acutely highlighted in 2024, Nigeria is set to continue leading as a global technology hub and can lead in AI. “We launched Go Time AI to prove this thesis. After the last 4 months working closely with the 1st cohort of AI companies, that conviction has only become stronger,” he stated.
The accelerator’s first cohort, which started in early 2024, saw five startups join the programme. These startups—Catlog, Sahel AI, Tyms, AI Teacha, and FriendNPal—are working on innovative solutions such as AI-powered customer service bots, contract review tools, accounting software, educational aids, and mental health platforms.
As part of the programme, each of these startups received $25,000 in initial funding, with the potential for up to $175,000 more in subsequent rounds.
Unlike other accelerator programmes, Go Time AI does not operate with a fixed cohort size, allowing it to remain flexible and open to new startups.
The programme also offers a unique mix of resources, including cloud credits, API services, and regular mentoring sessions. Participants also have access to “Office Hours,” where they engage directly with seasoned entrepreneurs and experts to discuss technical challenges, growth strategies, and product development.
Luongo further explained the accelerator’s approach, saying, “Our goal was not to teach founders how to run a company but specifically narrow the focus on what we see as the most important things any early-stage companies should be focused on. Building a world-class product experience and getting users into the product and to the magic moment where they see clear value.”
The Go Time AI accelerator aims to fill a huge gap for African founders, providing both capital and needed mentorship, technical expertise, and networking opportunities. With AI technology growing fast and being a global discourse, Resilience17’s initiative helps African startups to lead in this unique space.
Applications for the second cohort of the programme will open in May 2025, and Resilience17’s impact is expected to grow as more startups gain the resources they need to succeed in the AI industry.
Through its support for the next generation of African innovators, Resilience17 is stimulating resilience—one of Africa’s greatest strengths—and Go Time AI is essential to scale through the challenging, yet exciting, road to success.
