AI First

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India - Hybrid
3 months
Seed to Series A

A 3-month equity-free accelerator program for AI-First startups between Seed to Series A based in India.

Selected startups receive expert mentorship and support around AI/ML (including Generative AI), UX, Android, Web, Product, Leadership and Growth.

One man is talking to a man and a woman.
India - Hybrid
3 months
Seed to Series A

Applications are now closed

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About the program

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About the program

This accelerator focuses on bringing the best of Google’s technology, products, people and network to empower AI-First startups who are solving meaningful problems across various industries to grow in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI.

Founders outline the top technical and business challenges for their startup, and are then paired with relevant experts from both Google and the industry to solve those challenges and grow their business.

In addition to mentorship and technical project support, this accelerator includes deep dives and workshops focused on product design, customer acquisition, and leadership development for founders.

Key benefits

  • Equity-free support

    Equity-free support: For duration of program.

  • Mentoring

    Dedicated mentoring from Google teams.

  • Training

    Exclusive invitations to technical bootcamps hosted by Google where offered.

  • Access to experts

    Access to Google's network of industry experts.

  • Google product credits

    Eligible startups receive product credits.

  • Early access

    Access to new Google products and tools as relevant.

  • Strategic support

    Support on company and product strategy.

  • Technical project partnership

    Work hand in hand with experts from Google on your biggest tech challenges.

Entry Criteria

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Entry Criteria

  • Startups demonstrating traction, ideally between Seed and Series A stage
  • Startups based/headquartered in India
  • Building a scalable product or service with a significant total addressable market and defensible growth model
  • Deeply technical, leveraging technologies like machine learning and AI
  • Commitment from founder(s) and/or relevant people from startups to participate and engage in required program sessions
  • We are committed to building accelerator classes that are diverse and inclusive, and encourage applications from qualified startups with founders of all backgrounds

Key Dates

  • May 19, 2024

    Applications Close

  • July, 2024

    Program Kick-off

  • October, 2024

    Graduation

Meet the Cohort

Accelerator Alumni

Meet our mentors

Vinayak Shrivastav Co-Founder & CEO, Magnifi (Videoverse) Vinayak Shrivastav Co-Founder & CEO, Magnifi (Videoverse)

The program has been instrumental in propelling VideoVerse forward. Beyond accelerating our progress, this also offered vital branding and validation for our groundbreaking technology. The expert mentorship and support provided, particularly in areas such as product strategy and growth, have been invaluable to our journey.

Vinayak Shrivastav Co-Founder & CEO, Magnifi (Videoverse)

Frequently asked questions

Do you take equity or fee to be a part of this program?

No, we do not take any equity or charge fee. The Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First programs are completely free of charge for all startups. All you need to contribute is your time and energy.

What is the format of the program?

The accelerator program currently runs as a hybrid program. During the beginning of the program, we work with the startups selected into the accelerator and the anchor mentors to determine each startup’s challenges and support required from the program. Then these startups will go through an intensive 1-week long in-person Bootcamp around topics such as Product, Design, Technology, People & Growth, followed by the OKR (Objective Key Results) workshop to define their objective for the next 3 months.

The next two months of the program is all about supporting startups executing these objectives by providing access to our global network, 1:1 mentorships and 1:many sessions on demand virtually. The startups will also be paired with a dedicated Startup Success Manager (SSM) from Google to help startups get the best of Google - its people, network, thought leadership, and technology.

The graduated startups will be showcased through an in-person Demo Day with Google teams, mentors, VCs, media and different stakeholders from the Indian startup ecosystem. The engagement with the graduated startups will be continued through the Alumni program & network.

When will the program run?

Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First will run from July to October 2024. You can refer to the key dates section above for more information.

Who should apply for Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First?

Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First targets Seed to Series A funded AI-First startups headquartered in India.

The startups should be past the "idea stage" with some level of customer validation and market traction with their product.

How will startups be chosen?

We are looking for Indian startups that are solving problems using advanced technology like AI/ML or data in healthcare, education, finance, media & entertainment, gaming, enterprise & other industries and that can scale globally.

We review the completed applications from the startups in parallel to the application phase to check their eligibility for the accelerator program. The eligible applications will be reviewed by a panel of experts/program team and shortlist 40-60 startups for the interview/pitch session to evaluate the team, problem, solution and scalability. Then the shortlisted startups from the interview/pitch phase will be reviewed by the selection board for the final list. The final list of startups will receive the program contract to sign for the official announcement.

Note: All incomplete applications after the application deadline will be ineligible.

What is the difference between Launchpad and Google for Startups Accelerator?

For over five years, Google has operated its Launchpad Accelerators which reach entrepreneurs in over 40 countries and include some of the most successful startups in the world in its global portfolio. Towards the end of 2019, all Launchpad Accelerators were renamed to Google for Startups Accelerator to simplify Google's startup offerings.

Is there a different program for startups in the region?

We also have other startup programs in the region, find more details here.

Will the accelerator be virtual or in-person?

The accelerator will be a hybrid one with a mix of virtual and in-person sessions.

What are the criteria to receive product credits, and what does "eligible for product credits" mean?

Startups must meet specific criteria to be eligible for Google product credit offerings. To learn more about the Google Cloud credit eligibility requirements, please visit the Google Cloud startup page.