American tech giant Google on Tuesday announced that applications are now open for its India-specific initiative – the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First India 2025 program, for a country that is quickly being driven by technology and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Aimed at supporting India’s growing AI ecosystem by helping startups in the Seed to Series A stages, an official statement by the company said that those startups that focused on Agentic AI and Multimodal AI are especially encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is June 30.
“As a part of our continued efforts to support this vibrant ecosystem and contribute to the broader goals of the IndiaAI Mission, with the support of MeitY Startup Hub, we are excited to open the applications for the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First program in India”.
Google’s announcement comes as news that is much welcome in the backdrop of the company’s global restructuring efforts and layoffs in the past few years. With India’s tech scene expanding quickly, skilled professionals and a strong economy are luring the adoption of Artificial Intelligence, more so with the government making it a priority through efforts like the IndiaAI Mission.
Through this accelerator program, Google stated that the selected startups will get access to top-tier mentorship from Google teams including DeepMind, Cloud, Android, Play, Ads, and others. Startups will also receive one-on-one support based on their goals and progress, guided by dedicated startup success managers.
Participants will have access to free Cloud TPUs, Cloud credits (if eligible), and the latest AI tools and models from Google. They will also get hands-on support in integrating advanced AI models such as Gemini, Gemma, Imagen, and Veo to overcome technical challenges.
Last year, Google had noted that the accelerator program had a major impact as participating startups raised over USD 61 million in funding. Having gained access to the Google Cloud Marketplace, it helped them reach new markets and improve their products.
“Last year's Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First India program significantly impacted participating startups, resulting in over USD 61M in cumulative funding, Google Cloud Mrketplace integration for expanded market access, and notable product improvements”, added the statement.
Google also noted that according to projections, India’s Generative AI market is expected to exceed USD 17 billion by 2030. AI is also set to play a key role in helping the country achieve its USD 1 trillion digital economy target by 2028. The company hopes to support and empower the next wave of AI-driven startups through this year's program.
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