Google has announced the latest cohort of its three-month AI accelerator programme in India, selecting 20 startups from over 1,600 applicants. The initiative, titled ‘Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First in India,’ is designed to support early-stage companies building core AI products, applications, or foundational models. The programme began this week and aims to scale AI-driven solutions across sectors such as healthcare, finance, climate, and education.
The selected startups will receive access to Google Cloud infrastructure and cutting-edge Gemini models, along with technical mentorship and go-to-market strategies. Darren Mowry, Vice President of Global Startups at Google Cloud, stated that Google views startups as co-creators in building the future of AI, emphasizing the importance of scalable, impactful, and responsible AI solutions that will redefine industry standards.
Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary at MeitY and CEO of the IndiaAI Mission, highlighted that the strategic focus of this cohort is aligned with the IndiaAI Mission’s startup pillar. The programme dedicates 45 percent of its curriculum to Agentic AI, 30 percent to multimodal AI solutions, and the remaining 25 percent to foundational models and Responsible AI.
Among the selected startups are those developing a full-stack agentic platform where AI creates AI, and a healthtech startup offering a webcam-based autism screening tool. The programme pairs founders with Google engineers and industry mentors to address scaling challenges, refine product roadmaps, and ensure ethical deployment of AI technologies.
India’s generative AI ecosystem has expanded 3.7 times over the past year, positioning the country as the world’s second-largest GenAI startup hub. Google’s accelerator programme reflects the growing momentum and global recognition of India’s AI capabilities, reinforcing its role as a leader in the development of transformative technologies.
