Google and Accel have joined hands to support early-stage AI startups in India. The two companies announced this plan this week. Because of the scale of the partnership, the update quickly became one of the most shared news items in the Indian tech space. Google said that the main goal is to make AI more accessible for founders. The company explained that many early teams have talent but lack money, tools and guidance. As a result, many ideas do not reach users. With this new plan, Google wants to change that by giving young founders the support they need at the start of their journey.
Accel also shared its view on the partnership. The firm said that India has a strong base of engineers who want to build AI products. However, early teams often struggle with hiring, scaling, testing and turning ideas into real products. Because of this, Accel said the program will give founders a better chance to compete on a global level.
Under the new initiative, each selected startup may receive up to 2 million dollars. This will help founders build strong products without worrying about early costs. In addition, the funding will support companies working in healthcare, fintech, education, retail and other important sectors. These sectors already use AI in many ways, and the program wants to help them grow further.
Google will help founders understand AI tools, data systems and safe model use. The company will also show teams how to use AI for real-world needs. At the same time, Accel will guide startups on early product building, team planning, hiring and fundraising.
India is one of the fastest-growing AI markets in the world. Many founders are building tools for business automation, customer service, content generation, medical support and coding. Because demand is rising, investors are paying closer attention to AI startups. This new move from Google and Accel shows how important India has become for global AI development.
The plan will also give cloud credits from Google Cloud. These credits will help startups run and test AI models without heavy cost. Early teams often spend a lot on cloud tools. With these credits, founders will test faster and improve their products more easily. The partners said that the selection process will open soon. Any early-stage AI team from India can apply. After this, experts from Google and Accel will choose the startups. The program will focus on ideas that can be used by real users and solve real problems.
Founders across India reacted positively to the news. Many said the partnership fills a gap in the Indian startup ecosystem. Early AI teams often need both technical support and money. With this plan, they will get both from two major global players. The first group of selected startups will be announced later this year. Until then, Google and Accel will continue to share updates about the program. The companies said they hope this effort will help India create strong AI products for the world.
This news marks a major moment for India’s AI journey. With global support and local talent, early-stage startups may grow faster and reach more users. Because of this program, many new AI ideas could soon become real products for India and beyond.
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