Google Accelerator to Boost AI Startups in India with 'AI First' Initiative
| 2025-05-13
Google launches 'AI First' accelerator to support AI startups in India.
Google has launched its 'AI First' accelerator in India to support emerging AI startups, offering mentorship, tools, and funding access until 30 June 2025.
Google has launched a new accelerator programme, 'AI First', aimed at supporting early-stage artificial intelligence (AI) startups in India. Backed by the MeitY Startup Hub, the initiative focuses on advancing innovation in agentic and multimodal AI technologies.
Google announced the opening of applications for its ‘Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First’ programme, a new initiative designed to support India’s next generation of artificial intelligence startups. The effort is being implemented in collaboration with the MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) Startup Hub, reflecting the growing national emphasis on AI-led economic development.
Targeting startups from the Seed to Series A funding stages, the accelerator is set to prioritise companies developing foundational AI technologies. This includes work in agentic AI—which involves systems capable of autonomous decision-making—and multimodal AI, which integrates text, image, audio, and video inputs to perform complex tasks.
Strengthening India's AI Ecosystem
The accelerator is part of Google’s broader strategy to align with India’s digital transformation goals. According to industry forecasts, India’s generative AI market is projected to exceed US $17 billion by 2030. AI is expected to play a pivotal role in reaching the Indian government’s $1 trillion digital economy target by 2028.
The accelerator also complements the government’s IndiaAI Mission, a national initiative launched to position AI as a cornerstone of technological advancement and economic growth. Google’s programme aims to amplify these efforts by offering resources tailored to the needs of AI innovators.
Programme Benefits and Structure
Startups selected for the ‘AI First’ cohort will receive comprehensive support over several months. This includes:
– Direct mentorship from experts across Google’s global teams, including DeepMind, Google Health, Google Cloud, and Android.
– Weekly, goal-driven sessions and access to startup success managers to help refine products and business models.
– Free access to advanced infrastructure, including Cloud TPUs, Google Cloud credits, and AI tools such as Gemini, Gemma, Imagen, and Veo.
– Collaborative opportunities to work closely with Google engineers to integrate and scale advanced AI solutions.
The programme will begin with a one-week bootcamp in Bengaluru in September and conclude with a Demo Day in December, where startups will showcase their innovations to potential investors and industry stakeholders.
Impact of the Previous Cohort
The 2024 edition of the accelerator demonstrated tangible results. Startups in last year’s cohort collectively secured over US $61 million in funding and gained visibility through platforms like the Google Cloud Marketplace.
Among the standout participants was SpotDraft, which enhanced its contract automation system using the Gemini API. According to the company, this upgrade reduced operational costs by 80% and improved document accuracy by 30%.
Another startup, Kroop AI, improved user engagement by 40% through optimised pricing and upgrades to its deepfake detection technology. Merlin AI, a productivity application, integrated Google’s large-context AI models to enhance document and chat functionality, serving over two million users.
Applications Open Until 30 June
Startups interested in applying to the ‘AI First’ accelerator must do so by 30 June 2025 through Google’s official startup portal. Google has not specified the number of startups it plans to select but has indicated that the evaluation process will prioritise innovation, technical feasibility, and alignment with long-term AI use cases.
Context
India's AI sector is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by a mix of public policy and private investment. With increasing global attention on responsible and scalable AI deployment, the country is positioning itself as a potential leader in the field. Programmes such as Google’s ‘AI First’ accelerator reflect a growing trend of international technology firms collaborating with Indian startups to shape the future of AI innovation.
As competition intensifies in AI research and commercialisation, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, initiatives like these are seen as critical enablers of talent, infrastructure, and global partnerships.
Google announced the opening of applications for its ‘Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First’ programme, a new initiative designed to support India’s next generation of artificial intelligence startups. The effort is being implemented in collaboration with the MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) Startup Hub, reflecting the growing national emphasis on AI-led economic development.
Targeting startups from the Seed to Series A funding stages, the accelerator is set to prioritise companies developing foundational AI technologies. This includes work in agentic AI—which involves systems capable of autonomous decision-making—and multimodal AI, which integrates text, image, audio, and video inputs to perform complex tasks.
Strengthening India's AI Ecosystem
The accelerator is part of Google’s broader strategy to align with India’s digital transformation goals. According to industry forecasts, India’s generative AI market is projected to exceed US $17 billion by 2030. AI is expected to play a pivotal role in reaching the Indian government’s $1 trillion digital economy target by 2028.
The accelerator also complements the government’s IndiaAI Mission, a national initiative launched to position AI as a cornerstone of technological advancement and economic growth. Google’s programme aims to amplify these efforts by offering resources tailored to the needs of AI innovators.
Programme Benefits and Structure
Startups selected for the ‘AI First’ cohort will receive comprehensive support over several months. This includes:
– Direct mentorship from experts across Google’s global teams, including DeepMind, Google Health, Google Cloud, and Android.
– Weekly, goal-driven sessions and access to startup success managers to help refine products and business models.
– Free access to advanced infrastructure, including Cloud TPUs, Google Cloud credits, and AI tools such as Gemini, Gemma, Imagen, and Veo.
– Collaborative opportunities to work closely with Google engineers to integrate and scale advanced AI solutions.
The programme will begin with a one-week bootcamp in Bengaluru in September and conclude with a Demo Day in December, where startups will showcase their innovations to potential investors and industry stakeholders.
Impact of the Previous Cohort
The 2024 edition of the accelerator demonstrated tangible results. Startups in last year’s cohort collectively secured over US $61 million in funding and gained visibility through platforms like the Google Cloud Marketplace.
Among the standout participants was SpotDraft, which enhanced its contract automation system using the Gemini API. According to the company, this upgrade reduced operational costs by 80% and improved document accuracy by 30%.
Another startup, Kroop AI, improved user engagement by 40% through optimised pricing and upgrades to its deepfake detection technology. Merlin AI, a productivity application, integrated Google’s large-context AI models to enhance document and chat functionality, serving over two million users.
Applications Open Until 30 June
Startups interested in applying to the ‘AI First’ accelerator must do so by 30 June 2025 through Google’s official startup portal. Google has not specified the number of startups it plans to select but has indicated that the evaluation process will prioritise innovation, technical feasibility, and alignment with long-term AI use cases.
Context
India's AI sector is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by a mix of public policy and private investment. With increasing global attention on responsible and scalable AI deployment, the country is positioning itself as a potential leader in the field. Programmes such as Google’s ‘AI First’ accelerator reflect a growing trend of international technology firms collaborating with Indian startups to shape the future of AI innovation.
As competition intensifies in AI research and commercialisation, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, initiatives like these are seen as critical enablers of talent, infrastructure, and global partnerships.
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