Google launches ‘AI First’ accelerator to boost India’s emerging AI startups

Google has launched applications for its ‘Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First’ programme in India, aiming to support and fast-track early-stage AI startups. The initiative, launched in collaboration with the MeitY Startup Hub, focuses on enabling startups working in the fields of Agentic AI and Multimodal AI—two areas expected to play a significant role in the next wave of artificial intelligence adoption globally.

The accelerator comes at a time when India’s AI market is expanding rapidly. According to industry projections, India’s Generative AI market is likely to exceed $17 billion by 2030. AI is also projected to play a pivotal role in helping the country achieve its $1 trillion digital economy target by 2028. Recognising the sector’s potential, the Indian government recently announced the IndiaAI Mission to promote AI as a key pillar in the country’s digital growth strategy.

In line with this national vision, Google’s accelerator is targeting startups that are building foundational AI models, reasoning systems, advanced multimodal applications, and other deep-tech innovations. The programme is open to startups in the Seed to Series A stage.

What the programme offers

Startups selected for the ‘AI First’ accelerator will receive access to a range of resources and support mechanisms. This includes:

• Mentorship: One-on-one guidance from domain experts across Google’s teams, including DeepMind, Google Health, Cloud, Android, and Ads.

• Customised growth support: The programme will provide weekly sessions focused on specific OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), along with support from dedicated startup success managers to help founders stay aligned with their product and business goals.

• Cloud infrastructure and AI tools: Startups will receive free access to Cloud TPUs, credits, and advanced AI tools like Gemini, Gemma, Imagen, and Veo.

• Technical collaboration: Founders will have the opportunity to work directly with Google’s AI teams to address complex challenges and integrate the latest AI models into their products.

Impact from previous cohort

This is not the first edition of Google’s AI-focused accelerator in India. The previous cohort in 2024 demonstrated strong outcomes, with participating startups collectively raising over $61 million in funding. Several startups also gained visibility and traction by leveraging the Google Cloud Marketplace.

Some of the notable startups from the 2024 cohort include:

• SpotDraft, which used the Gemini API to enhance its contract management system. The integration helped the company reduce costs by 80 percent and improve accuracy by 30 percent.

• Kroop AI, a deepfake detection startup, used AI tools from the programme to refine its pricing model, leading to a 40 percent improvement in user engagement.

• Merlin AI, a productivity platform, utilised Gemini’s long context window to improve chat and document processing for its user base of over two million.

Applications open until 30 June 2025

Applications for the current cohort are open until 30 June 2025 through Google’s startup portal. The accelerator is designed to support AI-first startups that are working on innovative use cases and have the potential to scale globally.

The initiative is part of Google’s broader strategy to support the Indian startup ecosystem and aligns with national efforts to make India a leading global hub for artificial intelligence development. By combining technical mentorship, infrastructure access, and business support, the ‘AI First’ accelerator aims to equip Indian startups with the tools and guidance needed to build impactful AI products.

Startups that meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply before the deadline. The programme will begin with the selection of a new cohort, and selected companies will go through a structured programme designed to help them scale efficiently.

For more information and to apply, founders can visit Google’s official startup portal.