Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 7: Tech behemoth Google today unveiled the second iteration of its 'Google for Startups Accelerator: Apps' programme, setting the stage to empower 20 promising Indian startups. This initiative, backed by Google Play, is strategically designed to equip app-centric ventures in India with the capabilities to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and achieve significant product scaling.
The accelerator programme benefits from a collaborative partnership with the MeitY Startup Hub, whose support, according to Google, has been instrumental in broadening the initiative's reach and overall impact within the Indian startup ecosystem.
In an official statement, Google lauded India's startup and developer landscape as a "hotbed of innovation," underscoring the company's commitment to fostering its continued growth. Through this accelerator, the US-based technology leader aims to provide burgeoning app startups with access to cutting-edge AI tools, expert counsel, and mentorship from its leading engineers and researchers.
The intensive three-month programme is open to Indian startups that are currently leveraging AI or are actively exploring its integration into their mobile applications.
"To be eligible, startups must have a published app on the Play Store, be incorporated in India, and be funded between Seed and Series-A stage," explained Paul Ravindranath, Programme Manager for Google for Startups Accelerator India.
The second cohort will place a strong emphasis on AI, acknowledging its increasingly pivotal role in the future trajectory of app development. Through tailored mentorship and direct engagement with Google's specialists, participating startups will receive dedicated support to refine their AI functionalities, elevate user experience, bolster application security, and expedite user acquisition.
Google highlighted the notable advancements achieved by the first cohort of 20 startups in areas such as technology, design, and user engagement, attributing this success to the hands-on mentorship and access to Google's extensive resources. The upcoming cohort will similarly benefit from this comprehensive support system, including the provision of customized reports designed to enhance their performance on the Google Play Store.
Applications for the programme are open until May 15th, with the programme itself scheduled to commence in July with an immersive week-long bootcamp. During the application window, interested startups can also participate in weekly virtual open forums every Thursday to gain deeper insights and address any queries, as per the company's announcement.