Google has partnered with venture firm Accel to fund early-stage Indian AI startups, offering $2 million each and comprehensive support through a new AI-focused cohort.
Quick Summary (TLDR):
- Google and Accel will co-invest up to $2 million per startup through a new AI-focused cohort under Accel’s Atoms program.
- The program targets early-stage Indian AI startups, including founders from the Indian diaspora.
- Startups will receive funding, compute credits, mentorship, and early access to Google’s AI tools and models.
- This marks the first global partnership of its kind for Google’s AI Futures Fund, highlighting India’s growing role in the AI space.
What Happened?
Google and Accel have announced a major collaboration to back at least 10 early-stage Indian AI startups beginning in 2026. Through Google’s AI Futures Fund and Accel’s Atoms program, selected startups will receive up to $2 million in joint funding, alongside deep technical and business support.
We’re excited to announce AI Cohort 2026 in partnership with Google’s AI Futures Fund—a global first for @Google and a landmark moment for India’s AI ecosystem.
— Accel Atoms (@AccelAtoms) November 25, 2025
Together, we’re backing India’s next generation of AI founders, building for a billion people and beyond. pic.twitter.com/YHXoNumekb
This partnership is a significant move for Google, which has identified India as a key market for its global AI strategy. The alliance aims to boost local innovation by enabling startups to build AI products for India and global audiences.
Inside the Google-Accel AI Investment Push
$2 Million Per Startup and More
Each startup in the new cohort will be eligible for up to $2 million in funding, with Google and Accel contributing equally. The focus is on founders building AI tools from day one, across categories such as:
- Creativity and entertainment
- Coding and productivity
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
- Foundational model development
Founders will also benefit from up to $350,000 in cloud and compute credits across Google Cloud, Gemini, and DeepMind. This includes early access to experimental AI features, APIs, and dedicated engineering resources from Google Labs and DeepMind.
Broader Access and Global Support
The program extends eligibility to Indian-origin founders abroad who are creating solutions for the Indian market or global users. Participating startups will gain:
- Monthly mentorship with Accel and Google technical leads
- Co-development opportunities with Google research teams
- Immersion sessions in London and the Bay Area, including Google I/O
- Access to Google’s AI builder ecosystem and global marketing support
- Entry into Accel’s Atoms founder network
This structure is designed to give startups a serious edge not only in funding but also in infrastructure, research, and market visibility.
Why India? Why Now?
India is becoming increasingly attractive to global AI investors. With its mobile-first population, growing cloud infrastructure, and deep engineering talent, the country is poised to become a major hub for AI development.
Prayank Swaroop, a partner at Accel, echoed this sentiment, noting that Google’s involvement adds a layer of trust, especially when startups are working with enterprise clients.
Google’s Bigger Bet on Indian AI
This initiative follows Google’s recent commitment of $15 billion to build a 1-gigawatt AI data center in Andhra Pradesh, its largest investment in the country to date. It also builds on its $10 billion India Digitization Fund, which has backed major firms like Reliance Jio and Flipkart.
Through the AI Futures Fund, launched in May 2025, Google has already invested in over 30 AI companies, including Indian startups like Toonsutra and STAN. The India-focused cohort with Accel marks the first country-specific partnership for the fund.
While startups in the program will naturally use many of Google’s tools, Silber clarified that there are no exclusivity requirements. “Sometimes, Google’s technology is the best. Other times, you’ll see Anthropic or OpenAI,” he said. “We’re not putting firm requirements that say you can only use Google’s models.”
Daily Research News Takeaway
I love seeing this kind of strategic collaboration. India has been bursting with engineering talent for years, but now it’s finally getting the early-stage capital and infrastructure needed to build AI products at scale. What excites me most is that this isn’t just about money. Founders will get access to world-class tools, mentorship, and research, which could be game-changing for innovation in the region. This is not just a win for startups, it’s a power move that positions India as a future AI powerhouse.
