Google and Accel have joined forces to support India’s early-stage AI startups through the Google AI Futures Fund. This collaboration, a first of its kind, aims to invest up to $2 million in each startup, with both companies contributing up to $1 million. The focus of the 2026 cohort will be on founders in India and the Indian diaspora who are developing AI products from the ground up.
Prayank Swaroop, a partner at Accel, highlighted the goal of building AI products for the vast Indian population and supporting products created in India for global markets. India, with the second-largest internet and smartphone user base after China, boasts deep engineering talent. However, the country has yet to produce many companies at the forefront of AI development, a domain currently dominated by the US and China.
The landscape is evolving, as evidenced by major firms like OpenAI and Anthropic establishing offices in India and increased early-stage investments from global players. The potential for India to become a significant AI market lies in its large mobile-first population, expanding cloud infrastructure, and affordable software costs. The key challenge is translating talent and demand into original research and products.
Investments will span various sectors such as creativity, entertainment, coding, and work, including SaaS applications. The focus will also be on identifying areas where large language models are projected to advance over the next 12-24 months and supporting Indian startups in those domains.
In addition to funding, founders will receive up to $350,000 in compute credits across Google Cloud, Gemini, and DeepMind, along with early access to models, APIs, and experimental features. The program will offer support from Google Labs and DeepMind research teams, mentorship, co-development opportunities, and marketing assistance through Accel and Google’s global channels. Founders will also gain access to the Atoms founder network and Google’s AI builder ecosystem.
Jonathan Silber, co-founder of the Google AI Futures Fund, emphasized India’s history of innovation and the potential for its founders to lead the next wave of AI technology globally. This partnership marks the Futures Fund’s first collaboration in India, following Google’s substantial investments in the country’s digital transformation journey.
The collaboration follows Google’s recent plans to establish a 1-gigawatt data center and AI hub in India, along with a $10 billion digitization fund. The company’s commitment to India’s tech ecosystem is further demonstrated through partnerships with local companies like Reliance.
Accel’s Atoms program, launched in 2021, has already supported over 40 companies that have collectively raised over $300 million in follow-on funding. The program has expanded to include Indian-origin founders based overseas, reflecting the firm’s commitment to fostering innovation within the Indian startup ecosystem.
Silber clarified that the partnership is not aimed at acquiring startups or securing new cloud customers for Google. The primary objective is to foster innovation in the AI space in India and support the next generation of AI-led technologies.
In conclusion, the Google and Accel partnership signifies a significant step towards empowering India’s AI startup ecosystem. By combining financial support, technical resources, and mentorship, the collaboration aims to catalyze innovation and propel Indian founders to the forefront of global AI innovation.
