New Delhi: Google has opened applications for its Google for Startups Accelerator: India, targeting early-stage artificial intelligence startups at a time when funding challenges are beginning to weigh on the sector.

The three-month, equity-free programme is aimed at startups between Seed and Series A stages building core AI solutions, including generative, multimodal and agentic technologies.

The move comes even as India’s AI ecosystem continues to expand rapidly. Artificial intelligence accounted for a dominant share of the country’s deep tech startups and funding in 2025. However, early-stage funding has seen a notable decline, with seed investments dropping by 30% over the past year as investors turned more selective.

This shift has left many early-stage founders struggling to secure capital and scale their products, despite strong innovation momentum.

Google’s accelerator will select a cohort of 10–15 startups, offering them access to mentorship from Google engineers and industry experts across AI, cloud infrastructure, product development and growth strategy.

Selected startups will also receive Google Cloud credits, access to Cloud TPUs for machine learning, and early entry into Google’s AI tools through its testing and early access programmes.

Beyond technical support, the programme will focus on helping startups refine product strategy, strengthen customer acquisition, and build leadership capabilities.

Startups applying must be based in India and building scalable, AI-driven products. The programme is specifically focused on companies developing core AI technologies rather than peripheral applications.

Applications for the current cohort will close on April 19, 2026. Interested startups may apply befor

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