Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 31: Tech giant Google on Tuesday announced the opening of applications for its 2026 Startups Accelerator India, a three-month, equity-free programme designed to support AI-driven startups across the country.
The initiative is focused on startups working in next-generation domains such as Agentic AI, Multimodal AI, Physical AI, and Sovereign AI—areas that are rapidly moving from experimental stages to large-scale, real-world deployment, according to Google India.
The programme is open to AI-first startups ranging from Seed to Series A stages, particularly those building solutions tailored to India-specific challenges or developing specialised AI models for global industrial applications.
Selected participants will receive equity-free support, including access to Google’s advanced AI technologies such as Gemini, Gemma, Imagen, Veo, and Lyria. The programme also offers hands-on technical collaboration, enabling startups to refine and scale their innovations.
In addition, founders will benefit from one-on-one mentorship from experts across Google DeepMind, as well as teams from Cloud, Health, and Android. Startups will also gain access to cloud infrastructure, including TPUs and credits, depending on eligibility.
The accelerator includes structured guidance through weekly progress tracking and dedicated support managers to help startups meet product, technology, and growth milestones.
Previous editions of the programme have delivered strong outcomes. Startups like Dview reported a fourfold increase in revenue, while Superjoin improved performance metrics such as accuracy and latency significantly using advanced AI tools. Pulse, another participant, identified millions of dollars in potential revenue risks through large-scale feedback analysis.
Other startups have applied AI to solve sector-specific challenges. AiSteth developed an offline smart stethoscope that screened over 75,000 patients, while Vaani AI enhanced voice processing capabilities and reduced manual intervention. Resilience AI improved climate analytics, and VideoSDK boosted efficiency and lowered operational costs through AI-led innovations.
The 2026 cohort is scheduled to begin in late June with a week-long in-person bootcamp in Bengaluru, and will conclude with a Demo Day in October. Applications for the programme will remain open until April 19.