Accel, Google team up to invest in Indian AI startups

Accel, Google team up to invest in Indian AI startups

25 Nov 2025, 01:39 PM

As part of the partnership, Accel's Atoms startup accelerator and Google's AI Futures Fund will provide selected ventures with investment up to $2 million.

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Venture capital firm Accel has teamed up with tech giant Google to back artificial intelligence (AI) startups from India.

As part of the partnership, Accel's Atoms startup accelerator and Google's AI Futures Fund will provide selected ventures with investment up to $2 million.

They will seek to invest in startups developing AI-driven technologies, whether they're building products within India or are led by Indian entrepreneurs targeting international customers.

Beyond capital infusion, participating startups will receive technical resources including cloud computing credits, access to Google's Gemini and DeepMind AI systems, plus guidance from both organizations' technical teams.

The programme launches in 2026 and is open to early-stage startups applying via Accel’s Atoms channel.

Accel's Atoms program has supported 40 ventures over its four-year history, with those companies collectively securing over $300 million in subsequent funding rounds.

Meanwhile, Google's AI Futures Fund, launched six months ago, has funded over 30 companies, including Indian webtoon startup Toonsutra.

India's domestic AI market is expected to more than triple to $17 billion by 2027, according to a report by global consulting firm BCG.

The country's AI market is also expected to get a boost as global AI startups such as OpenAI and Anthropic are set to offices in the country.

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