Tech major Google is doubling down on India’s early-stage startups as its AI Futures Fund has partnered with Accel’s pre-seed accelerator, Accel Atoms, to launch a new cohort to kick-start the next wave of AI innovation in India. The new cohort will get early access to Google DeepMind models, cloud credits, and potential equity investment from Accel and Google to fuel growth.

As the AI era accelerates change across the industry, Google wants to tap into ambitious founders in India. Under the initiative, Google’s AI Futures Fund will tie up with Accel Atoms—Accel India’s renowned pre-seed scaling program, which is expected to give a boost to AI innovation in India.

The programme will select founders ready to think big and build bold, and startups that are pre-seed ones, building AI applications. 

Here’s what Google and Accel will offer in terms of capital, technical expertise, and scale:

Early Access to Select AI Models: Startups will work directly with Google DeepMind’s most advanced AI models, like Gemini, Imagen for image generation, and Veo for video creation, often before they are available to the broader market.

Collaboration with Industry Experts: They will get hands-on support from researchers, engineers, product managers, designers, and go-to-market specialists from Google, Accel, and the broader startup ecosystem.

Google Cloud Credits and Support: The program provides cloud credits and dedicated technical support from Google’s cloud experts to help build, train and scale AI-powered products.

Equity Investment: Selected startups will also get the opportunity to seek direct investment from Accel and Google to fuel growth.

Jonathan Silber, Co-Founder and Director of AI Futures Fund, said: “At the AI Futures Fund, we believe India’s founders will play a leading role in defining the next era of global technology. By increasing our investment in the region through this new cohort with Accel, we are helping this next wave of innovation be built responsibly on Google’s most advanced AI models.”

How to Apply: Applications are open, and founders are to fill in details by logging in on the Accel India application portal. The Accel Atoms x AI Futures Fund cohort is scheduled to start in February 2026.