Google Introduces Circular Economy-Focused Startup Accelerator Program

Tech colossal Google has introduced a new virtual accelerator program called Google for Startups Accelerator: Circular Economy for startups and non-profit organisations based in Asia-Pacific and North America. 

With this, Google said it seeks to build a circular economy and develop a sustainable future without creating waste.

The circular economy-focused accelerator program will focus on Seed to Series A tech startups that build tech solutions to resolve problems including reuse, refill, recycling, composting, fashion, food, safe and circular materials.

The accelerator program will provide ten weeks of virtual programming, which is inclusive of mentoring and technical support from Google engineers and other external experts via one-to-one and one-to-many sessions. 

Besides, selected startups will also be assigned a ‘success manager’ that will support one specific organisation.

The accelerator program has opened applications for startups from October 3, 2022 that will end on November 14, 2022. However, the program will commence in February 2023.

The latest development has come a day after Google’s women-focused accelerator program has launched its first cohort of 20 women-led Indian startups. Under this program, the tech giant will provide workshops and offer support in various areas including artificial intelligence and machine learning, UX, Android, web, product strategy and growth.

Some of the startups that have made it to the cited accelerator program include sustainable lifestyle and food startup Brown Living, edtech startup CoLLearn, AI-enabled startup Dubverse, healthcare startup Elda and health and wellness startup Jumping Minds, among others. 

Notably, Google’s startup accelerator program is one of the most prominent accelerator programs run by international companies in India. Some of the other startup accelerator programs run by global companies include Y Combinator, GE Healthcare’s India Edison Accelerator Programme and Cisco LaunchPad, among others. 

In the last four years, over 116 startups have graduated from Google’s startup accelerator programs. These startups have together raised more than $2 Bn and created 12K+ employment opportunities.