Accel and Google partner to co-invest up to $2 Mn in Indian AI startups

Venture capital firm Accel and search giant Google have partnered to launch a co-investment initiative aimed at early-stage Indian artificial intelligence startups. The programme will be run via Accel’s Atoms accelerator and Google’s AI Futures Fund. 

Under the programme, each selected startup will receive up to $2 million in co-investment from Accel and Google. The initiative targets startups building AI solutions out of India or by Indian-origin founders aiming for global markets.

Startups chosen for the 2026 cohort will gain access to Google Cloud credits, Gemini and DeepMind models, tech mentorship and product support from Google, alongside strategic backing from Accel. 

Accel has run the Atoms programme for four years, initially across multiple industries. To date it has backed 40 companies via Atoms, which collectively have raised more than $300 million in follow-on funds. 

The partnership highlights a growing push by global tech firms to back India-based AI innovation. India’s AI market is projected to grow significantly in the coming years and is seen as a key node in global tech expansion. 

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