Google for Startups

Introducing the 2024 Google for Startups Founders Funds recipients in the United States 🌟 From boosting crop yields to revolutionizing how businesses secure their data, these visionary Black and Latino-led startups are harnessing AI to tackle critical issues across sustainability, enterprise, cybersecurity, and beyond. Congratulations Akeptus, Bountiful, Cambio, EdVisorly, HEARD by Elis, HacWare, Hue., InOrbit.AI, JustAir, Maverick, Pagedip, Raincoat, Sensagrate, Sortile,TackleAI, Trustible, Improving Aviation, Beta Financial Services, Hire Henry and Waterplan (YC S21)! Read more about the 2024 Founders Funds recipients here: https://lnkd.in/gu94sBjE

We’re excited to introduce you to the 24 teams selected by Google for Startups for the Growth Academy: AI for Health, a three-month hybrid program dedicated to supporting high-potential startups in the healthcare and wellbeing industry using AI technology to grow and innovate responsibly. Up first: Aide Health amplifAI health BIORCE C the Signs Callyope Clear.bio Stay tuned to meet the next batch of health AI innovators later this month! Learn more about the Growth Academy here: https://goo.gle/4d3h9Cs

We partnered with Coco Mocoe & Your Rich BFF Media to help creators, publishers, and entrepreneurs earn more from their content. "Create and Thrive" is our new guest speaker series with insights on growing your business and thriving online. Available to watch now at https://goo.gle/46oo4DG

☀️ Heatwave in Berlin, and it wasn't just the weather! 🔥 What happens when you combine 29°C, a room full of VEECEE 120 top VCs, the inspiring #shetransformsIT initiative, and 13 powerhouse female-led AI companies? You get the Google for Startups Accelerator Women Founders Demo Day – an unforgettable whirlwind of innovation, connection, and empowerment! 🚀 On June 26th, I had the privilege of witnessing these incredible women showcase their game-changing AI solutions after 12 weeks of intensive mentorship, training and connection with Google's network of experts. From AI-powered life planners for families (thanks, Aurora First) to cybersecurity guardians protecting businesses from phishing attacks (Malloc (YC S21), you're amazing!) and redefining fashion with truly sustainable solutions (yoona.ai (Techstars ´21)), these founders are redefining what's possible. 💡 But it's not just about the technology. It's about the camaraderie, the resilience, and the shared vision for a future where AI is built for and by everyone – with a distinctly female lens. 🌍 Calling all startups tackling Climate change or building AI First businesses! We're still accepting applications for our upcoming programs designed to empower and accelerate your journey. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with a vibrant community, gain access to mentorship, and unlock your full potential. https://lnkd.in/eXEvKFfR & https://lnkd.in/eUPD7ZDi 👏 A huge THANK YOU to the entire team, our incredible advisory board, and our generous sponsors for making this program a reality. And to the founders – your passion, dedication, and ingenuity are truly inspiring. I can't wait to see the incredible impact you'll make on the world! Bamboo Energy Bigthinx boosst Digitech Oasis Evaro Legal Nodes luna ObjectBox Ochy Predicta Med Noa Havazelet Patrizia (Pati) Jurek Nino Nanitashvili Martyna Karaś🌟 🌟 🌟 Temitayo O. Joëlle Barral Karina Govindji Amanda Timberg Felix Hentzen Gemma Garriga Lucrezia Noli Cyrille Saint Olive Linda Brown Oksana Stowe Elena Kolesnik Google Cloud Women Techmakers Google DeepMind 📸 Stay tuned for my #GoogleIOconnect wrap-up – it was a week to remember! #WomenInAI #AIForGood #FemaleFounders #Innovation #BerlinTech

🚀 Celebrating Black Excellence in European Tech! 🚀 Last week, Amsterdam was buzzing with the energy of 65+ trailblazing Black founders from across Europe, all recipients of the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund. This gathering, held alongside the TNW conference, was a powerful testament to the thriving community we've built together over the years. The impact report we unveiled is nothing short of inspiring: "Black Representation in Tech: Africa and Europe" written in partnership with Notion Capital provides insights into African and European tech investment and diversity, assessing the performance of the recipients of the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund as compared to peers not backed by Google. 📌 Thriving businesses: Our founders have collectively raised $379 millions in funding, created 6000 jobs, and launched innovative products that are changing the world. 40% of leadership positions, with startups being women-led or having a female co-founder.  📌 Global reach: Our startups are scaling rapidly, expanding into new markets, and making a global impact. 📌 Strong community: We've fostered a supportive network where founders lift each other up, share knowledge, and collaborate on new ventures. A heartfelt thank you goes out to those who made this incredible gathering inspiring: 🚀 Gillian Tans, former CEO of Booking.com, for gracing us with her wisdom and passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Your journey is a beacon of inspiration for us all.  🚀 Ruben Brave, our local partner extraordinaire, for opening doors and fostering invaluable connections within the Amsterdam tech scene. Your dedication to our founders is truly appreciated.  🚀 And most importantly, THE FOUNDERS themselves! Your presence, energy, and the vibrant connections you forged are a testament to the power of community. This is more than just a fund; it's a movement. We're proving that diversity fuels innovation and that Black founders are a driving force in European tech. I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for this extraordinary community. To all the Black founders out there: keep dreaming big, keep pushing boundaries, and keep building the future you envision. You can read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dVvagd5m #BlackFoundersFund #GoogleForStartups #TNWConference #DiversityInTech #BlackExcellence

How are you using AI to optimize your startup? This AI Appreciation Day, Jo Goodall, cofounder of luna, Ali Golshan, cofounder & CEO of Gretel.ai, Maria Terzi, CEO & cofounder of Malloc (YC S21), and Myle Ott, founding researcher at Character.AI share some of the ways they’re using AI to level up. 

🚨 Cool new thing alert: Bower, a Swedish startup, are helping change the way we recycle ♻️. Nearly 90% of households are still unclear on how to recycle items effectively – but recycling is key to reducing our pollution and protecting our environment. Enter Bower, an innovative Swedish startup that is tackling the global waste crisis head-on with their AI-powered app that helps people recycle correctly. Last year they won Google.org’s Impact Challenge and received funding and a fellowship - including a dedicated team of 5 Googlers working full time, pro bono, to help them develop a state-of-the-art computer vision model. And now anyone with a smartphone can use their AI model to recycle better! The app, Bower, is downloadable on both Android and iOS and is already being used by 680,000 people worldwide. Users simply log a product by taking a picture with their phone to learn the item’s type, material, size and product specifics - while also calculating the CO2e savings that can be made by recycling the item and (crucially!) how to do that. The app also rewards users with money and coupons for recycling: making recycling easier, faster, and more tempting than ever before. Read the Forbes article about them below and watch the video to see how it works! ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eJTqKGJW

The impact of the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund since its launch in 2021 has been remarkable. It has taken a dedicated group of champions, partners, and ecosystem drivers to make it a success and the results speak volumes ($379m raised & 6000 jobs created). I still feel we're just scraping the surface on what is possible, there is still so much potential for further progress! Check out the report: http://goo.gle/bff-report Congrats to the team: Mariama Boumanjal, Benjamin N'gonga, Marta Mozes Folarin Oreoluwa Aiyegbusi, the rest of Google for Startups and their supporters. 👏🏼 #Google #GoogleforStartups #BlackFoundersFund

One of the most significant programs I am honored to take part of as Head of Emerging Markets is our EMEA Black Founders Fund. At Google for Startups, our mission is to level the playing field for founders from all walks of life. Established in 2020, the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund has awarded more than $38 million of non-dilutive funding to help Black-led startups, in addition to support across Google orgs. Following three successful years of the Black Founders Fund in Europe and Africa, we conducted a comprehensive data-driven analysis of the program's impact, in partnership with Notion Capital. Our report examines the broader landscape of Black entrepreneurship in these regions and compares the performance of Black Founders Fund startups to their non-participating peers. Key results: 🏆 Follow-on funding from African Cohorts reached 262 M from an initial $9m. This represents a 29x increase. 🏆4,000 employees, increased from 1,050 in 2021 - nearly 4x since the fund commenced. 🏆 Black Founders Fund companies are outperforming non-Google-backed startups by 61%, growing faster over a three-year period than peers at the same growth stage. What else we learned: 👉 Significant Growth The African tech ecosystem is now valued at $482.7B, while Europe’s tech ecosystem stands at an impressive $20.7T. 👉 Investment Gaps Shockingly, only 0.51% of tech investment in Europe and Africa since 2000 has gone to Black-led businesses. 👉 BFF Impact Our fund has supported 220 startups in Africa and Europe with non-dilutive cash awards and mentorship, creating a vibrant and supportive community. So what’s next? ✅ Policy Advocacy We’re working with policymakers to promote diversity and dismantle systemic barriers. ✅ Investor Education By educating investors about the unique challenges faced by underrepresented founders, we can foster a more inclusive investment landscape. ✅ Community Building Strengthening mentorship programs helps create a collaborative ecosystem where Black founders can thrive. ✅ Data Transparency Enhancing data collection on diversity metrics ensures informed decision-making and greater transparency. We’re committed to driving change and building an inclusive tech landscape. The journey continues, and with your support, we can create a world where every founder has an equal opportunity to succeed. Thank you to Mariama Boumanjal, Marta Mozes, Doriel Shilo, and Benjamin N'gonga for your hard work on this project 🙌 To get the full report, see the link in the comments below. What do you think about these results? #BFF #GoogleforStartups Matt Brittin | Noah Samuels | Eileen Mannion | Doron Avni |

This year's Google for Startups Founders Fund cohort is a testament to the transformative power of AI, showcasing 10 Black and Latino-led startups that are harnessing its potential to create a more equitable and sustainable world. A future where wildfires are prevented before they even start, thanks to the ingenious AI solutions developed by Improving Aviation. A world where fast fashion is no longer a burden on our planet, as Sortile leverages AI to divert it from landfills. From education to agriculture this year's cohort is truly changing the word. They are pioneers, paving the way for a future where technology is not just a tool, but a force for positive change. Let's embrace the power of AI to build a better tomorrow, together. 👏 🎊 Congrats! Congratulations to Akeptus, Bountiful, Cambio, EdVisorly, heardai, HacWare, Hire Henry, Hue., InOrbit.AI, JustAir, Maverick, Pagedip, Raincoat, Sensagrate, Sortile,TackleAI, Trustible, Improving Aviation, Beta Financial Services and Waterplan (YC S21)! So thankful to do this work together! Kaili Emmrich, Danny Navarro, Kylan Kester, Monica Mora, Karen Fiester, Yulkendy Valdez (She-Her), John Chan, Samantha Rodriguez, Joey Womack, Austin Gunter, Tony Wilkins, Chantel Cohen, LCSW, Certified Executive Coach, Accelerate Performance Sales Consulting (Adam Shaivitz, Ross Robinson, Amanda Boleyn, Monica D. Livingston)