In an effort to further advance diversity in AI, Google has announced a new initiative to help women-led startups. The company has announced the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders, a 12-week program for seed to Series A tech startups across Europe and Israel.
Recent research from Boston Consulting Group and SISTA shows underrepresentation persists for European women founders in tech. Women-led startups accounted for just 10% of European startups in 2022, secured only 7% of fundraising, and obtained a mere 2% of capital raised.
The Google for Startups Accelerator program is a 12-week hybrid course, offering a mix of in-person and virtual training designed to bridge this gap. It targets seed to Series A technology startups headquartered in Europe and Israel, placing a clear emphasis on those led by women.
Forty women-founded startups will gain access to Google’s experts in AI and machine learning. Participants will also get $250,000 in Google Cloud credits to power their businesses and dedicated mentoring from Google teams, and exclusive invitations to technical bootcamps. The hybrid program includes both virtual and in-person sessions focused on leadership, product design, customer acquisition, and implementing AI responsibly.
In addition to this, startups will gain early access to new Google products and tools, strategic support on company and product strategy, and the invaluable opportunity to work directly with experts from Google on challenging technical projects.
Upon completion, graduates gain membership in Google’s global network of accelerator alumni. This community furnishes ongoing mentorship opportunities to help founders scale their ventures.
Applications are open until January 19th, 2024. The program commences with an in-person kickoff in March, followed by a series of virtual training bootcamps and mentorship sessions. It will culminate in an in-person demo day and graduation in June.