Google Launches Equity-Free Accelerator for Indian Mobile Startups

Google has launched an equity-free accelerator programme for mobile startups, which provides mentorship and access to its product team, as well as a startup package of up to $50,000 (roughly Rs. 33 lakhs) in seed funding. Only mobile app startups from Brazil, India, and Indonesia are eligible for selection.

Google's Launchpad page for India currently lists startups like on-demand laundry-service Doormint, self-drive car rental startup JustRide, Mumbai-based food-tech startup HolaChef, and online furnished rentals marketplace NestAway, among others.

Startups joining the accelerator programme can avail of many benefits, including free credits for Google products, marketing spotlight opportunities, and a two week all-expense-paid training trip to Google Headquarters in California.

In the FAQs, Google said that the Launchpad accelerator is aimed at supporting mature startups with great ideas to scale, and is not designed to compete with existing programs.

Following a two-week visit to the Google campus, startups will get mentorship from experts at Google for six months, and will be provided a workspace provided by Google without charge. Interested startups can fill in the form.

Facebook has a similar FBstart program for startups, which provides mentorship and a package of free tools and services, including Facebook ad credits. Facebook in August claimed to have given benefits valued at $20 million (roughly Rs. 132 crores) till date to Indian developers.