Google wants you to ‘Shark Tank’ your start-up for their virtual accelerator event

If you have a start-up company with a technology based product, applications are now open for Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia. Google’s Startups Accelerator is looking for high potential seed to series A tech startups who are solving for the region’s challenges. In Series A funding, investors are not just looking for great ideas. They are looking for a strong strategy for turning that idea into a successful business. 

While Google has created start-up accelerators before (they were previously known as the Google Launchpad Accelerator), they’ve currently introduced many of them this year for specific locations and for minorities. Along with Southeast Asia, Google has also made space for black founders, women founders, Latin America, Africa, and many other locations. They even have an indie games accelerator for top indie game startups from select countries.

“…This year, we’re looking particularly for startups who are solving for the challenges we face today: whether that’s startups looking at new healthcare, education, finance or logistics solutions in light of social distancing restrictions; using AI, ML or data analysis in meaningful ways; or using technology to make the world more inclusive for the elderly or people with disabilities,” wrote Google in their press release.

Here’s what they will be looking for in your start-up:

• Seed to Series A startups with a technology-based product.
• Startups should have some level of market traction with their product/service and are past the “idea stage”, with some initial customer validation.
• Startups should be able to identify a large market opportunity for significant impact.
• Startups who are solving for the challenges we face today: whether that’s startups looking at new healthcare, education, finance or logistics solutions in light of social distancing restrictions; using AI/ML or data analysis in meaningful ways; or using technology to make the world more inclusive for the elderly or people with disabilities. 
• The startup’s founding team and/or key team members should be able to demonstrate that they have the technical skills, business skills, and mindset to grow and scale a company in this region.

Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia will be conducted in English, and accepts applications from startups headquartered in Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—however, unlike their usual programs, this year’s accelerator is virtual. Applications will close on Sunday, 19th July 2020, and you can visit this website to apply.

Once your start-up is chosen, the program benefits include equity-free support, exclusive invitations to technical bootcamps hosted by Google, personalised mentorship and technical support from the company and industry experts, and up to USD100,000 in Google Cloud Platform and Firebase credits—but the credits would only be valid for 12 months, and only available in Google Cloud Territories.