Google’s AI Future Fund is partnering with Accel’s pre-seed investment programme Atoms to launch a new India cohort focused on supporting early-stage AI innovation. This marks Google’s first structured co-investment effort in the Indian market.
The Atoms AI Cohort 2026 will invest in founders building AI-led products across work optimisation, creativity, software engineering and entertainment. Applications for the programme will close on January 26, 2026.
Selected startups will receive up to $2 million in funding and up to $350,000 in Google credits, including Cloud and Gemini access, along with early access to DeepMind’s advanced model suite. The three-month customised programme will also offer mentorship across engineering, product and go-to-market functions to help founders build and scale from day one.
“We are looking for founders ready to think big and build bold,” Google said in a statement.
Accel partners Prayank Swaroop and Shekhar Kirani said the collaboration is aimed at removing barriers for early-stage AI builders by offering a combined stack of capital, tools and technical support.
Accel launched Atoms in 2021 to back early-stage startups and later expanded it into two tracks — Atoms AI and Atoms X. Atoms AI now evaluates startups globally that are founded by Indian-origin entrepreneurs. The earlier ticket size for Atoms AI investments was up to $1 million, with additional benefits worth $5 million from partners such as OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS, Google and Stripe.
Last year, Accel backed Revvolution AI, Zingle and BPRHub through the Atoms AI track. Accel also partnered with Prosus in October under the Atoms X programme to support early-stage deeptech startups with a single-cheque investment approach.
Google’s AI Future Fund, launched six months ago, has funded more than 30 companies globally. The company also recently announced the 20 startups selected for its “Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First” 2025 cohort, which will run as an equity-free three-month programme.
India’s AI market is projected to reach $17 billion by 2027, driven by rising adoption across enterprise and consumer applications.
