Google has opened applications for its accelerator program that will help startups in Southeast Asia and Pakistan solve specific and technical challenges using the tech giant’s resources.
Photo credit: Google
The Google for Startups Accelerator program is looking for 10 to 15 startups in the seed or series A stages and based in Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, or the Philippines. It will accept applications from firms that operate in industries such as ecommerce, finance, healthcare, SME-focused B2B solutions, education, agriculture, and logistics.
Founders selected for the program will be paired with industry experts as well as mentors from Google to tackle the challenges that their startups are facing.
See also: Series SEA: Who’s investing in the region’s AI startups?
According to the tech giant, Southeast Asia saw US$11.5 billion in deal activity for the first half of 2021. Startups in Pakistan raised US$350 million in funding last year, a 5x growth from 2020.
“One explanation for this acceleration is that Pakistan and Southeast Asia both have a thriving youth population,” Google said in a statement. “These young people tend to be tech-savvy, have an interest in entrepreneurship, and are more in tune with global trends.”
Startups that have previously participated in the Google for Startups Accelerator program include Shoplinks, Sehat Kahani, Kata.ai, and Rumarocket.
Editing by Miguel Cordon and Lorenzo Kyle Subido
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