Google reveals latest accelerator batch, including first startups from Bangladesh and Pakistan

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Google’s global headquarters in Mountain View, California. Photo credit: bennymarty / 123RF

Google has announced the startups that will join the latest edition of its Launchpad accelerator program, with 10 of the 24 new entrants hailing from Asia.

This latest intake represents the accelerator’s fifth batch, and includes the first Bangladeshi and Pakistani startups to be selected.

The 10 Asia-Pacific entrants are:

• Ayannah (The Philippines) has developed a number of B2B and B2C financial services for underbanked communities, including cross-border remittances
• BabyChakra (India) is a parenting and pregnancy advice app
• Kulina (Indonesia) delivers meals on a subscription basis, using tech to make the supply chain and logistics more efficient
• Maya Apa (Bangladesh) crowdsources answers to anonymous user questions on topics such as healthcare and legal issues
• Monkey Junior (Vietnam) offers online courses in languages, mathematics, and science for young children
• m.Paani (India) uses loyalty schemes and special offers to help brands gain marketing insights
• Niramai (India) – is building a low-cost, software-based diagnostic system for detecting breast cancer
• Priceza (Thailand) is a price comparison app and search engine for shoppers
• SocialCops (India) collects, cleans, and analyzes data to help governments and nonprofits with policy and strategic decision-making
• VividTech (Pakistan) wants to improve the experience of being put “on hold” by your service provider by replacing looped muzak with interactive and visual experiences

Established last year, Launchpad is a six-month scheme that selects growth-stage startups from emerging markets, providing equity-free support including mentorship and an all-expenses-paid, two-week training at Google’s headquarters in Silicon Valley.