Google Cloud launches AI startup corridor to Silicon Valley

Google Cloud has launched an AI startup innovation corridor linking Southeast Asia with Silicon Valley, backed by public sector partners in Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The new programme, Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia, targets Seed- to Series B-stage AI startups across six countries in the region. An initial cohort of 25 startups will join an equity-free, three-month programme that includes technical residencies in Singapore and California.

The launch expands Google Cloud's work with Enterprise Singapore, Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, the Vietnam National Innovation Centre, and the Startup and Innovation Hub of Ho Chi Minh City. These agencies will provide additional support for startups from their respective markets, with tailored national backing in Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The accelerator is designed to help founders move from product-market fit to international expansion. Startups accepted into the programme will receive engineering support, commercial guidance and access to Google Cloud tools, along with connections to investors and large customers.

The California residency will put founders in direct contact with technology companies and venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Participants will spend time at Google's campuses in Mountain View and San Francisco and meet investors in Palo Alto and along Sand Hill Road.

Selected companies will also receive up to USD $350,000 in cloud credits through the Google for Startups Cloud Program. The package includes access to Google Cloud infrastructure and AI products, as well as enrolment in early-access and testing programmes for newer models and software tools.

Training will take place through bootcamps in several locations, including Google Developer Space, Garuda Spark Innovation Hub, facilities operated by the Vietnam National Innovation Centre, and SIHUB's headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City. Founders and staff will be trained in areas including agentic coding, AI context engineering, large language model operations and multi-agent systems.

Startups will also work with engineers from Google Cloud's Singapore engineering centre and researchers from Google DeepMind in Singapore. Product teams from Android, Google Ads, Google Pay and Google Play will provide mentorship alongside external advisers from venture capital firms, large corporations and specialist consultancies.

The initiative builds on a broader regional startup programme Google has run since 2018. More than 200 early-stage startups in Southeast Asia that took part in its accelerators have collectively raised USD $6.6 billion and created 11,300 jobs, according to the company.

Google cited alumni including health, fintech, logistics and software ventures from across the region, such as Good Doctor, Igloo, Kata.ai, Portcast, Privy and TopCV. It said these businesses used the accelerator network to develop products, acquire customers and enter new markets.

Sami Kizilbash, Head of Developer Ecosystems, Asia Pacific, Google Cloud, said: "Building on this success, Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia aims to serve Seed to Series B AI startups across industries and six countries. We often hear from founders that the jump from product-market fit to international expansion is their hardest leap. This bespoke program bridges that gap by providing direct access to best-in-class resources and global tech hubs to help them commercialize frontier AI at scale. Through our public-private partnerships and broad spectrum of initiatives-including Startup School: Agentic AI and Gen AI Academy-we're supporting entrepreneurs and developers at every stage of their growth journey. Together, we're fostering communities of practice that establish Southeast Asia markets as trusted nodes for proven AI solutions that drive meaningful societal and economic impact."

Regional government partners said the arrangement could help local AI firms reach overseas markets while strengthening domestic startup ecosystems.

Wong Zeng Yi, Assistant Managing Director, Enterprise Singapore, said: "Our partnership with Google Cloud has benefitted close to 60 Singapore AI startups. We're pleased to deepen this collaboration to enable the next wave of startups to gain access to the networks and technical expertise needed to scale and enter new markets. EnterpriseSG will continue to work with like-minded partners and industry players to foster a thriving AI ecosystem in Singapore where startups can innovate and establish themselves as global players."

Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, Director General, Digital Ecosystem, Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, said: "Strengthening the AI ecosystem is an important step in accelerating Indonesia's inclusive and sustainable digital transformation. As one of Southeast Asia's largest digital economies, Indonesia continues to encourage the development and adoption of AI solutions that create meaningful impact across key sectors, including education, food security, and healthcare. Through Google Cloud's continued support in capacity building, providing access to frontier technology, and ecosystem development, more Indonesian founders are expected to build and scale digital innovations that deliver broader benefits to communities across the country."

Vu Quoc Huy, Director, Vietnam National Innovation Centre, said: "The 'AI for the Future' initiative by NIC and Google has supported more than 500 Vietnamese startups. Building on this momentum, Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia serves as a bridge between cutting-edge tech startups in our priority sectors and partners in Singapore and Silicon Valley. By facilitating collaboration in advanced fields like agentic AI and embodied AI, we're helping to transform research breakthroughs into the next wave of enterprise and industrial solutions, boosting Vietnam's national competitiveness and driving market productivity gains."

Dang Thi Luan, Director, Startup and Innovation Hub of Ho Chi Minh City, said: "As the nucleus of Ho Chi Minh City's innovation ecosystem-now ranked among the world's top 100-SIHUB is committed to fast-tracking the transition from technical proof-of-concept to commercial success. Our collaboration with Google Cloud creates a two-way corridor: a conduit for high-potential Vietnamese AI startups to scale internationally, and a trusted gateway for their regional peers to enter our vibrant market. Through Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia, we're empowering Vietnam's entrepreneurial tech talent to architect sophisticated agentic AI solutions for sectors like fintech and smart logistics while facilitating the high-caliber exchanges they need to grow and compete sustainably on the world stage."