Google Cloud opens AI accelerator linking Southeast Asia startups with Silicon Valley

Google Cloud has expanded its collaborations with Enterprise Singapore, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, the Vietnam National Innovation Center, and the Startup and Innovation Hub of Ho Chi Minh City to create an AI startup innovation corridor across Southeast Asia and into Silicon Valley.

The collaboration centres on Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia, a new cross-border programme for founders building proprietary agentic AI products. Applications are now open for the first cohort of 25 startups, with the equity-free, three-month programme set to begin in August 2026.

Accelerator targets AI startups across six Southeast Asian markets

The programme is designed for Seed to Series B AI startups across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. EnterpriseSG, Komdigi, NIC, and SIHUB will provide tailored support for startups from Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam respectively.

Google Cloud said the initiative builds on previous Google for Startups Accelerator programmes that have helped more than 200 early-stage startups in Southeast Asia build new products, raise US$6.6 billion in funding, and create 11,300 jobs since 2018.

The new programme was launched during Google for Startups Sprint, a one-day event at Google’s Asia Pacific headquarters that connected startups with investors and government leaders.

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.”

Startups will receive technical and market support

The accelerator will include an in-person California residency, where founders will take part in technical sessions at Google’s Mountain View and San Francisco campuses and meet venture capital communities along Sand Hill Road and Palo Alto.

Startups will also receive access to Google Cloud’s AI stack, including Tensor Processing Units, Agentic Data Cloud, Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, and Google Antigravity. Eligible participants can receive up to US$350,000 in cloud credits under the Google for Startups Cloud Program.

The programme will provide early access to Google’s next-generation AI models, including its latest Gemini 3.5 models, and agentic enterprise tooling through Trusted Tester and Early Access programmes. Founders and their teams will also join bootcamps at Google Developer Space, Garuda Spark Innovation Hub, NIC facilities, and SIHUB headquarters, covering areas such as agentic coding, AI context engineering, large language model operations, and multi-agent systems.

Startups will receive structured product development sprints and architectural reviews with technical leads from Google Cloud’s engineering centre and Google DeepMind’s AI research lab in Singapore. They will also be able to tap mentorship from teams across Android, Google Ads, Google Pay, and Google Play.

Southeast Asia partners add local startup support

The programme’s local partners are linking the accelerator to existing startup development efforts in Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

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.”

In Indonesia, Komdigi said the collaboration would support AI adoption in sectors such as education, food security, and healthcare. In Vietnam, NIC said the programme would connect startups in priority sectors with partners in Singapore and Silicon Valley, including areas such as agentic AI and embodied AI.

Startups in the programme will also have the opportunity to present their products to venture capitalists, angel investors, and enterprise customers at a Google-hosted demo day and startup summit in Singapore.