Key Takeaways
- • Google for Startups opened applications for its Black and Latino Founders Funds in the U.S., offering equity-free cash awards and hands-on support to founders building startups.
- • Established in 2020, the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund has awarded more than $40 million to Black-led startups, according to the primary source.
- • Recipients receive ongoing Google mentorship, Google Cloud credits, and product support in addition to cash awards.
- • Publisher context indicates applications are also open for the Black Founders Fund in Brazil, Africa, and Europe, and that the U.S. round carried a deadline of March 26, 2023.
- • The program has featured alumni across sectors including energy, fintech, AI, cybersecurity and education.
Summary
Google for Startups has opened applications for its Black and Latino Founders Funds in the United States, according to the company's blog. The programs provide cash awards without requiring recipients to give up equity, along with hands-on support intended to help founders build and grow their businesses.
The Black Founders Fund was established in 2020 and has awarded more than $40 million to help Black-led startups secure funding, strengthen communities and drive what Google describes as generational change. In addition to the equity-free cash, recipients gain ongoing Google mentorship, Google Cloud credits and product support designed to help them through each stage of their startup journey. Selected founders also join the broader Google for Startups alumni community.
Publisher context notes that the Latino Founders Fund has partnered with Goodie Nation since 2022 to distribute $10 million in cash awards to more than 70 U.S. Latinx-led startups. Separate publisher material indicates the fourth U.S. Black and Latino Founders Fund round carried a March 26, 2023 deadline, and that the Black Founders Fund is also accepting applications in Brazil, Africa and Europe.
The primary source highlights several alumni to illustrate the program's reach. They include Akeptus, which focuses on building decarbonization and grid resilience; Beta Financial Services, which provides banks with digital tools to automate commercial loan underwriting; EdVisorly, a platform linking community college students with university enrollment teams; and HacWare, an AI-powered cybersecurity awareness platform. Other alumni include Hire Henry, which builds AI-powered robots for industrial applications, and Sensagrate, a computer vision analytics platform for transportation and urban planning.
The Black Founders Fund was established in 2020 and has awarded more than $40 million to help Black-led startups secure funding, strengthen communities and drive what Google describes as generational change. In addition to the equity-free cash, recipients gain ongoing Google mentorship, Google Cloud credits and product support designed to help them through each stage of their startup journey. Selected founders also join the broader Google for Startups alumni community.
Publisher context notes that the Latino Founders Fund has partnered with Goodie Nation since 2022 to distribute $10 million in cash awards to more than 70 U.S. Latinx-led startups. Separate publisher material indicates the fourth U.S. Black and Latino Founders Fund round carried a March 26, 2023 deadline, and that the Black Founders Fund is also accepting applications in Brazil, Africa and Europe.
The primary source highlights several alumni to illustrate the program's reach. They include Akeptus, which focuses on building decarbonization and grid resilience; Beta Financial Services, which provides banks with digital tools to automate commercial loan underwriting; EdVisorly, a platform linking community college students with university enrollment teams; and HacWare, an AI-powered cybersecurity awareness platform. Other alumni include Hire Henry, which builds AI-powered robots for industrial applications, and Sensagrate, a computer vision analytics platform for transportation and urban planning.
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