Google wants local companies to 'Solve for India'

BENGALURU: Google is expanding its efforts to engage with startups in tier-II cities in India, after running a year-long pilot through its'Solve for India' programme. The American internet firm is launching a three-month India-focused mentoring programme for startups that are building solutions to serve the country's local needs and solve problems using technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. The company will select eight to 10 startups for the programme, which is expected to be rolled out in the second half of this year, said Paul Ravindranath G, programme manager, Launchpad Accelerator, Google India. "We have learnt a lot through the pilot in the past one year. We have also built a mentorship network to resolve the challenges faced by these startups," he said.