Tech giant Google on Monday announced to invite applications for the seventh batch of its startup accelerator programme in India that aims to nurture startups looking to leverage the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Google for Startups Accelerator (GFSA) is a three-month, equity-free accelerator programme for Seed to Series A tech startups in India. It has, so far, helped to accelerate the growth journeys of over 130 startups in India. For the next batch Google is looking to support startups that are focused on utilising the transformational technologies AI and ML. "We are looking for Indian startups working across different sectors using AI and ML to solve complex problems and tackle the toughest challenges in their industry," the tech giant said in a statement.

The headlines surrounding tech layoffs have been stark: since the start of the year, 421 tech companies have laid off 119,593 staff globally. In the UK, high rates of venture capital funding that fuelled hiring growth during the pandemic have slowed significantly, dropping by 22% in 2022. In turn, this has had a knock-on impact across hiring in many sectors, including the neobanking sector. So what does this mean for tech workers in the UK? While no sector is immune to redundancy, certain jobs are proving more resilient than others.

Deeptech Labs, the accelerator and VC fund for post-Seed, pre-Series A deeptech companies will unveil its Spring cohort of 6 deeptech start-ups to an online audience of investors on 21st June. More than 120 VCs and Corporate Entities have previously attended its virtual demo days, demonstrating the significant and growing interest in the European deeptech sector. Deeptech Labs is a Cambridge-based accelerator programme and VC fund, founded in 2020 by ARM, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Martlet Capital, Ewan Kirk and the University of Cambridge. The accelerator supports deeptech entrepreneurs as they move from prototype and proof of concept to scalable products and services, and connects them to Deeptech Labs' extensive network of deeptech investors. The Deeptech Labs accelerator programme and investment fund was founded to fill a significant gap in the European venture market and accelerate the growth of promising early-stage deeptech companies.

Data storage, processing and management are critical now as most activities worldwide move online during coronavirus lockdowns. Migration to the cloud was happening even before this crisis but now, organizations are depending on cloud services more than ever. Whether it is working from home or streaming videos from Netflix, these services are underpinned by software and hardware on the cloud. Although there may be a reduction of cloud usage as airlines and others see business dwindle, the dominant theme in these times is digitalization. The best-known cloud infrastructure providers are Amazon, Google and Microsoft.

In the past two years, Swiggy, the Naspers, DST Global and Bessemer Ventures-funded restaurant aggregator, has been on a tear. The number of interactions on its platform since October 2017 has gone from 2 billion (across consumers, riders and restaurants) to 40 billion in January 2019. In that time, Swiggy has gone from a business working with 12,000 restaurants to over 55,000; from seven cities to 70; from delivery staff of 15,000 to 120,000. The Bengaluru-based venture has become far more valuable, too -- from $700 million in February 2018 to $3.3 billion by the end of the year. This dizzying growth has meant that Swiggy, a firm founded as recently as 2014, has to look beyond human intervention to keep pace.

A Hong Kong artificial intelligence lab backed by e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding and SenseTime, the world's most valuable AI start-up, has named seven companies that will receive funding under its accelerator programme. The Hong Kong AI and Data Laboratory announced in a ceremony on Thursday that it will provide US$100,000 in seed funding to each of the selected start-ups, who will also be given office space, access to AI resources from Alibaba and SenseTime, and a range of cloud computing services from Alibaba Cloud. "These start-ups not only have innovative technologies and business ideas, but they also offer valuable solutions for different industries and scenarios," Jeff Zhang, the chief technology officer of Alibaba, said at the ceremony. Zhang said it was important to work on the application of AI technologies in different industries. The lab was established in May by the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund and SenseTime, which became the city's first unicorn – a start-up valued at more than US$1 billion – in July last year.

As Head of Digital Innovation at O2, I get to see examples of technology changing the way we live and work on an almost daily basis. Last month I was asked to speak at a conference about the future of work. I think that there are three key developments whose impact will be such that they will change the way we work forever. According to research analysts Gartner, there will be 20 billion internet-connected, dedicated-function devices by 2020. These IoT devices will range from simple, connected household appliances through to the most advanced jet engines.

European software major SAP and startup accelerator Techstars will invest in at least 10 artificial intelligence (AI) startups every year through its SAP.iO Foundry in Berlin. SAP.iO is an initiative of the tech giant to create an ecosystem of products and software by working with entrepreneurs. In 2017, five Indian startups were among 10 companies selected by SAP.iO's AI accelerator's first batch. "We are looking at enterprise applications from startups that are founded around a year ago," Alexa Gorman, global vice-president of SAP.iO Fund, told VCCircle over a telephone call from Berlin. "By restricting our focus, we can add value in terms of marketing assistance and mentorship for these startups."

European software major SAP and startup accelerator Techstars will invest in at least 10 artificial intelligence (AI) startups every year through its SAP.iO Foundry in Berlin. SAP.iO is an initiative of the tech giant to create an ecosystem of products and software by working with entrepreneurs. In 2017, five Indian startups were among 10 companies selected by SAP.iO's AI accelerator's first batch. "We are looking at enterprise applications from startups that are founded around a year ago," Alexa Gorman, global vice-president of SAP.iO Fund, told VCCircle over a telephone call from Berlin. "By restricting our focus, we can add value in terms of marketing assistance and mentorship for these startups."

European software major SAP will invest in at least 10 artificial intelligence (AI) startups every year through its SAP.iO Fund. SAP.iO is an initiative of the tech giant to create an ecosystem of products and software by working with entrepreneurs. In 2016, five Indian startups were among 10 companies selected by SAP.iO's AI accelerator's first batch. "We are looking at enterprise applications from startups that are founded around a year ago," Alexa Gorman, global vice-president of SAP.iO Fund, told VCCircle over a telephone call from Berlin. "By restricting our focus, we can add value in terms of marketing assistance and mentorship for these startups."