Google has announced that it plans to launch an accelerator focused on Sustainable Development Goals in 2020. The accelerator is targetted at startups from Africa, Europe and the Middle East and aims to help startups working on projects related to sustainability and solving social problems.
Google’s Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt made the announcement in a blog post.
According to Brandt, “Google is looking for 8-10 startups from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to take part in a six-month accelerator program in early 2020. Applications for the first cohort will open soon and Google plans to organize a second cohort later in the year.”
Google will judge the startups based on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals including poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice, Brandt says.
The company is not promising a direct investment in the selected startups but it is promising that it will introduce them to investors. Other benefits for participating in the accelerator include access to Google’s engineering resources and help with the practical business aspects, like figuring out a money-making business model.
The new accelerator is part of Google for Startups which help startups build and scale great products by matching them with the best of Google—our people, network and advanced technologies.
