Google for Startups Accelerator, an accelerator run by US-headquartered internet and technology conglomerate Alphabet, has selected nine companies to take part in its first Japan-based program.
The participants include translation and linguistic textual data provider Baobab, artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developer Karakuri, deep learning system creator LeapMind, imaging software supplier LPixel and RevComm, the developer of an AI-based voice and cloud communication tool called MiiTel.
The list was filled out by English-speaking babysitter and teacher dispatch business Selan (Omsister); Singular Perturbations, developer of a proprietary algorithm-based crime prediction system called Crime Nabi; hotel price comparison service Sora; and customer service and sales software developer Zoyi (Channel Talk).
Google for Startups Accelerator opened the Tokyo campus last year, having already operated in London, Madrid, São Paulo, Seoul, Tel Aviv and Warsaw. The Japan-based scheme focuses on AI developers and provides network and technology know-how through Alphabet’s Google subsidiary.
The startups will receive mentoring on company and product strategy from 15 Google employees and will have access to the Google for Startups Campus. It is not mandatory for them to accept equity funding, according to TechCrunch.
