EnterpriseSG and Google Cloud partner to help startups and SMEs in Singapore accelerate AI adoption and innovation

• 25 startups from Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore successfully developed proprietary AI products using Google Cloud’s best-in-class AI capabilities; applications for second cohort now open 
• Google Cloud and EnterpriseSG to help SMEs elevate workforce proficiency and productivity with AI by providing more affordable access to Gemini for Google Workspace  

Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and Google Cloud today announced joint initiatives aimed at accelerating AI adoption and innovation for organizations in Singapore. These initiatives will enable the next wave of globally-oriented, high-growth startups to build and launch their own proprietary AI products, and empower more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to embrace AI to boost workforce proficiency and productivity.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Mr. Gan Kim Yong was Guest-of-Honor at AI First, an event hosted at the Google Asia Pacific headquarters to showcase the first cohort of startup graduates from Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore, and to unveil new AI initiatives under the ongoing strategic collaboration between the Singapore Government and Google Cloud.

Helping startups develop proprietary AI innovations and scale to new markets

The inaugural cohort of Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore, which ran from April to August 2024, comprises 25 globally-oriented, early-stage startups. Selected from hundreds of applicants, these startups include Atlas, Cosmos Innovation, Eezee, Kookree, Lytehouse, and Transparently.AI, and represent a diverse range of sectors, such as adtech, e-commerce, fintech, HR tech, media and entertainment, restaurant tech, software development and IT, supply chain tech, and climate tech.

Utilizing best-in-class technologies and resources provided by the public-private startup program, participating startups built and launched proprietary AI products that address business challenges and unlock future growth opportunities. Examples of these AI products include innovations aimed at detecting and preventing accounting fraud; increasing solar power capacity; reducing food waste and ensuring food safety; reinforcing public safety; boosting the creator economy; and enhancing the productivity of SMEs.

Four AI startups – Kookree, Lytehouse, Staple, and UI-licious – were expediently assessed through the program and awarded additional support by EnterpriseSG under the Startup SG Tech scheme. The Startup SG Tech scheme fast-tracks the development and commercialization of proprietary technology solutions by startups.

Building on the program's success, EnterpriseSG and Google Cloud today announced that applications for its second cohort are now open. The three-month program, scheduled to begin February 2025, will be expanded to accept 35 startups. To fast-track their development and commercialization of proprietary AI products, selected applicants will be able to tap on an enhanced suite of technology capabilities and resources, which include:

• Up to US$350,000 in Google Cloud credits upon graduation from the program.
• Access to Google Cloud’s powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack for up to three months, through a dedicated innovation sandbox environment, supported by EnterpriseSG.
• Mentorship and technical project support from Google Cloud’s product development teams, AI engineers, and startup ecosystem network partners.
• The opportunity to showcase their achievements and connect with potential investors and corporate customers at a Demo Day organized by EnterpriseSG and Google Cloud.
• Potential for additional funding support under EnterpriseSG’s Startup SG Tech program for eligible startups.

Accelerating SME adoption of AI to elevate workforce proficiency and productivity

At the AI First event, Google Cloud and EnterpriseSG also launched the Gemini for Google Workspace Program (SMEs). The program will support eligible businesses with their adoption of Gemini for Google Workspace by defraying up to 50% of the license costs for a 12-month usage period. This will help small business owners and their employees supercharge their productivity, creativity, and quality of work with industry-leading capabilities of Gemini for Google Workspace.

An always-on collaborator that helps teams write, organize, visualize, accelerate workflows, have richer meetings, and more, Gemini for Google Workspace was built with the everyday demands of small businesses in mind. It also gives organizations access to Gemini, Google’s most capable multimodal AI models, built into the collaboration and productivity apps that billions of people use every day, such as Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, Chat, and soon, Google Vids, with built-in enterprise-grade data protections.

Apart from making it more cost-efficient for SMEs to adopt enterprise-grade generative AI (gen AI) tools, the program will provide dedicated training and consultation by Google Cloud and its partner ecosystem to help SMEs effectively deploy Gemini for Google Workspace across business functions and processes. This includes hands-on workshops to help companies and their users identify use cases where Gemini for Google Workspace can deliver the most measurable value and write effective prompts to get the most out of incorporating Gemini for Google Workspace into their daily workflows.

This launch follows the success of a pilot program conducted in August 2024, where companies like Big Tiny, IKARI Services, and Koufu participated as early adopters, and quickly experienced measurable benefits from using Gemini for Google Workspace. The early adopters utilized its capabilities to conduct competitive analysis, gather insights and close deals faster, create compelling marketing content, standardize and personalize customer service responses, and more.

Interested companies can learn more about the eligibility criteria for the Gemini for Google Workspace Program (SMEs) and sign up between September 20, 2024, and March 19, 2025.

“The Gemini for Google Workspace Program (SMEs) makes it easier for small business owners and their employees to adopt and extract value from gen AI, given that these companies typically operate with a tighter pool of resources that may see one person doing the job of many and they would benefit from having time freed up to focus on important work and innovation. Alongside other initiatives like AI Trailblazers and Skills Ignition SG, the developments announced today fall under the programmatic and intentional approach that Google Cloud has been undertaking with the Singapore Government since May 2023, reinforcing our commitment toward helping organizations of all sizes thrive in an AI-enabled digital economy,” added Sia.