Inside Google’s AI First Accelerator: An Exclusive Interview with Program Lead Kristine Song
A behind-the-scenes view of Australia's first Google accelerator program with Program Lead Kristine Song
It’s not everyday you get to a operational perspective about a Google accelerator program, so I was excited to hear from Kristine Song, who’s Program Lead for the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First program.
The 10-week equity-free program landed in Australia last month and it’s the first time the program is being offered in Australia.
It’s aimed at AI and ML-focussed startups at the Seed and Series A stages. Successful applicants will receive in-depth mentoring, access to Google’s founders network and AI tools, and technical support from subject matter experts.
As a Program Lead, Kristine is involved in selecting, onboarding, and supporting Australia’s first cohort as they progress through the program.
Find out from Kristine:
What an accelerator Program Lead does
What really sets AI First apart from other accelerator programs
What’s involved in the AI First program
Tell us a bit about your role in the Google AI First accelerator program.
I’m the Program Lead for the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First in Australia and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region (APAC). I work with Google’s internal and external stakeholders to launch and execute the program by identifying AI First startups that have strong potential, and connecting them with the right mentors and Google’s products to support their growth. I’m very excited to bring best practices from the previous Accelerator programs to Australia for the first time.
How do you think the AI First accelerator program will help improve the AI ecosystem in Australia and help to build AI capability?
We’re at an exciting time in history in AI innovation and we hope to support potential Aussie startups to advance AI technology through our program.
Google can offer unique AI expertise, tools and resources, which is what sets this accelerator apart. Our AI engineers and experts offer mentorship based on specific needs, and several anchor tech mentors shepherd startups along the whole journey. Our program also offers workshops and mentorships on other critical areas such as Product, Growth and People.
As I’m also the Program Lead for the Korean AI First accelerator, I saw first-hand how our support can accelerate startups’ success. One example from the Korean alumni, BlueSignum, is running a mental healthcare service called Daily Bean and with Google’s support during the program, they were able to build an MLOps (machine learning operations) environment to improve efficiency.
What support do the mentors provide?
There are two types of tech mentors. Bench tech mentors offer office hours, and they provide specific insights into, say, security or privacy or UI/UX tech support. Each startup will also have a designated anchor tech mentor. Anchor tech mentors work closely with one startup throughout the program and help them achieve their goals and solve specific tech challenges.
The program is open to Seed-level up to Series A startups. How much of a business idea do they already need to have to be eligible for this program?
It really comes down to the startup’s CTO and if they’re actually using AI to build their product, so we aren't specific on the number of customers, revenue, or even investment. We'll look into the product itself to ensure AI is at the core, as opposed to being a bolt-on to an existing product.
Do you have any tips for applicants?
The best tip I can give is to check out our website and if you believe you’re suitable based on the selection criteria, apply ASAP. We have a detailed FAQ to hopefully answer any questions and provide more context.
We welcome diverse innovators tackling all kinds of important problems. Female teams can be under-represented in this field, so we encourage women that might have the equivalent of seed stage investment to apply - it could be from grants or experience in other accelerators. They can talk to me or our Program Coordinator, Georgie Healey, if they’re unsure.
You might get applicants who live out in regional areas. Are they able to do this online, or do they need to be in-person to do this program?
It's a fully hybrid program. We encourage founders from all corners of Australia to apply. For the boot camp week, we will host people who need to travel in Sydney.
How many participants are you looking for in this cohort?
It's a small cohort. This is intentional and allows us to optimise the experience for both founders and supporters. While the number of amazing AI startups in Australia could support a larger cohort, we're committed to keeping the program focused, personal, and tailored to address the specific challenges faced by each participant.
In terms of time commitment, how much time per week can participants be expected to do? And can they do that at the same time as running their business, or do they need to put that on hold while they're doing the program?
The program isn’t full-time but includes an intensive bootcamp week. The CEO and CTO are expected to be involved and commit a few hours each week over the 10-week program. The aim is to make the program valuable for the startups and allow them to balance running their startup while still being fully engaged.
What happens for the participants at the end of this program?
The program concludes with a demo day and graduation where we invite VC partners, portfolio managers, and the people that would support a startup in their future years.
We’re excited to showcase what the program will help founders achieve and overcome obstacles that might otherwise take years to resolve in-house; as well as helping them secure funding, improve their pitching skills, and expand their network.
Will they have any ongoing connection with Google, post-program?
Yes. They'll have access to a global network of supporters and alumni of the AI First program in other countries.
Applications for Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First close on 31 July, 2024.