Google is looking Down Under for the next big thing in artificial intelligence. The tech giant today pulled back the curtain on its 2025 cohort for the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First program, handpicking ten promising startups from Australia and, for the first time, New Zealand.
The move, backed by Google's Digital Future Initiative, is a deepening commitment to the region's tech scene, which is increasingly punching above its weight in AI-native solutions. In a notable expansion from previous years, the 2025 program not only increased its Australian intake but also welcomed two startups from across the Tasman.
For the next ten weeks, the chosen few will get equity-free support, including deep mentorship from Google’s own AI experts, technical project support, and access to the best of Google's products and people to help them scale. But why is Google running the cohort and handing out cloud credits so willingly?
Kristine Song, Developer Relations Program Manager at Google said “Australia is a trailblazer in technology, and has the potential to be a global leader in AI innovation. We’re committed to fostering that potential with the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First program”
“This year, we’re delighted to expand the cohort to welcome more startups based in Australia and also New Zealand. We look forward to seeing how these founders scale their businesses rapidly and responsibly, and shape the future of AI."
Pip Bingemann, cofounder of Springboards, presenting at the 2024 Demo Day event at Google’s Sydney office.
So, who made the cut? Here’s the lineup of companies Google is betting on to build the future:
Atomic Tessellator: A virtual lab for the discovery and validation of new materials, using AI for materials science.
CoTreat: Uses AI to improve productivity and streamline workflows for dentists, improving outcomes and transparency for patients and practices alike.
Gelomics: Enables pharmaceutical companies to test and develop drugs using lab-grown human tissues integrated into an AI-powered platform.
Haast: Automates 100% of marketing compliance at heavily regulated enterprises by deploying AI agents that embed directly into existing content review workflows, reviewing content like in-house compliance experts and replacing manual compliance review processes entirely.
Laronix: A Voice AI startup and a leading developer of smart and non-invasive artificial larynx technology for individuals who lose or damage their larynx.
Presien: Partners with heavy industry OEMs to transform machines into intelligent, perceptive assets through multimodal, edge and cloud AI solutions.
RedOwl: Brings real-time financial governance and control to every transaction—before it happens.
ThroughLine: Brings emotional and online safety support to where users are — with personalised guidance and global helpline connections.
Trusst AI: Delivers an intelligent CX platform that transforms enterprise customer experience data into actionable insights and autonomous AI agents, deployed securely within customers' private cloud environments to drive complete CX operational autonomy.
Zoros AI: Uses AI agents for cost estimating by providing quantity take-offs and analysing historical estimates.