Google reveals first Canadian Cloud Accelerator cohort

Google Canada has revealed the list of startups joining the inaugural cohort of its 10-week cloud accelerator program for Canadian companies.

The tech giant put out a call for applications for the first Google Cloud Accelerator Canada program in April. The program consists of an “intensive” virtual bootcamp that aims to equip participating companies for their next phase of growth. Google’s new, completely virtual, equity-free program for cloud startups is the latest in a series of new accelerator programs Google has opened to Canadian companies since 2020.

Google Cloud Accelerator Canada’s first cohort includes Nesto, BioBox Analytics, and Loopt.
 

Google launched its first Canadian accelerator in Kitchener-Waterloo in February 2020 when it announced plans to open three new Canadian Google offices and hire 3,500 people across the country by 2022.

Since then, the US tech giant has launched five new accelerator programs for Canadian startups, including Cloud, Voice AI, Climate Change, Black Founders, and Women Founders.

Google Cloud Accelerator Canada’s first cohort includes Montréal-based FinTech startup Nesto, which recently secured $76 million CAD in Series B financing. It also includes Toronto biotech software company BioBox Analytics, which just launched its platform to the public, Toronto-based e-commerce startup Loopt, which raised $1.7 million in funding in May, and Toronto retail tech firm Vantage.

RELATED: Nesto secures $76 million to scale digital mortgage solution

“This pandemic accelerated ecom [sic] by a decade and I’m really proud of the Vantage team for working hard through the last year and a half to take on so many great new clients,” Aran Hamilton, Vantage’s co-founder and CEO, told BetaKit. “The timing couldn’t be better to deepen our relationship with Google and leverage their experience operating at scale.”

According to Google, the cloud accelerator is best suited for funded, revenue-generating startups with at least five employees that either currently leverage cloud, AI, or machine learning tech in their products, services, or operations, or possess an interest in doing so in the future.

The program will involve digital workshops and guidance, pairing selected founders with Google’s cloud experts in order to help them solve their biggest challenges. According to Google, participating startups will receive “deep mentorship on technical topics and machine learning,” in addition to connections to relevant teams from across Google.

The full list of participating startups includes:

  • Audette – Victoria-based Audette provides software that allows large portfolio asset managers to plan their net-zero transitions and access capital from impact investors.
  • BioBox Analytics – Toronto’s BioBox is a data analytics platform designed to help clinicians and scientists analyze and explore genomic data.
  • Caribou – Toronto-based Caribou offers a healthcare planning and navigation solution for financial advisors.
  • GeoMate – Waterloo’s GeoMate provides a location intelligence platform that leverages AI to map the accessibility and safety of cities.
  • Goose Insurance – Vancouver-based Goose is building a platform to solve for “consumer under-insurance.”
  • Loopt – Toronto’s Loopt is an e-commerce platform that enables rental subscriptions for everyday items like fashion, furniture, toys, and more.
  • Nesto – Montréal-based Nesto offers a digital mortgage solution.
  • NURO – Waterloo’s NURO has designed a neurological platform that allows for non-invasive communication and computing control by the brain.
  • OpenHouse.ai – Calgary-based OpenHouse offers a platform that helps homebuilders tailor the home buying experience to individuals.
  • Spoonity – Ottawa’s Spoonity offers end-to-end customer loyalty programs.
  • UEAT – Québec City-based UEAT is a smart online ordering system.
  • Vantage – Toronto’s Vantage helps retailers unlock their proprietary shopping data and better partner with brands on marketing.
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    UPDATE (06/18/21): This story has been updated to include commentary from Aran Hamilton of Vantage.

    Feature image courtesy of Google Canada

    Josh Scott

    Josh Scott

    Josh Scott is a BetaKit reporter focused on telling in-depth Canadian tech stories and breaking news. His coverage is more complete than his moustache.

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