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Google’s Startups for Sustainable Development program is supporting startups working on sustainability efforts. The program, launched in November 2019, has grown to support more than 500 startups working on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The program provides startups with access to Google’s AI-driven tools and technologies, such as Google Cloud and Earth Engine, as well as a network of Google employees, advisors, and funders.
For the first time, Google is pairing its employees with startups to add AI solutions to their projects. Google experts have helped startups with tasks such as setting up AI-based solutions to analyze satellite imagery and create computer vision tools.
One of the startups that Google is working with is SurplusMap, a Norway-based company that is working to speed up the country’s adoption of renewable energy. SurplusMap turned to Google for support with scaling its electric vehicle charging analytics by developing a machine learning model to predict utilization rates for EV chargers. “With the help of a Google team we managed to build an ML model to predict utilization rates for EV chargers. This new feature has become a hot topic among our potential customers,” said SurplusMap CEO and co-founder Luis de Ita Maubant.
Another startup that Google is working with is Stream Ocean, a Switzerland-based company that is developing improved marine life monitoring solutions. Stream Ocean uses underwater cameras and AI-powered data analytics for real-time evaluations of marine habitats. Stream Ocean worked with Google to design questions to help experts quickly provide critical information for training its species recognition model. “As a result of our work with Google, we strategically designed questions to help experts quickly provide critical information, unlocking huge amounts of training data with minimal time investment,” said Stream Ocean CEO and co-founder David Lunsford.
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A third startup that Google is working with is FAUME, a France-based company that is developing seamless second-hand offerings for fashion brands. FAUME collaborated with Google Cloud experts to develop an AI-based model that helps brands determine the trade-in values of clothing items and provides a dynamic resale price. “Working together allowed us to map out a truly groundbreaking approach. We’re driving a change in how people shop, promoting sustainability in a way that’s both accessible and financially smart,” said FAUME’s co-founders Nicolas Viant and Lucas Patricot.
Google is encouraging startups to apply to join its Startups for Sustainable Development program.