Now that Google is an “AI-first” company, it’s applying that focus to Launchpad, its accelerator engine.
The Silicon Valley giant on Nov. 1 announced the first four startups that are joining Launchpad Studio, a new six-month program designed to help companies work on specific projects or proposals that incorporate AI and machine learning into their businesses. The first companies selected for the program all come from the healthcare/biotechnology sector.
The first four companies joining Launchpad Studio are:
- Augmedix, a company applying deep learning and natural language understanding to its platform that helps doctors maintain electronic health records (EHR).
- The company BrainQ uses advanced machine learning and signal processing tools to develop personalized treatment protocols that can help paralyzed people to move their limbs again.
- Byteflies plans to use machine learning to manage and exploit data streams from its medical wearables, making them more useful for clinical trials and value-based healthcare delivery.
- CytoVale is using machine learning and computer vision for the early detection of sepsis, which research suggests kills more Americans than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and AIDS combined.
By working with startups focused on leveraging machine learning, Google can showcase to the broader enterprise the potential range of AI applications. It can also gain insight into how its own products could better serve companies interested in leveraging AI.
Along with gaining new insights about its own tools, Google is aiming to help the startup world develop new methodologies that more applicable to AI-focused ventures.
Augmedix, founded about five years ago, provides one model for machine learning startups: It launched as a more traditional technology services company that provided a telemedicine platform for doctors offering remote care. Now that the company supports millions of patient visits a year, it has data it can use to build a machine learning model that will make the management of EHRs more efficient.
Still, Augmedix co-founder and COO Pelu Tran said transitioning to an AI-enabled company would be difficult without Google’s support.
The companies that join Launchpad Studio receive equity-free support, access to Google mentors, Google Cloud Platform and G Suite training, credits, and potential access to hardware and datasets.
While it’s starting with healthcare and biotech companies, Google plans to announce the next track for Launchpad Studio in the next few months. The program will continue to accept applications in the healthcare space on a rolling basis from here on out.
