GNI Startups Lab's Second Cohort and Google's News Initiatives

At the forefront of supporting the news industry, Google’s commitment aligns seamlessly with Google’s dedication to fostering transformative journalism. We are thrilled to share the exciting news of the second cohort of the GNI Startups Lab, a dynamic 12-week program created in collaboration with Anymind Group and T-Hub. This initiative is designed to empower independent, early-stage Indian news startups, steering them towards financial and operational sustainability.

Google’s focus on elevating journalism quality extends to local communities, niche audiences, and previously underserved groups across India. Carefully chosen from a pool of over 110 applicants, the ten startups in this diverse cohort cover a spectrum of journalistic categories, including investigative, political, medical, youth, climate, and local news. The richness of their content is delivered in multiple Indian languages, echoing Google’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Reflecting on Google’s collaborative efforts with the news industry throughout 2023, we underscore Google’s dedication to growing the Indic language internet. The impactful “Indian Languages” report, crafted in partnership with Kantar, emphasized the strong willingness of language news consumers to pay for authoritative news in their primary language. In response, Google proudly introduced the GNI Indian Languages program in July 2023, joining forces with Mediology to support 400 language news publishers in modernizing their online presence.

Google’s relentless pursuit of developing sustainable revenue streams for publishers is evident in the success of the Subscriptions Academy. Conducted in partnership with FT Strategies, this program engaged deeply with 13 publishers across traditional, language, and digital realms. The Academy’s objective was clear – to define ambitious visions for publishers’ digital subscription businesses and build the necessary organizational skills and structures to achieve these goals.

As we eagerly anticipate the opportunities that 2024 will bring, Google’s commitment remains steadfast. We look forward to sustaining these impactful initiatives, fostering continuous innovation in journalism, and addressing the ever-evolving needs of the news ecosystem. At Google, we are proud to be part of Google’s transformative journey in shaping a more informed, connected, and empowered society through authoritative, fact-checked news.