Google.org announces $15 million in funding to support AI-powered growth for India's MSMEs in partnership with The/Nudge
This funding aims to create scalable AI tools that improve access to credit and markets for small businesses.
By ET Online |
L to R: Rajesh Ranjan, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google India; Devadas Krishnan, CDO, The/Nudge; Shri Bharat Khera, Secretary of the Ministry of MSME; Lila Ibrahim, Chief AI Readiness Officer, Google DeepMind; Preeti Lobana, VP and Country Manager, Google India; Subhashree Dutta, CEO, the^delta; Vikas Agnihotri, Board Member, the^delta; Pranit Tulsi, Program Manager, Google.org; Kanishka Chatterjee, Managing Director, the^delta.
NEW DELHI: Google.org, on Wednesday, announced a $15 million in funding to The/Nudge to support the growth and digital enablement of India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
India’s MSMEs form the backbone of the nation’s economic resilience, yet many face compounding hurdles accessing credit, managing compliance, and reaching digital markets. Across India, the over 90 million small businesses are central to inclusive economic growth, employing over 345 million people.
This initiative will fund the development of scalable AI tools to expand small enterprises' access to formal credit, market discovery, and compliance. The program will feature an open call for proposals to source innovative solutions, alongside a multilingual, voice-led platform to train local talent in Tier 3 and 4 towns with job-ready skills and connect them directly with small businesses.
Preeti Lobana, VP & Country Manager, Google India, said in a statement, “At Google, our goal is to turn advanced technology into everyday capabilities that anyone can use. For AI to be truly successful in India, it must become a practical multiplier for the millions of small businesses that drive our economic growth. By partnering with The/Nudge, we are putting open digital tools directly into the hands of small business owners, ensuring that India’s economic backbone is equipped to lead this technology shift."
Subhashree Dutta, CEO, the^delta, said in a statement, "This is one of the largest philanthropic commitments to India's MSMEs, and we at the^delta are proud to build it with Google.org to put AI to work for them. Through stage-gated grand challenges, we will back grounded innovation that tackles compliance, market access, quality and credit together, because these barriers reinforce one another. The open standards it leaves behind will make India's MSMEs more competitive, creditworthy and globally visible, supporting the millions of small businesses that power India's growth."
India’s MSMEs form the backbone of the nation’s economic resilience, yet many face compounding hurdles accessing credit, managing compliance, and reaching digital markets. Across India, the over 90 million small businesses are central to inclusive economic growth, employing over 345 million people.
This initiative will fund the development of scalable AI tools to expand small enterprises' access to formal credit, market discovery, and compliance. The program will feature an open call for proposals to source innovative solutions, alongside a multilingual, voice-led platform to train local talent in Tier 3 and 4 towns with job-ready skills and connect them directly with small businesses.
Preeti Lobana, VP & Country Manager, Google India, said in a statement, “At Google, our goal is to turn advanced technology into everyday capabilities that anyone can use. For AI to be truly successful in India, it must become a practical multiplier for the millions of small businesses that drive our economic growth. By partnering with The/Nudge, we are putting open digital tools directly into the hands of small business owners, ensuring that India’s economic backbone is equipped to lead this technology shift."
Subhashree Dutta, CEO, the^delta, said in a statement, "This is one of the largest philanthropic commitments to India's MSMEs, and we at the^delta are proud to build it with Google.org to put AI to work for them. Through stage-gated grand challenges, we will back grounded innovation that tackles compliance, market access, quality and credit together, because these barriers reinforce one another. The open standards it leaves behind will make India's MSMEs more competitive, creditworthy and globally visible, supporting the millions of small businesses that power India's growth."
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