Google on the hunt for start-ups to ‘adopt’

Google is on the hunt for start-ups to take part in its "adopt a start-up" programme, with the deadline for applications this Friday.

The 12-week programme will see successful applicants matched with a dedicated Google support team, consisting of a senior Google manager and two Google strategists, to develop their digital strategies.

These Google experts will share their digital knowledge, business acumen and experience with successful start-ups through multiple one-to-one mentoring sessions and a lecture series.

The lecture series, which will take place in Google Ireland’s headquarters, will cover topics such as digital strategy, search quality, website and app usability, Google analytics and Adwords optimisation.

The start-ups will also get the opportunity to pitch their developed digital strategies to members of Google Ireland’s senior leadership and prominent figures in the Irish start-up community at an international final at Google.

Beats Medical, founded by Ciara Clancy, won last year's Google Adopt a Start-up programme.

The company created an app which turns a smartphone into a medical device used to deliver treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

The Google programme accepted entrants from outside of Ireland for the first time last year, with start-ups from Bulgaria, Lithuania and Denmark taking part.

Other previous winners of the programme include online recruitment platform Jobbio and community-based social enterprise FoodCloud.

"Through Adopt a Startup we are giving entrepreneurs every opportunity to succeed in the digital marketplace by working with Google experts and sharing their experiences with their fellow start-ups," Paddy Flynn, head of Google Ireland's startup programme said.