Google for Startups

Fandrum is a pioneering fan-tech platform based in India that aims to transform casual viewers into dedicated superfans. The platform focuses on recognizing and rewarding users for their contributions in promoting shows and celebrities. By utilizing psychographic analysis, Fandrum creates communities where fans with shared interests can connect and engage. Users can participate in discussions about their favorite content through various formats, including images, memes, GIFs, and short-form content. This innovative approach fosters a deeper connection among fans, enhancing their overall experience and engagement with the entertainment they love.

Talenzy, a platform fusing Patreon and OnlyFans, enables creators and audiences to co-create content, enhancing engagement and monetization via gamification and revenue sharing, while tackling burnout

Rooter is India's leading game streaming and esports content platform, launched in 2016 by Piyush Kumar and Dipesh Agarwal. The platform serves a vast community of over 450 million gaming enthusiasts, boasting nearly 70 million downloads and approximately 18 million monthly active users. With 1.7 million daily active users who engage for over 28 minutes daily, Rooter facilitates a vibrant ecosystem supported by more than 15,000 professional streamers and over a million content creators each month. The platform uniquely monetizes its offerings, achieving an annual recurring revenue of $7 million. Rooter also provides extensive live esports content, delivering over 8,200 hours annually through collaborations with major esports tournament organizers and partnerships with top esports teams and popular streamers. Originally focused on building a sports fan community, Rooter pivoted to game streaming and esports amid changing content consumption trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is backed by a prominent investor base, including March Capital and PayTM, among others.

Noice is a local audio platform that offers a diverse range of content, including radio, music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Founded in June 2018 as part of the Mahaka Media Group, Noice operates radio stations in Indonesia, specifically targeting geographic segments in Jakarta and Surabaya. The platform facilitates access to informational podcasts and radio shows, allowing users to engage with various audio content while also providing opportunities for content creators to produce and share their own work online. Through its focus on audio, Noice aims to enhance the listening experience and broaden the availability of informative and entertaining content for its users.

Bookings Africa, established in 2018, operates as an online marketplace connecting clients in the entertainment, media, and lifestyle industries with creative professionals across Africa. Its platform facilitates the sourcing, comparison, and booking of creatives such as models, makeup artists, voiceover artists, DJs, and filming locations. With a presence in Lagos, Nigeria; Nairobi, Kenya; and Johannesburg, South Africa, the company aims to reduce unemployment and foster creativity among African youth by providing a secure, digital space for freelancers to monetize their skills and talents.

Ocala Gazette is a newspaper and news service company that provides weekly printed newspapers, appearing each Friday, and online daily news. They provide news on community, arts, entertainment, education, government, politics, business, opinion, photos, and sports.

Palan, Inc. operates a digital creative agency that empowers users to create and deploy augmented reality (AR) experiences without coding. Its flagship platform, palanAR, serves diverse sectors such as education, tourism, entertainment, and events, with a user base of 9,000 and a cumulative total of 25,000 AR creations. The company offers expertise in system development, mobile app development, and web-based development to transform ideas into AR products.

NextUp is a subscription-based video streaming platform that focuses on live stand-up comedy, providing users with access to a diverse range of exclusive shows. The platform features performances from well-known comedians as well as emerging talent, covering various styles such as sketch acts, character-based humor, storytelling, and observational comedy. By offering a 30-day free trial and a flexible subscription model, NextUp aims to make comedy accessible while supporting comedians and the venues that host them. The service has earned recognition for its expansive library, which allows subscribers to discover new acts and enjoy a wide spectrum of the live comedy circuit.

Beatmatch is a social application designed to connect music lovers by helping them find friends and activities based on their musical preferences. The app analyzes users' listening habits from popular platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, allowing individuals to discover compatible users in their area. Beatmatch facilitates real-life meetups by offering recommendations for concerts, parties, and music festivals, enabling users to see who else is interested in attending these events. Additionally, users can purchase tickets directly through the app, enhancing their experience of engaging with the music community.

Productions.com is a digital talent marketplace focused on enhancing employment opportunities within the film and television industries. The platform allows users to create detailed profiles, enabling production companies and studios to source and filter local talent based on their specific needs. This service aims to level the playing field by promoting diversity and inclusivity, particularly for women and professionals of color, who are often underrepresented in the industry. By providing a streamlined process for connecting qualified candidates with job opportunities, Productions.com supports professionals from various backgrounds and experience levels in their pursuit of career advancement in the film sector.

Lingopie Inc. operates an innovative language learning platform that uniquely combines television shows and movies with language acquisition technology. Founded in 2018 and based in Tel Aviv, Israel, Lingopie offers users access to thousands of hours of foreign content, enabling them to learn languages in an engaging manner. The platform features episodes displayed with native subtitles, allowing learners to click on foreign words for instant translations, which are then stored in a personal word bank for review through a flashcard game and other interactive tools. This approach leverages natural-language processing and linguistic research to create an immersive learning experience, making language acquisition intuitive and enjoyable for users.

Bolo Live is a live streaming platform based in Gurgaon, India, that enables users to broadcast their daily activities and engage in various topics, including life, relationships, and technology. Founded in 2019 as Bolo Indya and rebranded in 2021, the platform allows content creators to monetize their streams through virtual gifting, facilitating financial independence for its users. Bolo Live supports content creators in managing their digital presence and encourages interaction among individuals with shared interests. The platform not only fosters community engagement but also enables users to convert virtual gifts into real cash, enhancing the overall user experience.

Playbrush GmbH, founded in 2014 and based in Vienna, Austria, develops innovative smart devices that enhance the tooth brushing experience for children. The company’s flagship product is a colorful smart toothbrush attachment that transforms any manual toothbrush into a gaming controller. This device allows users to control interactive mobile games through their brushing movements, making oral hygiene routines engaging and enjoyable. Playbrush incorporates personalized feedback, statistics, and rewards to promote effective brushing habits. In addition to the attachment, the company offers a suite of games, a data monitoring application for parents, and regular supplies of toothbrushes and toothpaste. Playbrush products are available online and through various retailers in Australia, the United Kingdom, and other international markets.

BingeWave is an exciting and newer VOD service that better allows content creators to market and have more control over monetization of their projects through subscription based packages and advertising fees (Content creators, you decide the prices!). The mission of the company is to specialize in showcasing content created by and focused on underrepresented and misrepresented groups, therefore the content is more accurate and depictive in its representation.

Develooper of sports applications designed for the sports betting community. The company provides betting entertainment software available on the Android and iOS platforms, allowing bettors to actively socialize, engage, and stay informed on all things sports betting.

Inflight VR Software GmbH, founded in 2014 and based in Munich, Germany, specializes in developing virtual reality ecosystems tailored for the inflight entertainment sector. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines are actively seeking innovative revenue streams to enhance passenger satisfaction. The Inflight VR entertainment system enables airlines to monetize their services through pay-per-view, advertising, and e-commerce, while providing an immersive experience that captures passengers' attention. The technology has been successfully implemented by prominent clients such as Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, demonstrating strong demand within the travel industry. It boasts impressive engagement metrics, with passengers averaging over 80 minutes of usage and a satisfaction rate exceeding 90%. Each passenger utilizing Inflight VR contributes a revenue potential of more than €7, highlighting its effectiveness in addressing the evolving needs of the airline industry.

Deplike is a company focused on revolutionizing music learning and guitar sound customization through innovative mobile applications. They develop engaging music learning games that utilize artificial intelligence to create personalized and adaptive curriculums, making the learning process enjoyable and effective. Their flagship product, the Guitar Learning Game, offers a play-based experience where users can learn through their favorite songs, complemented by features such as 3D teachers and instant feedback. This approach fosters an immersive learning environment tailored to individual preferences and skill levels. In addition to educational games, Deplike provides a mobile application that allows guitarists to connect their instruments to smartphones, enabling them to customize sound effects and create music easily. As the company expands, it plans to introduce learning games for various instruments and develop a platform for schools and teachers to customize teaching paths effectively.

Developer of an interactive mobile game intended for couples. The company's mobile game offers fun challenges and a bi-monthly box that helps to enhance and bring fun to couples in a relationship, enabling users to spice up their relationships with significant others via engaging challenges.

STAGE is an Indian language content platform focused on artist-led entertainment. It develops an over-the-top platform that provides entertainment content in various local dialects. The platform features a library of short-form video content that emphasizes dialect-based storytelling, poetry, and comedy. Additionally, it incorporates smart technology to offer personalized recommendations and curated playlists, allowing audiences to engage with authentic content that resonates with their cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

FanFest is the leading platform for membership and token-gated virtual experiences for fan communities used by the biggest names in entertainment that has already reached 25M+ fans in 100+ countries and generated $2M+ in value for our customers

Superplastic, Inc. is a character-based product and entertainment company founded in 2017 and based in Burlington, Vermont. The company specializes in manufacturing and marketing limited edition art toys, apparel, games, and animation, featuring unique characters created in collaboration with renowned artists. Superplastic leverages the principles of effort and scarcity to enhance the value of its offerings, creating exclusive works of art for a select audience. The company also operates a platform that engages customers through various media, including animated videos and music, enabling interactions with its synthetic superstars in innovative ways. Products are primarily sold online, reflecting a modern approach to retail and entertainment.

Tankee, Inc. is an Austin-based media company that specializes in creating a safe online gaming video platform for children aged six to twelve. Founded in 2017, Tankee aims to provide a secure environment for kids to access gaming content, featuring a wide array of videos from popular games such as Minecraft and ROBLOX. The platform offers a free entertainment app that allows parents to protect their children from inappropriate material while granting access to a curated library of over 500 hours of gaming videos, including more than 150 original pieces produced in collaboration with prominent gaming influencers. By focusing on age-appropriate content, Tankee seeks to enhance the digital entertainment experience for young gamers and their families.

Healthy Hip Hop is an educational technology company that focuses on promoting mental and physical health, social interaction, and personal empowerment among children and families. The company has developed an application that combines hip-hop culture with innovative technology, offering a curated environment reminiscent of platforms like Spotify and TikTok. Its content includes video and audio materials designed for use in classrooms, facilitating morning energizers, brain breaks, and pre-test activities. This approach encourages movement and physical education, aiming to enhance students' focus, engagement, and behavior in an educational setting.

Wolo TV is a streaming platform. They produce, exhibit, and distribute black and urban dramaturgy. They are connecting the independent audiovisual industry and heating the market with content. They provide videos, movies, and commercial content.

Productions.com is a digital talent marketplace focused on enhancing employment opportunities within the film and television industries. The platform allows users to create detailed profiles, enabling production companies and studios to source and filter local talent based on their specific needs. This service aims to level the playing field by promoting diversity and inclusivity, particularly for women and professionals of color, who are often underrepresented in the industry. By providing a streamlined process for connecting qualified candidates with job opportunities, Productions.com supports professionals from various backgrounds and experience levels in their pursuit of career advancement in the film sector.

Raxplay is a virtual reality music venue. It enables music artists to perform live in virtual reality.

Switchboard Live Inc. operates a live video streaming and syndication platform designed to connect brands and advertisers with targeted audiences across various online channels. Founded in 2014 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the company facilitates the management of multiple live streams through a unified dashboard, allowing content creators to efficiently distribute live videos to social media platforms and web pages. Its offerings include the Producer solution, which tailors audience access based on budget and demographic targets, as well as Joicaster, a stream-sharing tool that consolidates live chats into a cohesive cross-platform experience. Serving a diverse range of sectors such as entertainment, government, gaming, and sports, Switchboard Live aims to enhance audience engagement and boost subscriptions for its clients. The company was previously known as Joicaster Inc. before rebranding in February 2016.

Tickitto AI Ltd, trading as Tickitto, is a UK-based technology company established in 2017. It specializes in developing and operating tools that connect ticketing platforms and travel distributors. Tickitto's core offering is an API solution, enabling partners to access inventory, pricing, and availability from suppliers through a single integration point. Additionally, Tickitto provides a web application for consumers to purchase tickets for various events, including music, sports, theatre, and tours, as well as a real-time commission tracking dashboard for API users. The company was founded by Dana Lattouf and is headquartered in Bath, United Kingdom.

StoryMax is an edtech startup dedicated to editorial innovation, specializing in the development of interactive app-books for children and young adults. By leveraging audiovisual media, the platform delivers engaging stories on tablets and smartphones, appealing to emergent readers in 43 countries, including Brazil and the United States. The app-books combine original texts with animations, sound effects, and interactive features, facilitating a captivating reading experience in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. This approach not only enhances comprehension but also fosters a deeper connection to narratives, highlighting the significance of universal stories for contemporary readers. StoryMax has received multiple accolades for its quality and innovation, including prestigious awards from Comkids, UNESCO, and the Jabuti Award of Literature. The company has also been recognized within Brazil's entrepreneurial landscape, participating in notable programs such as SEED-MG and the Entrepreneurship Center of the University of São Paulo. Recently, StoryMax became an alumnus of the Blackbox Connect Program, further establishing its commitment to fostering reading and storytelling among children.