Accel Atoms 4.0 applications for startups focusing 'Bharat', AI open today

Accel Atoms 4.0, the fourth cohort of global venture capital firm Accel's pre-seed scaling programme, is inviting applications starting Monday from promising startups in two categories - those building for Bharat' and those focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The application window closes on November 17, 2024.

The company defines Bharat' as middle-income households spread across Tier 2, Tier 3 and rural India, which is estimated to be a USD 500 billion consumer market opportunity.

The top 20 per cent of the rural population has a higher MPCE (monthly per capita expenditure) than about 50 per cent of the urban population.

Accel believes multiple Indian unicorns will emerge from the 'Bharat' opportunity, the company said in a statement. A 'unicorn' in industry parlance refers to a privately held startup company that commands a valuation of over USD 1 billion.

Through the three-month hybrid programme, pre-seed stage startups selected for Accel Atoms 4.0 will gain mentorship from