Granite Asia has announced a partnership with Google AI Futures Fund (AIFF) to co-develop and co-invest in Asian artificial intelligence (AI) startups.

The partnership will invest up to $2m per startup company, with Granite Asia and Google investing on identical economic terms through their own intendent investment processes.

The founders will also get access to up to $350,000 in Gemini and Google Cloud credits, as well as early access to Google’s most advanced AI models and co-development opportunities with teams across Google, including Google DeepMind.

The startups will also get access to Granite Asia’s board-level mentorship and connection to its portfolio network and industry partners. Singapore-based Granite Asia runs $11bn in private capital, across both private credit and venture capital.

Jenny Lee, senior managing partner at Granite Asia said: “The next generation of category-defining AI companies will be built in Asia — grounded in the region’s industrial depth, scientific talent, and consumer scale, then scaled globally.”

“As Asia’s leading multi-asset investment platform, Granite Asia is uniquely positioned to convene the world’s most advanced AI innovators around the region’s founder ecosystem. Google AI Futures Fund brings unrivaled technical depth and direct access to Google DeepMind, and together we are launching a program built for the ambition of Asia’s AI-native founders.”

The investments will focus on five areas where the firms believe Asia has structural advantages: science and knowledge, industrial transformation, workflows, creativity and entertainment.

Jonathan Silber, co-founder & director, Google AI Futures Fund said: “Asia is home to some of the world’s most ambitious AI founders. The region’s industrial depth, scientific talent, and consumer scale make it a distinct frontier for what AI can build, and Granite Asia has spent more than two decades backing category-defining companies across it.”

“That track record and platform make them the ideal partner to help us find and develop the next generation. Through the AI Futures Fund, founders in this program will get direct collaboration with Google DeepMind researchers and engineers, early access to our most advanced models, and the capital and conviction to build globally from Asia.”