Google for Startups India, in collaboration with learning platform Scaler, announced the launch of “Startup School: Prompt to Prototype”, a two-week intensive AI skilling programme for early-stage founders and startup teams in India.
Scheduled to run from 27 November to 7 December 2025, the programme aims to help non-technical and technical founders alike ideate, design, validate and deploy AI-powered prototypes using prompt-based tools.
Programme format and focus
Over the course of the two weeks, participants will engage in live online trainings and workshops led by subject-matter experts and mentors from Google and Scaler. Key components include:
- Ideation and validation frameworks to refine business ideas before building prototypes.
- Hands-on working with Google’s AI tools such as Gemini, Nano Banana, Imagen, Veo, NotebookLM and AI Studio.
- Building a minimum viable prototype (MVP) and deploying it to a production environment (for example, via Google Cloud).
- Upon completion, participants earn a certificate endorsed by Google, and selected prototypes will be eligible for presentation at a “Build the Future” Showcase in January 2026.
India’s startup ecosystem is estimated at over 180,000 firms, yet fewer than 2% are AI-native, according to the programme’s announcement. Google for Startups India noted this initiative is designed to democratise access to AI capabilities for founders who may lack deep technical backgrounds. Additionally, the programme is backed by Indian ecosystem partners, including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub, Startup India, India AI Mission and NASSCOM.
For early-stage entrepreneurs, the programme offers direct access to Google’s suite of generative AI tools and a mentor network typically reserved for technically advanced teams. The no-code or low-code prototype focus is likely to lower the barrier to entry for creative founders and teams without strong engineering backgrounds.
From an ecosystem perspective, the initiative underscores the rising importance of AI literacy and product-first thinking in India’s entrepreneurial landscape. By enabling faster iteration and prototyping of AI-powered applications, the programme could help accelerate the pace of innovation among startup founders across sectors.
Applications for the programme are open now, with registration required ahead of the November 27 start date. Participants will engage in the core training online, after which they will submit their prototypes for review. The best entries will gain access to the “Build the Future” Showcase in January 2026.
To apply or for more information, visit the website.
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