Just a few weeks after Google said it would review its diversity, equity and comprehensive program, the Startup Founders Fund webpage is packed with changes. Most notably, Google uses past tenses to describe all fund programs for underrated founders.
According to the Internet Archives, this is a change made since December. The site also states that there are currently zero fund programs available.
Google’s Startup Founders Fund was launched in 2020 and provided currency grants, mentorship and product support with underrated founders, including women and people of African and Latinx descent.
The site says it provides over $50 million in support to more than 600 founders. Aside from capital, the founders received mentorship and product support, including credits to Google Cloud.
However, grant status has changed significantly since 2020, especially for programs targeting minorities. Among the fierce political and legal attacks on TechCrunch’s “Dei”-labeled programs, some tech founders and investors wondered what would happen when they grant programs like the Google Startups Founders Fund.
Programs listed as “past” funds on this site include the Women’s Founders Fund, Latinx Founding Fund, Ukraine Support Fund, Black Founders Fund US and Black Founders Fund Brazil.
Additionally, the site states that “zero” grant programs are currently available in any region, but programs that train AI products and US accelerators in certain industries (energy and climate) are accepting applications.
It is unclear which of these programs has officially ended, suspended, or otherwise reconstructed. When asked about Google’s status, the response was vague, but implied a shift in focus from an underrated founder to AI startups.
“We have not yet launched an application for Startups Funds in the US for Google in 2025. Google for Startups supports all past founder funds in the alumni community. In 2025, we will invest in American AI-centric startups and share more details at a later date,” the spokesman said.
Google is separated from other languages
TechCrunch has observed other changes to the language of the web pages of this program.
In December, the site specifically stated that the grant “provided more than $50 million to support underrated founders,” but today the term “undervalued” was removed.
An archived page on January 21 shows that Google described the program’s purpose as “financial support for underrated communities” and “to help underrated risk founders build and grow their businesses.”
Currently, Google says the program provides “financial support for innovators” and practical support, and “helping founders build and grow their business.”
Google did not respond to requests for comments regarding changes to the site’s language.
Last month, Google and other tech giants like Meta and Amazon began coordinating DEI’s language and activities as the Trump administration puts pressure on the public and private sectors to roll back such programs. Earlier this month, Google announced that diversity goals would disappear, and removed the DEI mention in its annual 10-K filing.
Reuters reported this week that companies that are publicly distant from DEI have made private opposition and have revealed today that sensitive balancing businesses are facing today, trying to avoid DEI’s legal challenges.
At the same time, US permitting programs targeting specific segments of underrated communities have been under attack for some time. The Fearless Fund is notoriously for resolving a lawsuit over a grant program for Black women founders and having to close the program in September. PayPal is currently being sued for grant commitments to black and Latino founders over allegations that it discriminates against other races.
Source link
