Meet the startup chosen for Google's Launchpad Studio programme

Loyalty rewards app mPaani Solutions Pvt. Ltd has been selected for the flagship Google Developers Launchpad Studio programme, which will commence from September 6, a company statement said.

The four-month programme will take place at Google’s headquarters in Silicon Valley, San Francisco.

m.Paani is a mass-market loyalty platform that brings primarily offline consumers and unorganised retailers online. Customers can redeem points when they shop at m.Paani retail partners through discounts, talk time and other offers.

The Mumbai-based company was founded in March 2014 by Akanksha Hazari, a Princeton University and Cambridge University alumnus.

m.Paani aims to empower India’s local retailers and the next billion users using machine learning and artificial intelligence in their retailer and consumer products.

“86% of Indian consumers’ transactions happen within a 3-4 km radius at local businesses, and there are more than 15 million of these businesses in India. Yet there is little to no data about this transaction economy. It’s a huge opportunity,” said Hazari, chief executive at m.Paani.

In March 2017, m.Paani raised $1.35 million in its pre-series A investment round led by IDG Ventures, Blume Ventures and Saha Fund.  

The company claims to have worked with more than 5,000 retailers in micro, small and medium enterprises space.

The Google Developers Launchpad Studio programme is tailored specifically to help AI and ML-focused startups build innovative products and find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues. The tech giant offers shortlisted startups access to its researchers, engineers, product managers and trusted experts in its expansive network.

So far, 10 companies across the globe have been chosen for its Studio programme. 

Besides this programme, Google also runs the Launchpad Accelerator, which has had six editions already. The company’s sixth edition was tailored specifically to suit India and is being held for the first time in Bengaluru. Ten AI and ML-based startups from the country were shortlisted for the programme this year.