Global venture capital firm Accel has unveiled its latest pre-seed scaling initiative, Accel Atoms 4.0, with plans to invest up to $1 million in selected start-ups. The program, which opens for applications on September 16 and closes on November 17, will focus on two key areas: artificial intelligence and start-ups targeting the Indian market, or ‘Bharat.’

Accel Atoms 4.0 will provide funding through equity or convertible notes, along with additional perks valued at $5 million. The initiative aims to support innovative founders who are leveraging regional advancements to create scalable solutions that address Bharat’s unique needs. Anand Daniel, Partner at Accel, expressed enthusiasm about offering guidance, a robust support network, and capital to help founders deliver impactful solutions to underserved audiences in Bharat.

For the AI cohort, Accel seeks start-ups founded by individuals of Indian origin, regardless of their location. The focus will be on companies using AI in innovative ways for business applications or developing tools for the AI ecosystem. This includes projects spanning the AI stack, from foundational models and data for modalities like video and robotics, to infrastructure tools and application models.

The Bharat cohort will target start-ups across various sectors, including e-commerce, financial services, healthcare, and ed-tech. Accel is looking for companies that are enhancing supply chains, improving customer experiences, making financial services more accessible, advancing healthcare solutions, and developing platforms for education and content.

This marks Accel’s second AI-focused cohort, led by partner Prayank Swaroop. The previous Atoms 3.0 program, which concluded in March, selected eight start-ups including Spintly, Asets, and Tune AI. Over its first three cohorts, Accel Atoms has supported more than 32 start-ups, which have collectively raised over $200 million from global investors.