When IBM launched its first cloud platform in 2006, few could predict how quickly startups would reshape enterprise computing. Sixteen years later, Google’s 2026 Cloud Next conference demonstrated a similar shift, with artificial intelligence at the core.
The event in San Francisco featured over 150 startups, each vying for a place in Google Cloud’s expanding ecosystem. Among them was NexusAI, a Berlin-based company specializing in AI-driven logistics optimization. Its software cuts warehouse routing time by 30%, according to company data. Another highlight was TerraForm, a Norwegian firm using AI to predict renewable energy output with 94% accuracy.
Google Cloud’s vice president of AI partnerships, Lisa Chen, announced new funding programs for early-stage startups. The company will allocate $50 million in credits over three years for qualifying businesses. Chen emphasized that 70% of these funds must go to startups outside the U.S. and Europe.
The conference also introduced CloudGuard, a startup from Tel Aviv that uses AI to detect cloud misconfigurations before they trigger breaches. Its tool flagged 12,000 vulnerabilities during a live demo. Meanwhile, BioSynth, based in Toronto, showcased an AI model that accelerates drug discovery by simulating molecular interactions 50 times faster than traditional methods.
Attendance hit 22,000, up from 15,000 in 2024. Organizers noted a 40% increase in international delegations compared to the previous edition. The focus remained on AI, but sustainability and security startups also drew significant interest.
Source: techcrunch.com