The most interesting startups showcased at Google Cloud Next 2025 are turning heads across the tech world, and for good reason. From billion-dollar AI unicorns to emerging leaders in code automation and synthetic media, this year’s conference in Las Vegas became more than a showcase — it became a statement about where artificial intelligence and cloud computing are headed.
During the annual Google Cloud Next event, the tech giant made waves by revealing a lineup of groundbreaking products, including the next-generation AI chip codenamed Ironwood and its latest ultra-efficient model, Gemini 2.5 Flash. But the real surprise wasn’t just Google’s new hardware or software — it was the impressive roster of AI-focused startups pledging allegiance to Google Cloud’s ecosystem.
AI Titans and Rising Stars Choose Google Cloud
As part of its announcement blitz, Google spotlighted the most interesting startups showcased at Google Cloud Next 2025, all of whom are now partnering with its cloud services for model training, scaling, and deployment. The list reads like a who’s who of the future AI economy.
Topping the list is Safe Superintelligence (SSI), the stealth-mode startup led by none other than OpenAI co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever. The presence of SSI on Google Cloud underlines the platform’s strength as a go-to infrastructure for cutting-edge AI research.
Another major player on the list is Anysphere, the team behind Cursor, the AI-powered code editor rapidly gaining fame as a serious rival to GitHub’s CoPilot. Cursor leverages Anthropic’s Claude models, served directly via Google Cloud. According to insiders, Cursor is now valued at a jaw-dropping $10 billion — making it one of the most valuable young AI companies in the world.
Document Intelligence, Code Automation, and Robotic Foundations
Next up, legal-tech darling Hebbia made headlines too. Hebbia, known for using AI to intelligently search, summarize, and answer questions about large documents, is tapping Google’s Gemini models for its offerings. The company recently raised $130 million in Series B funding, attracting major venture capital names like Andreessen Horowitz, Google Ventures, Index Ventures, and Peter Thiel.
AI code automation is another red-hot trend at the conference, with Magic earning attention for building AI systems designed to streamline both coding and research workflows. Given its deep connections to Alphabet’s CapitalG and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt — both of whom participated in Magic’s $320 million funding round — the choice to go all-in with Google Cloud wasn’t much of a surprise.
And when it comes to robotics, Physical Intelligence stole the spotlight. The startup, which aims to develop the “foundational software” layer for future autonomous robots, recently closed a stunning $400 million funding round at a $2 billion pre-money valuation. The founding team boasts alumni from Google DeepMind, reinforcing the tight bond between this emerging startup and Google’s broader AI research ecosystem.
Media, Music, and AI-Driven Content Creation
Not all of the most interesting AI startups showcased at Google Cloud Next 2025 focus on code or robots. Some are changing the way humans interact with media entirely.
Paris-based Photoroom, an AI-driven photo and video editing platform, now uses Google Cloud’s Veo 2 for AI-generated video content and Imagen 3 for text-to-image transformations.
Meanwhile, Synthesia, famous for its ultra-realistic AI-generated avatars, is also doubling down on Google Cloud. The company raised $180 million at a $2.1 billion valuation earlier this year, with Google Ventures (GV) joining as an investor.
Google Expands Its AI Startup Network
Beyond individual startup partnerships, Google announced new moves to strengthen its ties to the venture capital world. Lightspeed Venture Partners is now officially part of Google Cloud’s VC Partner Program, joining heavyweights like Sequoia and Y Combinator. AI startups in Lightspeed’s portfolio will have early access to Google’s AI infrastructure and cloud credits worth up to $150,000.
And the list doesn’t stop there. Here are more names from the most interesting startups showcased at Google Cloud Next 2025:
- Augment Code — AI agents for software coding
- Autoscience — scientific research automation via AI
- Big Sur AI — personalized product recommendations for e-commerce
- Captions — AI-powered talking video creators and editors
- Eon.io — autonomous enterprise backup & disaster recovery
- fal.ai — text-to-image and image-to-video AI tools
- Spot AI — AI analytics for security camera footage
- Story — blockchain storage for intellectual property licensing
- StudyHall AI — AI academic tutors for students
- Ubie — Japanese AI-driven symptom analyzer for healthcare
- Udio — AI music generation platform
- Ufonia — healthcare consultation automation via AI agents
- Wagestream — financial well-being platform backed by charities
- Wondercraft — generative AI for hyper-realistic audio content
If there’s one message from this year’s conference, it’s this: The most interesting startups showcased at Google Cloud Next are cementing Google’s cloud ecosystem as a breeding ground for the next wave of AI-powered innovation. Whether it’s automating code, reshaping the legal industry, or generating lifelike avatars and music, Google Cloud is placing strategic bets across the AI spectrum — ensuring its relevance in a fiercely competitive market.
Get the Latest AI News on AI Content Minds Blog