Google’s Startup and VC Chief on Signing Deals With a Tech Giant

• Google has millions of dollars to hand out via startup funding programs and VC partnerships.
• Insider sat down with the firm’s EMEA industry lead Rachael Palmer to find out more.
• She shared her top 5 tips for venture capitalists and founders hoping to work with Google.
• See more stories on Insider’s business page.

Since 2016, Rachael Palmer has been overseeing Google’s partnership strategy with venture capitalists and startups throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Recent successes include the launch of a $2 million fund for Black founders in Europe, and a similar $3 million scheme in Africa. 

“My role focuses on driving partnerships with the region’s top VCs and startup but also working on initiatives to transform the ecosystem for the better,” Palmer told Insider. 

Palmer previously worked at Microsoft and American Express, spending a lot of time working with small businesses at the latter. After joining Google as an internal consultant, she “quickly found my way back to working within the startup ecosystem.”

Palmer says there no such thing as a “typical workday” for her role at Google.

“I spend some days working closely with founders to understand their business and how we can help them, or with internal product teams discussing opportunities to engage the VC and startup ecosystem,” she said.

“Another day might be spent with a VC learning more about their portfolio companies, how we can partner and also what they look for in investments. Yet another could be spent working closely with our Black Founders Fund, with either the founders themselves or others in the ecosystem that share our vision for a more diverse, equitable startup ecosystem.”

Insider asked Palmer to share her top five tips for working with Google.