Google is planning to invest and acquire Indian startups, VC firms. Here’s the plan

Google is now looking forward to directly invest in or acquire companies in India that cater to whom it refers to as the next billion internet users.

According to people aware with the developments, the largest internet company is already in talks with startups and venture capital investors in the country in what could lead to its first acquisition of an Indian company.

"Two major areas of focus for them are products for the next billion users and acqui-hires in high-tech areas," one of the person aware of developments told ET.

Reportedly, as an investor, Google is unlikely to invest in consumer-internet companies such as online retailers.

The company has also hired Seema Rao, who was a vice-president at investment bank Avendus Capital, to lead corporate development, or acquisitions and strategic investments, in India and Southeast Asia.

The people mentioned above also said that as for the potential acqui-hires, which refers to buying a company for its employees, Google is expected to focus on companies working in areas such as cloud computing and cybersecurity.

Google, one of the world's most-ac quisitive technology companies, has not bought a single startup in India yet.