Google Cloud Partners with EQT to Accelerate AI Adoption

Global private markets firm EQT and Google Cloud have announced a new partnership designed to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across EQT’s portfolio of more than 300 companies worldwide [1]. The collaboration provides these businesses with access to Google Cloud’s AI technology stack, including the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform and various Gemini models [1].

Key takeaways

• The partnership grants EQT’s portfolio companies access to Google Cloud’s AI architecture, cybersecurity tools from Mandiant and Wiz, and sovereign cloud solutions [1].
• Google will provide forward-deployed engineers to work alongside EQT’s internal AI transformation team to assist with secure deployment [1].
• EQT portfolio companies will gain new routes-to-market through Google Cloud’s Marketplace and co-sell initiatives [1].
• The agreement includes early access to select future Google Cloud AI products for prototyping and testing [1].
• Portfolio companies such as Believe, Epidemic Sound, Keyword Studios, and Zooplus are already utilizing Google Cloud AI [1].

Integrating AI into Global Operations

EQT has prioritized data and AI as strategic capabilities for over a decade, embedding these technologies into its investment and value-creation processes [1]. By partnering with Google Cloud, the firm aims to help its management teams build and deploy AI agents more rapidly while ensuring compliance with data residency and governance requirements [1]. To support this transition, the companies will leverage Google Cloud’s ecosystem, which includes more than 330,000 trained AI experts from consulting firms such as Accenture, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC [1].

For the software companies within EQT’s portfolio, the deal offers expanded enterprise reach and streamlined onboarding to Google Cloud’s Marketplace [1]. Bert Janssens, Co-Head of Private Capital Europe & North America at EQT, stated that the partnership is intended to help businesses become more adaptive and competitive in an AI-driven economy [1]. Karthik Narain, Chief Product and Business Officer at Google Cloud, noted that the initiative focuses on helping these businesses operate more efficiently to deliver better outcomes for their end customers [1].

Why it matters

This partnership highlights the ongoing tension in Europe regarding the balance between digital sovereignty and the need for advanced technology. While European policymakers have expressed concerns about reliance on U.S.-based cloud providers—citing geopolitical uncertainties and data storage laws—the continent currently lacks domestic alternatives that can match the scale and innovation of companies like Google [3]. As EQT and its portfolio companies integrate these tools, they are navigating a landscape where access to high-end AI architecture is seen as essential for future-proofing businesses, even as the European Union continues to explore initiatives like Gaia-X to reduce dependence on foreign hyperscalers [1, 3].