Can startup credits pay for other companies’ AI models?

Usually not. Google's credits exclude third-party models such as Anthropic's, Anthropic's credits work only on its own Claude API, and Cloudflare's credits do not cover AI Gateway for now. Choose the MVP's models around where your credits apply.

How long do startup credits last?

Cloudflare's credits last one year or until they are used. Google's Grow & Scale credits run over two years: all eligible spend up to the cap in year one, then 20% of spend in year two.

Do I need investors to get startup credits?

Not for the entry tiers: AWS Activate Founders and Cloudflare Tier 3 take self-funded startups, and Google gives free Gemini API access for prototypes. The larger tiers ask for an investor or partner: AWS Activate Portfolio needs a provider Org ID, and Cloudflare Tiers 1 and 2 an affiliated partner.

Can an agency apply for credits on my behalf?

No. The startup applies itself, and Cloudflare and NVIDIA exclude consultancies and agencies from their programs. We build in your own cloud account, on the credits you hold.

What can Van Data Team build with my credits?

An AI agent MVP: one workflow end to end, on models your credits cover, with an evaluation set, logging and a human review step, in your own account. It starts with a free 30-minute consultation and a fixed quote after scoping.

Startup credits

AI and cloud startup credits in 2026

The startup programs of the main cloud and AI providers, with the figures from each official page and the date we checked it. Credits pay for compute and models; they do not build the product.

The programs at a glance

Largest amount each official page states, and who it is for
Program	Up to	Status	Checked
Google for Startups Cloud ProgramGoogle Cloud	Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits over two years	Open	November 1, 2026
AWS ActivateAmazon Web Services	Up to $200,000 in AWS credits, and more by invitation	Open	November 1, 2026
Cloudflare for StartupsCloudflare	Up to $350,000 in credits for one year	Open	November 1, 2026
Microsoft for StartupsMicrosoft	Up to $150,000 in Azure credits	Open	November 1, 2026
Claude for StartupsAnthropic	Up to $100,000 in Claude API credits through partner VCs	Applications closed	November 1, 2026
NVIDIA InceptionNVIDIA	Free: cloud credits from NVIDIA and partners, and preferred hardware pricing	Open	November 1, 2026
Grok for StartupsSpaceXSI (formerly xAI)	See the official page	Not checked	Not checked

What each program gives, and the rules

Google for Startups Cloud Program

Open

Google Cloud

Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits over two years

Build your prototypeNo credits: free access to the Gemini API in Google AI StudioSmall businesses, bootstrapped startups and self-funded ideas
Grow & Scale, AI startupsYear one: 100% of spend up to $250,000. Year two: 20% of spend, up to $100,000 morePre-Seed to Series A
Grow & Scale, other startupsYear one: 100% of spend up to $100,000. Year two: 20% of spend, up to $100,000 morePre-Seed to Series A

Covers: Google's own pay-as-you-go Google Cloud products, including the Gemini and Gemma models.
Does not cover: Third-party products and models (Marketplace and Model Garden offerings, such as Anthropic's models), subscriptions and prepaid plans.
Who qualifies: Pre-Seed to Series A, founded within the last three to five years
A working MVP and a clear roadmap
A verified company domain and a matching company email
No more than $5,000 in earlier Google Cloud credits

Official pageChecked November 1, 2026

AWS Activate

Open

Amazon Web Services

Up to $200,000 in AWS credits, and more by invitation

Activate FoundersStarts with $1,000, up to $5,000Bootstrapped or self-funded startups
Activate PortfolioUp to $200,000Pre-Series B, with an Org ID from an Activate Provider (an accelerator, angel investor or VC)
AWS Credits for AI Startups$200,000 and moreBy invitation, for startups ready to scale after Activate Portfolio

Who qualifies: Pre-Series B, founded in the last 10 years
An AWS account on a paid plan
New to Activate credits, or asking for more than you received before
A reply in 5 to 10 business days

Official pageChecked November 1, 2026

Cloudflare for Startups

Open

Cloudflare

Up to $350,000 in credits for one year

Tier 3$10,000Bootstrapped or self-funded, under $1M raised
Tier 2$100,000Under $5M raised, funded by an affiliated partner
Tier 1$350,000$5M or more raised, funded by an affiliated partner

Covers: Usage-based Developer Platform services: Workers, Durable Objects, Workflows, Workers AI (capped per tier), R2, D1, KV, Queues, Vectorize, Pages, Images and Stream. Credits last one year or until used.
Does not cover: AI Gateway (for now), domain registration and renewal, and premium network services.
Who qualifies: Incorporated within the last 10 years, funded up to Series B
A technology product with a live website, and a business email on its domain
Active on LinkedIn, X or GitHub, and not accepted before
Consultancies, agencies and resellers are not eligible

Official page Cloudflare Startup Program: Tiers, Credits and How to ApplyChecked November 1, 2026

Microsoft for Startups

Open

Microsoft

Up to $150,000 in Azure credits

Covers: Eligible Azure services. The page does not break the credits down by stage.
Who qualifies: The page lists no criteria: read the program terms before applying

Official pageChecked November 1, 2026

Claude for Startups

Applications closed

Anthropic

Up to $100,000 in Claude API credits through partner VCs

MembersOffers worth up to $45,000 from companies building with ClaudeEarly-stage founders building on Claude
Through Anthropic's VC partnersUp to $100,000 in additional API credits, claimed through the VCStartups backed by a VC in Anthropic's partner network

Covers: Anthropic's own Claude API, through the Claude Console. Not usable on AWS, Google Cloud or Azure.
Who qualifies: Applications are closed: the current cohort is full; the page offers a newsletter for when they reopen

Official page Claude for Startups: What You Get and Who Qualifies Claude Startups Approval: What Happened After the PauseChecked November 1, 2026

NVIDIA Inception

Open

NVIDIA

Free: cloud credits from NVIDIA and partners, and preferred hardware pricing

Covers: Cloud credits from NVIDIA and partners (no amount stated), preferred pricing on select NVIDIA hardware and software, training and investor introductions.
Who qualifies: Incorporated, under 10 years old, with a working website
A clear use for NVIDIA technology; any funding stage, no revenue needed
Consulting and outsourced development firms are not eligible

Official pageChecked November 1, 2026

Grok for Startups

Not checked

SpaceXSI (formerly xAI)

See the official page

Who qualifies: Our check on November 1, 2026 could not load the official page, so this page states no figure; our post below covers the program

Official page Grok for Startups: Credits, Eligibility and the CatchesNot checked

Build on your credits

Build your AI MVP with your credits

We design the first version of your product around the credits you hold: models your credits cover, services that run on them, and an architecture you can move when they expire.

One workflow built end to end, in your own cloud account
Models your credits cover, with an evaluation set on your own data
Logging, cost tracking and a human review step from day one
A plan for the bill after the credits run out

Every build starts with a free 30-minute consultation and a fixed quote after scoping.

Book a consultation AI agent development

Questions founders ask

Can startup credits pay for other companies’ AI models?: Usually not. Google's credits exclude third-party models such as Anthropic's, Anthropic's credits work only on its own Claude API, and Cloudflare's credits do not cover AI Gateway for now. Choose the MVP's models around where your credits apply.
How long do startup credits last?: Cloudflare's credits last one year or until they are used. Google's Grow & Scale credits run over two years: all eligible spend up to the cap in year one, then 20% of spend in year two.
Do I need investors to get startup credits?: Not for the entry tiers: AWS Activate Founders and Cloudflare Tier 3 take self-funded startups, and Google gives free Gemini API access for prototypes. The larger tiers ask for an investor or partner: AWS Activate Portfolio needs a provider Org ID, and Cloudflare Tiers 1 and 2 an affiliated partner.
Can an agency apply for credits on my behalf?: No. The startup applies itself, and Cloudflare and NVIDIA exclude consultancies and agencies from their programs. We build in your own cloud account, on the credits you hold.
What can Van Data Team build with my credits?: An AI agent MVP: one workflow end to end, on models your credits cover, with an evaluation set, logging and a human review step, in your own account. It starts with a free 30-minute consultation and a fixed quote after scoping.