For founders
Startup credits in India: every programme, what you get and who qualifies
Cloud, AI and software companies give early-stage startups free credits, often worth more than a year of infrastructure. Indian startups qualify for almost all of them: the big clouds alone offer up to $200,000 (AWS), $350,000 (Google Cloud) and $150,000 (Microsoft Azure).
The catch is that the biggest tiers usually need a referral from an accelerator or investor, credits expire (most after 12 months), and every programme has its own rules. This guide lists each programme with what you actually get and who qualifies, so you can apply for the right ones in the right order.
Startup credit programmes compared
Amounts are the maximums each programme states; what you receive depends on your stage, funding and whether you apply through a partner. Each programme was checked on its own website in October 2026.
Cloud and hosting
| Programme | What you get | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| AWS ActivateOfficial page | Up to $5,000 self-funded (Founders); up to $200,000 through an Activate Provider (Portfolio) | Pre-Series B, founded in the last 10 years, AWS account on the paid tier |
| Google for Startups Cloud ProgramOfficial page | $2,000 before funding; $200,000 Seed to Series A; up to $350,000 for AI-first startups | Pre-funded, or Seed to Series A |
| Microsoft for StartupsOfficial page | Up to $150,000 in Azure credits | Startups accepted into the programme |
| Cloudflare for StartupsOfficial page | $10,000, $100,000 or $350,000 in credits | Founded in the last 10 years, up to Series B; the two higher tiers need a partner investor |
| Vercel for StartupsOfficial page | Up to $30,000 (one year of Enterprise-tier access) | Backed by an approved Vercel partner, Series A or earlier, within 12 months of the last round |
| Render for StartupsOfficial page | $500 to $100,000 for one year | New customers with seed funding ($25K+), Series A or earlier; tiers above $500 through partner VCs |
| Fly.io for StartupsOfficial page | $15,000 (expires after one year) | Seed or Series A, backed by a VC or accelerator |
| Neon StartupsOfficial page | Up to $1,000 self-funded; up to $200,000 Neon + Databricks when venture-backed | Self-funded under $1M, or $1M+ raised or a recognised accelerator |
| MongoDB for StartupsOfficial page | Atlas credits and Voyage AI tokens (amount set on acceptance, valid 12 months) | Under 7 years old, Series A or earlier, building one software product |
AI models and APIs
| Programme | What you get | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Claude for StartupsOfficial page | A free year of Claude Team (up to 5 Premium seats) plus a $1,000 API credit | Founded in the last 5 years or funded in the last 2; application-based |
| Deepgram Startup ProgramOfficial page | Up to $100,000 over 12 months | AI builders in production or launching within 6 months |
| Together AI Startup AcceleratorOfficial page | $15,000 to $50,000 in credits plus engineering hours | Selection-based; tier depends on funding raised |
| Devin for StartupsOfficial page | $15,000 in credits plus up to $50,000 in matching grants | Early-stage startups |
| LiveKit Startup ProgramOfficial page | One year of LiveKit Cloud Scale free plus $10,000 cloud and $7,000 inference credits | Startups accepted into the programme |
| ElevenLabs Startup GrantsOfficial page | 12 months free (33M characters) | Application-based |
| LangSmith for StartupsOfficial page | $10,000 for one year (two years for YC companies) | Backed by a LangChain premier VC partner, Series A or earlier |
| Kiro for StartupsOfficial page | Up to one year of Kiro Pro+ credits | VC-backed, early stage to Series A; not current AWS Activate members |
| Firecrawl for StartupsOfficial page | Double monthly credits for a year on annual plans (extra capped at $30,000) | Under $10M raised, under 50 people, founded in the last 5 years |
Product, analytics and business tools
| Programme | What you get | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| PostHog for StartupsOfficial page | $50,000 in credits for 12 months | Early-stage startups with a PostHog account |
| Retool for StartupsOfficial page | One year free (value up to $60,000) | Eligible startups (criteria on the Retool page) |
| Auth0 for StartupsOfficial page | One year of B2B Professional free (up to 100,000 MAUs) | VC-backed, under $5M raised, under $1M ARR, under 2 years old |
| Stripe AtlasOfficial page | $2,500 in Stripe credits plus $50,000+ in partner discounts | Companies incorporating through Atlas ($500 one-time) |
| HubSpot for StartupsOfficial page | Up to 90% off Professional or Enterprise in year one | Pre-seed to Series A through a partner (a 30% tier for approved organisations) |
| Linear for StartupsOfficial page | Free Business plan | Through an official Linear partner; under 50 employees |
| Mintlify for StartupsOfficial page | 6 months of Mintlify Pro (12 for the current YC batch) | Venture-backed early-stage startups |
| Miro Startup ProgramOfficial page | $1,000 through a partner, $500 applying directly | Free Miro account required |
| Indent for StartupsOfficial page | $10,000 in credits | Application-based |
| Framer for StartupsOfficial page | One year of Framer Pro (about $360) | Startups accepted into the programme |
| MojoAuth for StartupsOfficial page | 50% off annual Business Pro | Under 5 years old and up to $10M raised, or a verified nonprofit |
Y Combinator companies only
| Programme | What you get | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Resend for YCOfficial page | $25,000 for 12 months (current batch); $15,000 for alumni | YC companies; sign up before Demo Day |
| Clerk for YCOfficial page | One year of Clerk Pro with add-ons free (current batch); 50% off for alumni | YC companies, until $5M raised |
Which programmes to apply for first
Pick one main cloud and apply there first. Credits on three clouds you don't use simply expire. If you have no funding yet, AWS Activate Founders (up to $5,000), Google's pre-funded tier ($2,000) and Microsoft for Startups are the realistic starting points, and Render's $500 tier covers small apps.
If you are in an accelerator or have raised from a VC, ask them for their partner links before applying anywhere. The large tiers (AWS Activate Portfolio, Google's $200,000, Cloudflare's $100,000 and $350,000, Vercel, Render's higher tiers, Linear and Miro's $1,000) either require or reward a partner referral.
Then add the tools your product actually uses: a database (Neon, MongoDB), auth (Auth0), analytics (PostHog) and the AI APIs you call (Claude, Deepgram, Together AI).
How to make credits last
Most credits expire 12 months after they are granted (Render, Fly.io, Deepgram and MongoDB all say so), so apply when you are about to build and scale, not at the idea stage.
Most programmes are for first-time applicants only, so credits you claim too early cannot be claimed again when you actually need them.
Why applications get rejected
Your email domain doesn't match your company website (Cloudflare, Vercel and MojoAuth all require this), or the website isn't live yet.
You've received the programme's credits before (Cloudflare, Fly.io and Vercel are first-time only), or you're already a paying customer (Render, Retool, Auth0 and MojoAuth are for new customers).
Your stage doesn't fit: most programmes stop at Series A or Series B, and several need a minimum seed round.
Notes for Indian founders
These programmes are global, and Indian startups can apply to all of the ones listed here. Credits are in US dollars.
Many programmes ask for a payment card even while you run on credits. Indian cards often have international transactions switched off by default, so enable them on the card you sign up with.
FAQ
Can Indian startups get AWS, Google Cloud and Azure credits?
Yes. AWS Activate, the Google for Startups Cloud Program and Microsoft for Startups are all open to startups in India. The largest tiers need a referral from an accelerator or investor partner.
Which startup credits can I get without investors?
AWS Activate Founders (up to $5,000), Google's pre-funded tier ($2,000), Microsoft for Startups, Render's $500 tier and Neon's self-funded tier (up to $1,000) don't need a VC or accelerator.
Do startup credits expire?
Yes. Most expire 12 months after they are granted, so apply when you are ready to build rather than at the idea stage.
Can I get credits from more than one cloud?
Yes. Each programme is separate with its own eligibility, so you can hold AWS, Google Cloud and Azure credits at the same time. In practice most startups get the most value by building on one.