Credits and infra access

Google for Startups Cloud

Google Cloud startup credits: up to $2,000 for pre-funded MVPs, up to $200,000 across the first two years for equity-funded startups, and up to $350,000 for AI-first startups; qualifying venture-backed AI startups can add a further $150,000 for building on the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.

Rolling Provider: Google Cloud

Checked on 2026-09-26 · next review due 2026-11-25 · confirm current terms on the official page before applying.

Official programme page

Status: Rolling
Deadline: Rolling / provider reviewed
Amount: Up to $2,000 pre-funded MVP; Scale covers year one up to $100,000 plus 20% of year two up to a further $100,000 ($200,000 total); up to $350,000 for AI-first startups; which tier applies requires a manual check against the official page; qualifying venture-backed AI startups can add a further $150,000 for the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform
Type: Cloud / AI credits
Best for: AI/tool startups with a public company site, company-domain email, and a clear Google Cloud or AI infrastructure use case.
Effort: Medium to high prep

Conditions

What the programme asks for

Must have

public company/project website
company-domain email
clear cloud/AI use case
early-stage path is pre-funded through Series A
no more than $5,000 in Google Cloud credits received before (Scale tier)

Summarised from the official page. The provider decides; confirm every condition at the source.

Prepare

Materials to have ready

public company/project website
company-domain email
Google Cloud account and Billing ID
product description
expected Google Cloud services
startup stage/funding facts
AI-first/cloud use case

Next step

Recommended action

Have your 18-character Google Cloud billing account ID ready, a public company website and a matching company email domain. Check the tier gates: Start (pre-funded, $2,000) needs founding within the last 24 months; Scale needs founding within the last 5 years, recent institutional equity funding from pre-seed to Series A (a Series A round must be within the last 12 months), and no more than $5,000 in Google Cloud credits received before.

Curator note

What we found at the source

Official Google Cloud startup pages checked 2026-09-26: Start tier gives $2,000 for companies founded within the last 24 months; Scale gives up to $200,000 over two years (year one 100% up to $100,000, year two 20% up to a further $100,000), and AI startups get year one up to $250,000 plus the same year-two 20% up to $100,000, for up to $350,000. Angel, friends-and-family, grant and crowdfunding money does not qualify a startup for Scale. Google's overview page states looser founding-age limits (5 years, or 10 for Scale) than its own tier pages (24 months for Start, 5 years for Scale); plan around the stricter tier-page wording. Supplementary Start-tier criteria check 2026-10-02: see https://cloud.google.com/startup/pre-funded for MVP, business-model, venture-funding intent and prior-credit conditions. This is a partial copy review, not a full record revalidation.

Caveat

Before you rely on it

Google makes the final program and credit-tier decision. The Start tier page asks for a working MVP, a clear business model, an intention to seek venture funding soon, founding within 24 months and no previous Google Cloud credits beyond the free trial. Scale and AI benefits have separate conditions; published ceilings are not automatic awards. Check covered services, coverage and billing before applying; Series B+ support is a separate custom path.