Coding & app builders
Claude Startups Program - Claude Startup Program
Anthropic’s program for young startups: $1,000 in Claude API credits, a free year of Claude Team, and partner offers.
Product insights
Claude Startups Program at a glance
Value proposition
Free API credits and a year of Claude Team lower the cost of building on Claude while a startup finds product-market fit, and the Applied AI office hours give direct technical help.
Problem solved
Model costs add up fast for early teams. The program covers the first API bills and team seats, and bundles discounts on tools startups already use.
Audience
Bootstrapped, pre-seed, and venture-backed startups founded in the last five years or funded in the last two.
Pricing and access
Free to apply. Benefits include $1,000 in API credits (expire after six months) and a free year of Claude Team for orgs new to Team; Anthropic values its own part at up to $7,000.
Market
- Startup programs
- LLM API credits
- Developer tools
Tech stack
- Claude API via Claude Console
- Claude Team (Premium seats)
- Claude Code
Model sheet
The working parts of Claude Startups Program
- API credits
- $1,000 (up to $100K more via partner VCs)
- Claude Team
- 1 year free, up to 5 Premium seats
- Eligibility
- Founded in last 5 years or funded in last 2 years
- Review time
- Minutes, or 2–3 business days if manually reviewed
01Why it is here
What is Claude Startups Program?
The Claude startup program is Anthropic’s Claude Startups Program, expanded on October 6, 2026. Any startup founded in the last five years or funded in the last two can apply with a Claude Console account, a company email that matches its website domain, and a short description of what it is building. Approved members get $1,000 in Claude API credits, a free year of Claude Team for up to five Premium seats, up to $45K in partner offers (the Claude Startup Stack), and office hours with Anthropic’s Applied AI team. The credits work only on Anthropic’s own API, not on AWS Bedrock or Google Vertex AI, and partner offers come from the partners, so not every offer can be combined.
02Workflow
How to use Claude Startups Program
- 01
Sign in to Claude Console
Create or sign in to a Claude Console account using your company email, which must match your website’s domain.
- 02
Submit the startup application
Open the application from claude.com/programs/startups and describe what you are building. Most decisions arrive within minutes; manual reviews take two to three business days.
- 03
Claim credits and offers
After approval, open the Claude Startups page in Console to claim the API credits, the Claude Team offer, and partner perks. Use the credits within six months.
03Capabilities
Key features of Claude Startups Program
- $1,000 in Claude API credits
- One free year of Claude Team (up to 5 Premium seats)
- Partner offers from ElevenLabs, Hex, Granola, ClickHouse, Gamma, and more
- Biweekly 45-minute office hours with Anthropic’s Applied AI team
- Higher API rate limits, Founder House, hackathons, and meetups
04Use cases
What is Claude Startups Program best for?
- Prototyping an AI product on the Claude API
- Giving a small team Claude and Claude Code
- Cutting early SaaS tool costs
05Questions
FAQ about Claude Startups Program
Who is eligible for the Claude startup program?
Startups founded in the last five years or funded in the last two, including bootstrapped, pre-seed, and venture-backed companies. You need a Claude Console account, a company email on your website’s domain, and you must follow Anthropic’s usage policies.
How much is the program worth?
Anthropic’s own benefits ($1,000 in API credits plus a year of Claude Team) are worth up to about $7,000. Partner offers add up to $45K at list prices, and VC-backed founders in Anthropic’s partner network can get up to $100K in extra API credits.
Can I use the credits on AWS Bedrock or Google Vertex AI?
No. Credits apply only to the first-party Claude API through Claude Console, and they expire six months after they are granted. The free Claude Team year is only for organizations new to Claude Team.
Official website snapshot
claude.com
The Claude Startups Program, also called Claude for Startups, is Anthropic’s offer for companies founded in the last five years or funded in the last two. Anthropic expanded it in early October 2026. Approved startups get $1,000 in Claude API credits, one free year of Claude Team for up to five Premium seats, up to $45K in partner offers through the Claude Startup Stack, and biweekly office hours with Anthropic’s Applied AI team. Founders backed by a VC in Anthropic’s partner network can get up to $100K in extra API credits through their investor.
