Cloud Credits for Startups: The Complete Guide

Building a startup in 2026 requires zero dollars.

That sounds exaggerated, but it's the reality of the current landscape. Cloud providers, tool vendors, and infrastructure platforms are competing so aggressively for startup mindshare that you can now run a production startup without spending a dime on servers.

The founder I mentioned earlier? He was paying $4,200/month to AWS for a product with 47 users. When I asked about AWS Activate, he had no idea it existed.

Don't be that founder.

By the end of this guide, you'll know how to access over $500,000 in free cloud credits to run your startup for 12-24 months without spending anything on infrastructure.

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Why Cloud Credits Exist (And Why You Should Use Them)

Cloud providers want one thing: your loyalty.

They know that once you build on their platform, you'll stay there as you scale. The math is simple: spend $500,000 acquiring a startup now, earn $5,000,000 in cloud fees over the next five years.

For you, this means free infrastructure. Lots of it.

The best part? Most programs have low barriers to entry. You don't need funding. You don't need a VC. You just need a startup and the willingness to apply.

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The Big Three Cloud Providers

AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure offer the most comprehensive programs with the widest range of services.

AWS Activate

AWS remains the gold standard for startup infrastructure. Their Activate program offers substantial credits:

• Portfolio Package: Up to $100,000 in credits (2-year validity) through VCs, accelerators, or partners like Y Combinator, Techstars, or Stripe Atlas
• Founders Package: $1,000 in credits + 1 year Business Support—no partner required
• AI Features: Access to services like Bedrock, SageMaker, and Comprehend included

How to apply: The easiest path is through a partner. Apply to Stripe Atlas or Posthog for Startups—both give you instant access to the Portfolio tier.

Apply directly: AWS Activate

Best for: General-purpose startups, companies planning long-term AWS usage, and those needing the widest range of managed services.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

GCP offers strong startup programs with excellent developer tools:

• Google for Startups Cloud Program: Up to $200,000 in credits over 2 years
• Additional perks: 12 months Google Workspace Business Plus, $600 in Google Maps credits, and Firebase credits included

Firebase advantage: For many startups, Firebase provides a complete backend without managing servers. Auth, database, hosting, and analytics—all included.

Applying to GCP? Read our comparison guide: AWS vs Google Cloud for Startups 2025 - Which cloud provider is right for your startup?

Apply: Google for Startups Cloud Program

Best for: Startups using Google Workspace, companies wanting integrated mobile/backend, and those valuing Google's developer tools.

Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub

Microsoft has the most accessible program. You don't need VC backing to get started:

• Credits: Up to $150,000 in Azure credits
• AI services: Free access to Azure OpenAI Service if you need it
• Software bundle: GitHub Enterprise, Microsoft 365, LinkedIn Premium, and credits for Bubble (no-code)

Tier progression: Start with $1,000-$5,000, then "level up" based on traction, funding, or Microsoft partner referrals.

Apply: Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub

Best for: Startups valuing GitHub integration, companies wanting free access to productivity tools, and those preferring Microsoft's ecosystem.

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Enterprise-Grade Alternatives

Oracle Cloud - Oracle for Startups

Oracle wants to attract the next generation of startups:

• Credits: $500 free credits to start, plus 70% discount from day one
• Additional: Can apply for more credits as you grow
• Best for: Oracle Database, enterprise applications, scalable infrastructure
• Perks: Migration support, mentorship, marketing exposure opportunities

Apply: Oracle for Startups

IBM Cloud

IBM offers substantial credits for startups in their THRIVE community:

• Credits: Up to $120,000 in cloud credits
• Best for: Watson AI, blockchain, Red Hat OpenShift, hybrid cloud
• Support: 24/7 technical enablement, mentors, global startup community

Apply: IBM Cloud THRIVE

Akamai - Rise Program

Akamai's compute and edge platform offers generous credits:

• Credits: Up to $120,000 in first year (initial $500 qualifying credit, earn up to $120,000)
• Duration: 3-year program with continued discounts in years 2-3
• Best for: VMs, GPU instances, storage, edge computing

Apply: Akamai Rise Program

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Simpler Alternatives

The big cloud providers offer the most services, but simpler platforms often work better for startups.

DigitalOcean Hatch

DigitalOcean wins on simplicity:

• Credits: Up to $100,000 for 12 months
• GPU support: Specialized GPU credits for startups that need them
• Speed: Spin up a server in 60 seconds
• Best for: Developers who want simplicity over features

Apply: DigitalOcean Hatch

Cloudflare - Startup Program

Cloudflare offers massive credits for startups building on their platform:

• Credits: Up to $250,000
• Best for: Security, CDN, serverless functions, edge computing, zero-trust infrastructure
• Features: Enterprise-level features at startup tier

Apply: Cloudflare Startup Program

Heroku - Startup Program

Salesforce's PaaS platform still has strong startup adoption:

• Credits: Varies by program, credits available through application
• Best for: PaaS deployment, rapid prototyping, MVPs, managed PostgreSQL
• Perks: 200+ add-ons, fully managed runtime, auto-scaling

Apply: Heroku

OVHcloud Startup Program

European-founded, privacy-focused:

• Credits: $12,000 to $120,000 depending on program tier
• Key advantage: No data egress fees in most regions
• Best for: European startups, data sovereignty priorities

Apply: OVHcloud Startup Program

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Modern Deployment Platforms

Newer platforms cater specifically to modern development workflows:

Render - Startup Program

• Credits: Up to $100,000 for high-growth startups
• Best for: Web apps, APIs, AI workloads, persistent compute
• Features: Auto-deploy from Git, stateful by default, AI-ready patterns

Apply: Render Startup Program

Railway - Startup Program

• Credits: $5,000 per selected startup
• Best for: Full-stack apps, databases, background workers
• Features: Simple configuration, automatic scaling, multiple regions

Apply: Railway Startup Program

Fly.io - Startup Credits

• Credits: Limited credits available through application
• Best for: Edge computing, globally distributed apps, GPUs
• Features: Micro VMs, near-users latency, persistent storage

Apply: Fly.io

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Data and AI Platforms

If your startup revolves around data or AI, these programs are essential:

Snowflake - Powered by Snowflake

• Credits: Varies by program; up to $1M investment through Startup Challenge
• Best for: Data warehousing, analytics, AI/ML data infrastructure
• Perks: $200M accelerator fund, mentorship, customer/investor access

Apply: Snowflake for Startups

Databricks - Startup Program

• Credits: Up to $50,000 standard; over $1M in AI Challenge prizes
• Best for: Lakehouse platform, data engineering, machine learning
• New: AI Accelerator program with up to $250,000 investment

Apply: Databricks Startup Program

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Infrastructure Tools with Startup Credits

Beyond compute, the tools you build with often include startup programs:

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Strategic Credit Sequencing

The biggest mistake founders make: burning all credits simultaneously. Here's how to sequence them professionally.

Phase 1: Incubation (Months 0-6)

Start with Microsoft Founders Hub—easiest to access:

• Build your MVP using included credits
• Use GitHub Enterprise for code management
• Deploy to Azure App Service (simple, included in credits)

Phase 2: Launch (Months 6-12)

Once you have traction, apply for AWS Activate through a partner:

• Access $25k-$100k in credits
• Migrate to managed services (RDS, S3, CloudFront)
• Scale your infrastructure as users grow

Phase 3: Scale (Months 12+)

When credits from Phase 2 deplete, apply for Google Cloud:

• Get $200k in credits
• Migrate if it makes sense for your use case
• Continue scaling with fresh credits

Phase 4: Optimize (Ongoing)

Apply to Oracle, Akamai, or IBM Cloud for specific workloads:

• Oracle for database-heavy applications
• Akamai for compute and edge needs
• IBM for AI and enterprise features

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Real-World Guide: How We Got $200K+ in Credits (No VC Required)

Getting generous credit packages ($100k+) for AWS, GCP, or Azure is often assumed to require VC backing. But that's not always true.

This is the actual process used by the team behind fashn.ai—an AI startup training diffusion models for virtual try-on. They spent over $80k in cloud credits while bootstrapped.

Here's exactly what they did:

Step 1: NVIDIA Inception ($10K on AWS)

For AI startups, NVIDIA Inception is the best starting point. Before applying, make sure you have:

• A domain registered for your business
• A landing page explaining your product
• A professional business email
• A clear vision for your AI product

When talking with the NVIDIA Inception program manager, emphasize your need for NVIDIA GPUs and long-term access to GPU compute. Once accepted to NVIDIA Inception, you can apply for AWS Activate and access $10,000 in AWS credits.

This is typically the only significant credit package you'll get from AWS as a bootstrapped startup.

Apply: NVIDIA Inception

Step 2: GCP and Azure Initial Credits ($2K + $5K)

After getting accepted to NVIDIA Inception, applying to other programs becomes easier:

GCP: You'll likely need to speak with a program manager. "Sell" your startup the same way you did with NVIDIA Inception. Expect around $2,000 in credits at this stage.

Azure: The process is much more streamlined. Everything is gamified on the Founders Hub platform with clear step-by-step instructions. Follow the steps to unlock $5,000 in credits.

Apply: Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub

Step 3: GCP and Azure Growth Credits ($25K + $25K)

At this stage, you should have:

• Spent all credits from previous programs
• A registered business with proper address
• A working product demo

GCP: The $25,000 startup program isn't globally advertised—it's only available in certain regions. A referral helps smooth the process. Paint a picture of at least $3,000 in expected monthly spend after credits run out.

Azure: The $25,000 "Grow" program is still gamified. The main factors are your product demo video and how quickly you spent the previous $5,000 in credits.

Step 4: Azure Scale Program ($150K)

Here's the surprising part: Azure's $150,000 Scale program is STILL gamified on their platform. No human contact required.

The key factors for acceptance:

• Demonstrated results and traction
• A public demo (they had a HuggingFace demo with ~100 likes)
• Aggressive credit usage

Critical strategy: Don't be frugal with your credits. Treat them like monopoly money and go hard. If you're thinking "I should be careful with $25k," stop. You need to spend aggressively to unlock the next tier.

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Common Credit Traps to Avoid

Trap 1: The Default Spend Blindness

Credits expire—usually 1-2 years. Building a $5,000/month infrastructure "because it's free" leads to painful bills when credits run out.

The fix: Monitor your "undiscounted" bill monthly. Architecture as if you're paying from day one.

Trap 2: Vendor Lock-In

Using proprietary services (DynamoDB, BigQuery, CosmosDB) makes switching providers hard.

The fix: Use standard tools where possible—PostgreSQL over DynamoDB, standard Docker containers over proprietary services. Makes migration (to get new credits) much easier.

Trap 3: Ignoring Architecture Reviews

Most startup programs include free architecture reviews with senior engineers.

The fix: Book those sessions. Ask: "Is my setup stupidly expensive?" Engineers often find significant savings.

Trap 4: Not Using All Available Programs

Many founders apply to one program and stop. You can stack multiple programs.

The fix: Apply to Azure (low barrier), then AWS (through partner), then GCP. Use each for different workloads.

Trap 5: Forgetting About Tool Credits

The services you build with also offer startup credits.

The fix: Apply to Supabase, MongoDB, Stripe, and other tools you use. The credits add up quickly.

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Your Action Plan

If you're not using cloud credits yet, here's what to do today:

Day 1: Apply to Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub. Takes 10 minutes. Even $1,000 in credits plus free GitHub Enterprise pays for itself.

Day 2: Apply to Stripe Atlas or Posthog for Startups. Both give instant access to AWS Activate Portfolio tier.

Day 3: Apply to DigitalOcean and Cloudflare for simpler alternatives.

Week 1: Audit your current cloud spend. If you're paying more than $50/month without credits, you're doing it wrong.

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The Bottom Line

Building a startup in 2026 doesn't require significant infrastructure spend. Cloud providers, tool vendors, and platform companies are practically paying you to use their services.

The founders who succeed aren't the ones with the most funding. They're the ones who use every available resource to conserve their runway while building something people want.

Apply to these programs. Stack the credits. Build your startup without spending a dime on infrastructure.

Save your money for the things that actually require it—hiring, marketing, and growth.

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Need Help With Your Cloud Strategy?

Choosing the right cloud is only half the battle. Configuring it so it doesn't break—or bankrupt you—is the other half.

At Startupbricks, we help early-stage founders:

• Audit cloud architecture to prevent bill shock
• Navigate credit applications for all major providers
• Build migration-ready stacks so you can switch as you scale
• Set up infrastructure that matches your development style

Let's talk about your cloud strategy