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Google Cloud (Vertex AI) · Startup program

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Google for Startups Cloud Program

Eligible startups get Google Cloud credits — up to $2,000 on the Start tier (no funding needed) or up to $200,000 over two years on the Scale tier — usable on Vertex AI and Gemini.

Last verified (today) Official source (opens in a new tab) startup.google.com

Key facts

Free value
$200,000
Details
Start: up to $2,000 / 1 year (no funding needed). Scale: up to $100k year 1 + up to $100k year 2. AI-first startups: up to $350,000.
Credit card required
No
Expiry
No fixed expiry (ongoing)
Eligibility
Founded within 5 years of applying (10 years for Scale), with a Google Cloud account, a public website and a matching company email domain. The Scale tier requires equity funding (pre-seed to Series A; Series A within the last 12 months).

What you get

Google Cloud and Firebase credits usable on Vertex AI and the Gemini API. The Start tier covers up to $2,000 over a year for startups without equity funding; the Scale tier covers usage up to $100,000 in year one plus up to a further $100,000 in year two. AI-first startups can qualify for up to $350,000 in cloud cost coverage.

How to claim it

  1. Check the Start vs Scale eligibility criteria
  2. Apply through the Google for Startups Cloud Program page
  3. Once approved, the credits are applied to your Google Cloud billing account

Good to know

Application-based — no card to apply. Start tier (up to $2,000) needs no equity funding; Scale (up to $200k over two years) requires institutional funding. AI-first startups can reach up to $350,000. Separate from the $300 Google Cloud free trial.