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Anthropic

Claude for Startups (Anthropic)

$1,000 API credit, a free year of Claude Team (5 seats), partner offers worth up to $45K, and up to $100K more via partner VCs.

VerifiedLast verified Nov 3, 2026Official source

Worth

$1,000 API credit + 1 year Claude Team (5 seats); up to $100K more via partner VCs

Direct package valued by Anthropic at up to $7,000 ($1,000 API credit + $6,000 Claude Team). Up to $45,000 in Startup Stack partner offers is at partner list prices and not Anthropic credit. The $100K ceiling is the VC-partner path and is stated as 'up to'.

Quick facts

Value
$1,000 API credit + 1 year Claude Team (5 seats); up to $100K more via partner VCs
Type
Credits + discount
Duration
1 year
Stages
Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
Regions
Global
Max funding raised
Not stated
Max company age
5 years
Last verified
Nov 3, 2026 · Verified

Ways to get it

  1. Apply directly

    Apply directly

    $1,000 API credit + free year of Claude Team (5 Premium seats) + Startup Stack

    • Founded in the last five years or funded in the last two
    • Building on Claude
    • New to Claude Team (for the Team seats benefit)

    Applications closed as of October 13, 2026 because the cohort is full. Subscribe to the newsletter on the program page for the next cohort.

    Open program page

  2. Via Anthropic VC partner network

    Via VC or accelerator partner

    Up to $100K in additional API credits

    • Backed by a VC in Anthropic's partner network; credits are claimed through the VC

    Anthropic does not publish the partner list; ask your investor.

    Open program page

  3. Via AWS Activate

    Via cloud provider program

    AWS Activate credits spendable on Claude models in Amazon Bedrock

    • Approved AWS Activate credits
    • Use Claude via Amazon Bedrock (not the first-party Claude API)

    These are AWS credits, not Anthropic credits; Anthropic's own startup credits cannot be used on Bedrock.

    Open program page

  4. Via Google for Startups Cloud Program

    Via cloud provider program

    $10,000 partner-model credits (Scale / Scale AI tier) usable on Anthropic models in Model Garden

    • Scale or Scale AI tier membership
    • Request through your Google Cloud account executive

    Standard Google Cloud startup credits do not cover third-party models such as Anthropic's; only this $10,000 perk does.

    Open program page

Eligibility

Requirements

  • Founded in the last five years or funded in the last two
  • Evaluated on business traction, investment/funding and Claude integration and usage
  • Return the affidavit and release within 14 calendar days of request if selected

Not eligible

  • Companies established, operating or serving users in Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Crimea, Donetsk or Luhansk
  • Persons or entities prohibited under U.S. or other applicable sanctions laws
  • Anthropic employees, officers, directors, agents and their immediate families

How to apply

  1. 1

    Go to claude.com/programs/startups; if applications are open, click Apply and sign in with your Claude Console (platform.claude.com) organization.

  2. 2

    If the cohort is full (the case as of November 2026), subscribe to the Claude Startup newsletter on the same page to be notified when the next round opens.

  3. 3

    If you are backed by a VC in Anthropic's partner network, ask your investor to claim the up-to-$100K API credit allocation on your behalf.

  4. 4

    Once approved, redeem Startup Stack partner offers with the codes shown in the Claude Console and register for Applied AI sessions via the member portal (platform.claude.com/claude-for-startups).

Gotchas

  • Applications are currently closed: the cohort filled in October 2026 and pending applications were not advanced.
  • Credits work only on the first-party Claude API via Claude Console; they cannot be used on AWS, Google Cloud, Azure/Microsoft Foundry or other third-party platforms.
  • The headline 'up to $45,000' is the combined list-price value of partner (Startup Stack) offers, not Anthropic API credit; offers are subject to partner terms and may not be combinable.
  • The $1,000 API credit is one-time and the Claude Team year is only for companies new to Team.
  • Benefits can be forfeited if the affidavit/release or tax information is not returned within the stated deadlines.

About the Anthropic program

Claude Startups is Anthropic's program for early-stage founders building on Claude. Per the October 2026 expansion announcement, approved startups receive a one-time $1,000 Claude API credit and a free year of Claude Team for up to five Premium seats (valued by Anthropic at $6,000), for a stated total of up to $7,000 in Claude products and credits. Members also get the Claude Startup Stack: discounts and credits from AI-native partner companies worth up to $45,000 combined at partner list prices, redeemed with codes in the Claude Console.

Founders backed by a VC in Anthropic's partner network may be eligible for up to $100K in additional API credits, claimed through the VC rather than through the public application. Anthropic also runs live Applied AI sessions every other week with an AMA, virtual office hours, help submitting a Claude Marketplace listing, and invitations to Founder House, hackathons and meetups.

Eligibility in the announcement is simple: startups founded in the last five years or funded in the last two. The official program terms exclude companies established, operating or serving users in sanctioned jurisdictions (Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk) and anyone barred under U.S. sanctions law.

As of November 3, 2026 the current cohort is full and applications are closed; applications still in review were not advanced and Anthropic emailed affected applicants. Subscribe to the Claude Startup newsletter to hear when the next cohort opens. Credits apply only to the first-party Claude API through Claude Console and cannot be used on AWS Bedrock, Google Cloud Vertex AI, Microsoft Foundry or other third-party platforms.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Anthropic give startups directly?

The October 2026 expansion states a one-time $1,000 Claude API credit plus a free year of Claude Team for up to five Premium seats (valued at $6,000), for up to $7,000 in Claude products and credits, plus partner offers worth up to $45,000 and program benefits like Applied AI sessions.

Can I use the credits on Bedrock or Vertex AI?

No. Anthropic states that startup credits apply only to the first-party Claude API through Claude Console and cannot be used on AWS, Google Cloud, Azure or other third-party platforms. Use AWS Activate credits on Bedrock instead if you need Claude there.

I am VC-backed. Is there more available?

Yes. If your VC is in Anthropic's partner network you may be eligible for up to $100K in additional API credits, claimed through your VC rather than the public application.

Is the program accepting applications right now?

As of November 3, 2026, no. The program page says the current cohort is full and new applications are not being accepted; subscribe to the newsletter for the next cohort.

Compare

Verification. Checked by our automated checker on Nov 3, 2026 against https://claude.com/programs/startups. Status: verified.

Fetched directly: claude.com/programs/startups (cohort full, $45K Stack, $100K via VC, platform restriction), the October 2026 expansion article on claude.com ($1,000 API credit, free year of Claude Team for 5 seats, eligibility), and the official program terms on anthropic.com (jurisdiction and insider exclusions). Cloud-provider paths come from aws.amazon.com and cloud.google.com search excerpts.