fal
fal for Startups
fal generative media credits: $1K–$5K for Europe and Asia startups with traction or funding; $10K–$50K for YC, a16z and EF companies.
Ways to get it
Via Y Combinator
Via VC or accelerator partner
$50,000 fal Serverless or $20,000 Model API credits
- Current-batch or alumni YC company
- Claim the deal on YC Bookface with your YC login
One package per company; credits are released in stages over 1–2 years.
Open program pageVia a16z
Via VC or accelerator partner
$50,000 fal Serverless or $20,000 Model API credits
- a16z portfolio company
- Request access with your company email; fal verifies eligibility
One package per company; credits are released in stages over 1–2 years.
Open program pageVia Entrepreneur First
Via VC or accelerator partner
$10,000 in fal Serverless or Model API credits
- Entrepreneur First portfolio company
- Request access with your company email; fal verifies eligibility
Apply directly
$1,000 Startup pack, growing to $5,000 with fal spend
- Team based in Europe or Asia
- Generative media powers core product features
- Real users, traction or revenue, or backing from an institutional investor
Scale pack ($2,500) unlocks at $1,000/month of fal spend, Growth ($5,000) at $2,500/month; you request the upgrade.
Open program pageVia fal partner funds
Via VC or accelerator partner
Priority review and larger grant sizing in the Startup Program
- Referral code from Bitkraft, e2vc, Hummingbird VC, Mercuri VC, Play Ventures, QNBEYOND or Supercell
Eligibility
Requirements
- Startup Program: team based in Europe or Asia, generative media core to the product, and real traction or institutional backing
- Accelerator deals: portfolio company of Y Combinator, a16z or Entrepreneur First
- A fal account, since credits are applied to it
Not eligible
- Startup Program applicants based outside Europe and Asia
- Products where generative media is a side feature (Startup Program)
- Reselling or transferring credits
How to apply
- 1
Create a free fal account; every program applies credits to it.
- 2
YC: open the fal deal on Bookface (serverless or model APIs) and click Redeem deal. a16z or EF: submit the request form at fal.ai/a16z or fal.ai/ef.
- 3
Otherwise, if your team is in Europe or Asia, apply at fal.ai/startup-program with your traction or funding and a partner referral code if you have one.
- 4
Join the short intro call that sizes your credits; when your monthly fal spend passes $1,000 or $2,500, ask fal to move you up a pack.
Gotchas
- Accelerator credits are released in stages over 1–2 years, not as a lump sum.
- Accelerator deals are one package per company: Serverless or Model APIs, not both.
- The direct Startup Program only covers teams based in Europe or Asia.
- Pack upgrades aren't automatic: you have to reach out once your fal spend passes the threshold. One application per company every 3 months.
About the fal program
fal runs generative media models (1,000+ hosted image, video, audio and 3D endpoints) and serverless GPUs. Its startup offer has two routes. Accelerator deals: Y Combinator and a16z portfolio companies choose either $50,000 in fal Serverless credits or $20,000 in Model API credits, and Entrepreneur First companies get $10,000 for either. Each company gets one package, credits are released in stages over 1–2 years rather than upfront, and every deal includes a private Slack channel with fal engineers.
The Startup Program is for teams based in Europe or Asia where generative media powers core features, with real traction (users, growth or revenue) or institutional investor backing. Every approved team starts with the $1,000 Startup pack. Once your monthly fal spend passes $1,000 you can request the Scale pack ($2,500 in total), and at $2,500 a month the Growth pack ($5,000 in total); teams already spending at those levels can start at the matching pack. A short intro call sizes the credits.
Referral codes from fal partner funds (Bitkraft, e2vc, Hummingbird VC, Mercuri VC, Play Ventures, QNBEYOND and Supercell) get applications prioritized and count toward grant size. Each company can apply once every three months, and credits can't be resold or transferred. Teams outside Europe and Asia without a YC, a16z or EF deal can only use pay-as-you-go.
Frequently asked questions
How much does fal give startups?
YC and a16z companies get $50,000 in fal Serverless credits or $20,000 in Model API credits; Entrepreneur First companies get $10,000. Other startups in Europe or Asia start at $1,000 and can grow to $5,000 as their fal spend increases.
Can US startups get fal startup credits?
Only through the YC, a16z or Entrepreneur First deals. The Startup Program is open to teams in Europe and Asia; others can use pay-as-you-go.
Do I need VC funding for fal's Startup Program?
No. Real users, meaningful traction or revenue also qualify; institutional backing is one way in, not the only one.
Are fal accelerator credits paid upfront?
No. They are released in stages over 1–2 years, and fal's team walks you through the schedule.
