Skip to content
Perkstack

Google Cloud

Google for Startups Cloud Program

Up to $200,000 in Google Cloud credits over two years, or up to $350,000 for AI-first startups; $2,000 Start tier for pre-funded teams.

VerifiedLast verified Nov 3, 2026Official source

Worth

Up to $200,000 over 2 years (up to $350,000 for AI startups); $2,000 Start tier

Scale: Year 1 100% up to $100,000; Year 2 20% of spend up to $100,000. Scale AI: Year 1 100% up to $250,000; Year 2 20% up to $100,000. Start tier: $2,000 valid 12 months. Plus $12,000 Enhanced Support credits (Scale), Workspace Business Plus 12 months, $600/month Maps credit for a year.

Quick facts

Value
Up to $200,000 over 2 years (up to $350,000 for AI startups); $2,000 Start tier
Type
Credits
Duration
2 years
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

    Start $2,000 / Scale up to $200,000 / Scale AI up to $350,000

    • 18-character Google Cloud billing account ID
    • Business email on the same domain as your company website
    • Active, non-placeholder company website (AI-generated sites are screened)

    Google matches you to the tier that fits your stage. Apply page requires a Google sign-in.

    Open program page

  2. Via Accelerators, VCs and investors (stealth verification)

    Via VC or accelerator partner

    • Funded startup operating in stealth: investor or accelerator verifies status with Google

    Google's FAQ says stealth founders are supported through investor referrals; enter your VC/accelerator affiliations on the form to speed processing. No separate partner-tier amount is published.

    Open program page

Eligibility

Requirements

  • Scale: Pre-Seed/Seed equity round within the last 5 years or Series A within the last 12 months, from institutional investors/VCs (SAFEs eligible)
  • Scale: founded within the last 5 years; Start: founded within the last 24 months
  • Not more than $5,000 in prior Google Cloud credits (Start: none beyond trial)
  • Located in a region where Google Cloud is GA and self-service purchasing is available

Not eligible

  • Companies that have IPO'd or been acquired
  • Educational institutions, government entities, nonprofits
  • Personal blogs/content, dev shops, consultancies, agencies
  • Cryptocurrency mining companies and token distributors acting contrary to regulation
  • Regulated industries and businesses outside Google's Acceptable Use Policy

How to apply

  1. 1

    Create a Google Cloud account with a business email on your company's domain and note your 18-character billing account ID (Billing > Manage your billing account).

  2. 2

    Make sure your company website is live and describes your company, team and product.

  3. 3

    Go to cloud.google.com/startup, click Apply now and complete the form, listing your investors or accelerator affiliations.

  4. 4

    Select the correct billing account in the form; approved credits are deposited to that account.

  5. 5

    Expect an acceptance or rejection email within 5-7 days (10+ days if more information is needed); check spam folders.

Gotchas

  • Year 2 of Scale is not a lump sum: it is a 20% credit on your Google Cloud spend, capped at $100,000.
  • Credits cover only first-party pay-as-you-go products; third-party models in Model Garden and anything in Google Cloud Marketplace are billed directly.
  • Your email domain, website domain and the billing account admin must all match the company domain or the application is rejected.
  • Start-tier credits are valid for 12 months; Scale credits are spread over two years.
  • Workspace benefit is void if the domain had a paid Workspace plan within 31 days of applying; it cannot be applied to annual plans.
  • Non-venture money (grants, loans, crowdfunding, angel, friends & family) does not qualify for Scale.

About the Google Cloud program

The Google for Startups Cloud Program is Google Cloud's official startup credit program. It has a self-serve Start tier ($2,000 in Google Cloud credits, valid 12 months) for pre-funded, digital-native startups founded within the last 24 months that have a working MVP and plan to raise venture funding, and funded Scale tiers for startups with verifiable Pre-Seed to Series A equity funding.

The Scale tier gives up to $200,000 over two years: Year 1 covers 100% of usage up to $100,000; Year 2 gives a 20% credit on your Google Cloud spend up to an additional $100,000. AI-first startups qualify for Scale AI, up to $350,000: Year 1 100% up to $250,000, Year 2 20% up to an additional $100,000. Scale also includes $12,000 in Enhanced Support credits for one year, 12 months of Google Workspace Business Plus at no extra cost, a $600 monthly Google Maps Platform credit for one year (separate application), and $500 in Google Skills credits.

Scale eligibility: recent startup equity funding (Pre-Seed/Seed within the last five years, or a Series A within the last 12 months) from institutional investors or VC firms (SAFEs count; verifiable token raises and blockchain foundation grants count for Web3), founded within the last 5 years, and not more than $5,000 in prior Google Cloud credits. Private equity, bank loans, government grants, crowdfunding, angel and friends-and-family money do not qualify for Scale but may be evaluated for other tiers.

Credits apply only to Google-owned first-party Google Cloud products billed pay-as-you-go; subscription-billed products, Marketplace and Model Garden third-party models are excluded. Decisions typically arrive by email within 5-7 days. Stealth startups are supported through investor referrals.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Google for Startups Cloud Program give?

Start tier: $2,000. Scale tier: up to $200,000 over two years (100% up to $100,000 in year 1, then 20% of spend up to $100,000 in year 2). Scale AI: up to $350,000 (100% up to $250,000 in year 1, then 20% up to $100,000).

Can I apply without venture funding?

Yes, via the Start tier ($2,000) if you were founded in the last 24 months, have a working MVP and plan to seek venture funding. The Scale tiers require verifiable Pre-Seed to Series A equity funding from an institutional investor.

Do the credits cover Gemini?

Yes. Program credits cover Google's own models such as Gemini and Gemma. Third-party models are billed directly and are not covered.

Can I re-apply if I was in the program before?

Possibly. Google says you may still be eligible if you did not use your previous credits and still meet current eligibility; prior enrollment does not guarantee re-enrollment. Scale requires no more than $5,000 in prior credits.

Compare

Verification. Checked by our automated checker on Nov 3, 2026 against https://cloud.google.com/startup. Status: verified.

Official pages read directly: cloud.google.com/startup (tiers, FAQ, footnotes), /startup/pre-seed (Start tier: $2,000, 24 months, 12-month validity), /startup/seed-series-a (Scale: $200k/$350k, year split, 5-year age, $5k prior-credit cap, $12k support credits, $600/month Maps), /startup/ai.