Runpod
Runpod Startup Program
$1K GPU credits if you raised under $1M, $5K if backed by a16z or Neo; bonus credits on $25K+ commits for startups past $5M.
Ways to get it
Apply directly
$1K in credits (Starter)
- Raised under $1M
- Not an existing Runpod customer
- Business email on your company domain and a real GPU workload
Approved startups get a credit code by email to redeem on the Runpod billing page.
Open program pageVia a16z or Neo (Runpod verified VCs)
Via VC or accelerator partner
$5K in credits (Venture)
- Portfolio company of a Runpod-verified VC (a16z or Neo today)
- Raised under $5M
- Name the VC firm on the application form
Credits are added after Runpod confirms the VC relationship. Runpod vets its verified VCs, so not every fund qualifies.
Open program pageApply directly
+$10K bonus on a $25K commit; +$25K bonus on a $50K commit (Growth Track)
- Raised over $5M (Runpod reviews exceptions)
- Prepaid commit of $25K or $50K
Commits over $50K or non-standard terms go to Runpod sales. Existing customers can use this track.
Open program page
Eligibility
Requirements
- A real company: business email on its own domain, live website and LinkedIn
- An AI or ML product with real GPU workloads (inference, training, fine-tuning or compute-heavy R&D)
- Ready to onboard now
- Tier set by funding: under $1M (Starter), verified VC and under $5M (Venture), over $5M (Growth Track)
Not eligible
- Existing Runpod customers (for the free Starter and Venture credits)
- A second free offer for the same company, including through a second verified VC
How to apply
- 1
Open runpod.io/startup-program and fill out the application form with your company email; you don't need a Runpod account to apply.
- 2
Choose Starter or Growth on the form; if a16z or Neo backs you, name the firm where the form asks about accelerators, incubators or VC funds.
- 3
Describe your workload, funding and revenue; Runpod reviews every application and may verify funding.
- 4
Starter: redeem the emailed credit code on your Runpod billing page. Venture: credits are added once Runpod confirms your VC. Growth Track: sign the package agreement and bonus credits arrive with your deposit.
Gotchas
- Credits expire one year after they're issued, on every tier.
- Only a16z and Neo count as verified VCs today; other funds' portfolio companies fall under Starter or Growth Track.
- Existing Runpod customers can't get the free Starter or Venture credits, only Growth Track.
- Growth Track bonus credits require prepaying a $25K or $50K commit; they are not a free grant.
- One free offer per company: credits from two verified VCs can't be stacked.
About the Runpod program
The Runpod Startup Program (runpod.io/startup-program) gives AI startups credits usable across Runpod Pods, Serverless, Clusters and Storage. Tiers are based on funding raised, which Runpod says it may verify: Starter gives $1K in credits to startups that raised under $1M, and Venture gives $5K to portfolio companies of a verified VC that raised under $5M. The verified VCs today are a16z and Neo.
Growth Track, for startups that raised over $5M, is a prepaid commitment rather than a grant: commit $25K and Runpod adds $10K in bonus credits, or commit $50K for $25K in bonus credits. Larger commits go to sales. Packages are fixed with standard terms, and a person approves every Growth Track application. Venture companies can move to Growth Track later and keep their Venture credits.
All credits expire one year after they are issued, and there is one free offer per company. Existing Runpod customers can apply for Growth Track only, not the free Starter or Venture credits. Runpod checks for a real company (business email on your domain, live website and LinkedIn), a real GPU workload such as production inference, training or fine-tuning, and readiness to onboard now.
Frequently asked questions
How many free credits does Runpod give startups?
Starter startups (raised under $1M) get $1K. Venture startups backed by a verified VC (a16z or Neo) that raised under $5M get $5K. Startups that raised over $5M can join Growth Track, where a $25K commit earns $10K in bonus credits and a $50K commit earns $25K.
Do Runpod startup credits expire?
Yes. Credits expire one year after they are issued, on every tier.
I already use Runpod. Can I apply to the startup program?
Only for Growth Track. Existing customers aren't eligible for the free Starter or Venture credits; the form asks whether you use Runpod and for your account email.
