Claude Startups (Anthropic Startup Program)
Claude Startups is full and not taking new applications. Members get up to $45,000 in partner offers; partner-VC founders can get up to $100K in API credits.
Intake status: As of 30 October 2026, Anthropic says the current Claude Startups cohort is full and it is not accepting new applications, so subscribe to the Claude Startup newsletter on its page to hear when the next cohort opens.
Claude Startups (Anthropic Startup Program) offers Up to $45,000 in partner discounts and credits to pre-seed, seed, series a startups, no VC referral required.
At a glance
About
Claude Startups, which founders also search for as the Claude startup program, Claude for Startups or the Anthropic startup program, is closed to new applicants. As of 30 October 2026, Anthropic's page says the current cohort is full and it is not accepting new applications. Members get discounts and credits worth up to $45,000 from companies building with Claude, and founders backed by a VC in Anthropic's partner network may be eligible for up to $100,000 in additional API credits, claimed through that VC.
Who it is for: Anthropic describes Claude Startups as its program for early-stage founders building on Claude. Its page publishes no funding, revenue or company-age threshold. The only other stated condition applies to the extra API credits, which need backing from a VC in Anthropic's partner network. Anthropic does not publish that partner list.
What members get: the Claude Startup Stack, which is offers from AI-native companies across sales, design, data, meetings and engineering, each redeemed with a code in the Claude Console; live Applied AI group sessions every other week, run as webinars with an AMA with Anthropic's Applied AI team; and invites to Claude Startup events, hackathons and community meetups. Anthropic says the program continues for current members.
What the credits cover: Anthropic says Claude Startups credits apply to the first-party Claude API through the Claude Console and cannot be used on AWS, Google Cloud, Azure or other third-party platforms. The program page does not mention Claude Code, the Pro and Max plans, or Team and Enterprise. Anthropic's Claude Code docs say Claude Code can sign in with a Claude Console account for API billing, but Anthropic does not say whether startup credits cover that usage, so confirm before you count on it.
While applications are closed: subscribe to the Claude Startup newsletter on the program page to hear when the next cohort opens, and if your investor is in Anthropic's partner network, ask it about the VC-claimed API credits. If you need subsidised Claude spend now, AWS says its Activate credits can be used for third-party models on Amazon Bedrock, including Anthropic's. Google for Startups and Microsoft for Startups credits do not cover Claude. The Claude startup credits guide on this site compares those routes.
Earlier versions of this entry quoted $1,000 to $25,000+ in direct Claude API credits, and third-party sites still repeat $5,000, $25,000 and $100,000 tiers or funding and company-age rules. Anthropic's current page publishes none of these. Check claude.com/programs/startups before you plan around any figure.
Tiers
- Member of a Claude Startups cohort
- Backed by a VC in Anthropic's partner network
Eligibility
- Early-stage founders building on Claude (the only criterion Anthropic publishes)
- No funding, revenue or company-age threshold is published
- For the additional API credits: backing from a VC in Anthropic's partner network
- New applicants while the current cohort is full
How to apply
- 1Subscribe to the newsletterApplications are closed because the current cohort is full. Subscribe to the Claude Startup newsletter on the program page to hear when applications open for the next cohort.claude.com/programs/startups ↗
- 2Ask your VC about API creditsIf you are backed by a VC in Anthropic's partner network, you may be eligible for up to $100,000 in additional API credits, claimed through your VC.
- 3Build on the Claude ConsoleCredits apply to the first-party Claude API through the Claude Console, and members redeem Startup Stack offers with codes there. Usage on Bedrock, Vertex AI or Azure is not covered.
- 4Apply when the next cohort opensApply on Anthropic's program page and describe what you are building on Claude. Anthropic does not publish a review time.claude.com/programs/startups ↗
What else you get
- Claude Startup Stack offers across sales, design, data, meetings and engineering
- Live Applied AI group sessions every other week, with an AMA with Anthropic's Applied AI team
- Invites to Claude Startup events, hackathons and community meetups
- Up to $100,000 in additional API credits through a partner VC
What credits cover (and don't)
- First-party Claude API through the Claude Console
- Startup Stack partner offers, redeemed with codes in the Claude Console
- Claude on AWS (Amazon Bedrock)
- Claude on Google Cloud (Vertex AI)
- Claude on Azure (Microsoft Foundry)
- Other third-party platforms
Tactical tips
- Tip 1.Applications are closed until the next cohort opens; subscribe to the Claude Startup newsletter on the program page instead of waiting on a review.
- Tip 2.Credits work only on the first-party Claude API. For Claude on Amazon Bedrock, AWS says Activate credits cover third-party models there; Google for Startups and Microsoft for Startups credits do not cover Claude.
- Tip 3.If your investor is in Anthropic's partner network, ask it about the VC-claimed API credits before you apply elsewhere.
- Tip 4.Open-source maintainers: Claude for Open Source offers 6 months of free Claude Max 20x if you meet one of Anthropic's criteria, such as 200,000 or more combined monthly downloads, or 100 or more merged pull requests to repos you don't own in the last 12 months.
Common rejection reasons
- Applied while the cohort was full: Anthropic did not move forward applications still in review and emailed those affected
Frequently asked about Claude Startups (Anthropic Startup Program)
Is the Claude startup program open for applications in 2026?
No. As of 30 October 2026, Anthropic's Claude Startups page says the current cohort is full and it is not accepting new applications. It asks founders to subscribe to the Claude Startup newsletter to hear when applications open for the next cohort. Anthropic has not published a reopening date.
How do I apply to Claude for Startups?
You cannot apply right now. When the next cohort opens, applications go through claude.com/programs/startups, Anthropic's program page. Until then, subscribe to the Claude Startup newsletter on that page. If your investor is in Anthropic's partner network, ask it about the additional API credits, which are claimed through the VC rather than through an application.
What are the Claude startup program requirements?
Anthropic describes the program as being for early-stage founders building on Claude, and its page publishes no funding, revenue or company-age threshold. The additional API credits of up to $100,000 need backing from a VC in Anthropic's partner network. Anthropic does not publish the list of partner VCs.
How much are Claude startup credits worth?
Members get discounts and credits worth up to $45,000 from companies building with Claude, the Claude Startup Stack. Those are partner offers, not Anthropic API credit. Founders backed by a VC in Anthropic's partner network may be eligible for up to $100,000 in additional API credits, claimed through the VC. Anthropic publishes no other credit amount.
Can I get free Claude credits for my startup while the cohort is full?
Four routes do not wait on the cohort. Founders backed by a partner VC can ask their investor about up to $100,000 in API credits. AWS says its Activate credits can be used for third-party models on Amazon Bedrock, including Anthropic's. Google's Startup Perks page says Scale and Scale AI tier members may receive $10,000 for partner models in Model Garden, Anthropic included. Open-source maintainers who meet Anthropic's criteria can apply to Claude for Open Source for 6 months of free Claude Max 20x.
Is there a Claude Code startup program?
Anthropic's pages do not describe a separate Claude Code startup program. Claude Startups credits apply to the first-party Claude API through the Claude Console. Claude Code can sign in with a Claude Console account for API billing, or with a Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan, but Anthropic does not say whether startup credits cover Claude Code usage.
Can I use Claude startup credits on Amazon Bedrock, Vertex AI or Azure?
No. Anthropic says Claude Startups credits apply to the first-party Claude API through the Claude Console and cannot be used on AWS, Google Cloud, Azure or other third-party platforms. To fund Claude on Bedrock, use AWS Activate credits, which AWS says cover third-party models there. On Vertex AI, Google's program credits do not cover Claude, but Scale and Scale AI tier members may request a separate $10,000 partner model perk.
I applied before the cohort filled. What happened to my application?
Anthropic says it could not move forward with applications still in review when the cohort filled, that it emailed everyone affected, and that it encourages them to apply when the next cohort opens. Current members keep access to the program.
Which other startup programs are listed alongside Claude Startups (Anthropic Startup Program)?
The "Stacks well with" section on this page links AWS Activate, Google for Startups Cloud Program, Brex and Ramp. Each has its own page with current terms; confirm on each provider's page that its credits can be combined with yours.