Backblaze Flamethrower
Up to $100,000 in B2 object storage credits, open to bootstrapped teams as well as VC-backed ones.
Backblaze Flamethrower offers Up to $100,000 in B2 storage credits to bootstrapped, seed, series a startups, no VC referral required. Review takes 5–20 business days.
About
Backblaze's Flamethrower program offers up to $100,000 in B2 Cloud Storage credits. Applications are reviewed by a human rather than auto-approved, and the program targets AI and ML, video and streaming, media, data infrastructure, gaming, and analytics workloads.
Eligibility is Seed to Series B, typically under 7 years old and usually fewer than 100 employees. Crucially, bootstrapped companies are accepted alongside VC-backed and accelerator-backed ones, which is rare at this credit size.
B2 is S3-compatible, so migrating from another S3-compatible bucket is a sync rather than a rewrite. Backblaze claims its credits last around four times longer than hyperscaler storage credits, which reflects its lower per-GB pricing rather than a longer expiry window.
Tiers
- Seed to Series B
- Typically under 7 years old
Eligibility
- Seed to Series B
- Typically under 7 years old
- Usually fewer than 100 employees
- Bootstrapped, VC-backed, and accelerator-backed all accepted
How to apply
- 1Apply to FlamethrowerThe form asks for funding level and expected storage size. Reviewed by a human.www.backblaze.com/flamethrower ↗
What else you get
- S3-compatible API
- Human-reviewed applications rather than auto-screening
What credits cover (and don't)
- Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage
Tactical tips
- Tip 1.Compare against Cloudflare R2 on egress before committing, because R2 charges nothing for egress and that is usually the line that grows.
Frequently asked about Backblaze Flamethrower
Is Backblaze Flamethrower free to apply?
Yes. Applying to Backblaze Flamethrower does not cost anything and does not require giving up equity. Some programs require a payment method on file that activates only after credits are consumed or expire, check the program detail page for specifics.
How long does Backblaze Flamethrower take to review applications?
Processing times are shown on the program detail page. Most programs reply within 1–3 weeks. Self-serve tiers (like AWS Activate Founders) can approve in 2–7 days; partner-referred tiers (like AWS Activate Portfolio) usually take 5–10 days.
Can I combine Backblaze Flamethrower with other startup programs?
Most programs stack. The "Stacks well with" section on each detail page lists commonly combined programs. A few important exceptions: if you already claimed AWS credits via Brex or Mercury, your direct AWS Activate amount may be reduced.
What is the most common reason applications to Backblaze get rejected?
The top rejection reasons are (1) using a personal Gmail/Outlook address instead of a company domain, (2) having a thin or placeholder website, and (3) mismatched information between the application and Crunchbase/Pitchbook. The tips section on the program page details program-specific factors.
Related programs
AWS Activate
Amazon's flagship program. Up to $5,000 self-serve, up to $200,000 through a VC or accelerator, and more for AI startups by invitation.
Google for Startups Cloud Program
Up to $200K GCP credits (or $350K for AI-first startups) over 2 years with dedicated Startup Success Manager.
Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub
The easiest-to-qualify major cloud program, up to $150K Azure credits (investor-referred), no VC required for entry tiers.