DigitalOcean Hatch
Up to $100K credits (AI/ML tier); $20K partner-referred; $1K direct. Plus welcome kit partner perks.
DigitalOcean Hatch offers Up to $100,000 (AI/ML tier) to bootstrapped, pre-seed, seed startups, no VC referral required. Review takes 3–10 business days.
About
DigitalOcean Hatch offers four tiers: direct bootstrapped ($1K for 12 months), partner-referred standard ($20K for 12 months), Hatch AI/ML ($100K compute + $1.90/hr GPU Droplet pricing), and Aiven via Hatch ($10K Aiven credits over 12 months for managed Postgres, Kafka, etc.). Standard benefits: 12 months compute credits, 15 months Standard support free, DO PM/engineering connections, Marketplace exposure, Hatch Slack. Welcome Kit: $5K Segment credits, 90% off HubSpot (partner), GitHub seats.
Tiers
- New business account, no partner affiliation
- VC, incubator, or accelerator referral
- AI/ML-focused, partner-referred
- Hatch member, up to 7 years old
Eligibility
- New DigitalOcean business account (not individual)
- Business email matching public company website
- Team account (not personal)
- Early-stage / growth startup
- Existing DO business customer
How to apply
- 1Create team accountBusiness email + team account.
- 2
- 3Add partner infoIf partner-affiliated, include referral.
- 4AI tierEmail hatch@digitalocean.com for AI info.
What else you get
- 15 months Standard-tier paid support free
- Connections to DO PMs and engineers
- DO Marketplace exposure
- Hatch Slack community
- Newsletter + social amplification
- Welcome Kit: $5K Segment, 90% off HubSpot, GitHub seats
What credits cover (and don't)
- Compute Droplets
- Databases
- Spaces Object Storage
- GPU Droplets (AI tier)
- GPU Droplets excluded from base tier
Tactical tips
- Tip 1.Use a matching business email domain, not personal Gmail.
- Tip 2.Ask your VC/accelerator: partner-referred unlocks 20× credits ($1K → $20K) and 100× for AI ($100K).
- Tip 3.Plan for the 12-month cliff, credits expire whether used or not.
- Tip 4.Don't miss the Welcome Kit, many founders forget $5K Segment, HubSpot, GitHub seats.
Common rejection reasons
- Personal Gmail email
- Individual (non-team) account
Frequently asked about DigitalOcean Hatch
Is DigitalOcean Hatch free to apply?
Yes. Applying to DigitalOcean Hatch 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 DigitalOcean Hatch 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 DigitalOcean Hatch 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 DigitalOcean 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 offering up to $100K AWS credits (or $300K for frontier AI) to pre–Series B startups.
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.