GitHub for Startups
20 seats of GitHub Enterprise free for 12 months + $10K in credits covering Copilot, Advanced Security, and more.
GitHub for Startups offers up to 20 seats + $10,000 credits to pre-seed, seed, series a startups, no VC referral required. Review takes 1–3 business days.
About
GitHub for Startups provides 12 months of free GitHub Enterprise (20 seats) plus $10,000 in credits applicable to Enterprise license and add-ons including Copilot licenses, premium models, Advanced Security, and other metered features. Year 2 is 50% off if qualified via partner. Onboarding, office hours, live demos, and access to GitHub technical experts are included.
Tiers
- Series B or earlier funding
- New to GitHub Enterprise (or not on Enterprise in past 6 months)
- Not previously received GitHub Enterprise credits
- Affiliated with a GitHub for Startups partner OR directly funded
Eligibility
- Series B or earlier funding
- New to GitHub Enterprise (or not on Enterprise in past 6 months)
- Have not previously received GitHub Enterprise credits
- Affiliated with a GitHub for Startups partner OR directly funded
- Not a current GitHub Enterprise customer
- Previously received GitHub Enterprise credits (Microsoft or GitHub for Startups)
- Currently on GitHub Enterprise plan
- Data residency requirements for non-github.com cloud
How to apply
- 1
- 2WaitApproval in 1–3 business days.
- 3Add payment methodRequired, authorization charge happens but not charged until credits exhausted/expired.
- 4Use credits 12 monthsAutomatic billing transition after expiration.
What else you get
- 20 seats of GitHub Enterprise Cloud
- $10K credits for Enterprise + add-ons
- GitHub Copilot coverage (licenses, premium models, agentic capabilities)
- GitHub Advanced Security
- Onboarding, office hours, live demos
- Access to GitHub technical experts
What credits cover (and don't)
- GitHub Enterprise Cloud
- GitHub Copilot
- GitHub Advanced Security
- Premium models
- Enterprise on-prem (Server)
- Data residency-specific deployments
Tactical tips
- Tip 1.Don't downgrade mid-program, dropping Enterprise early forfeits remaining credits, and you can't re-apply.
- Tip 2.Stack with Microsoft Founders Hub, their 20 GitHub Enterprise seats are a different pool.
- Tip 3.One-time redemption across all GitHub startup / Microsoft programs.
Common rejection reasons
- Already on Enterprise
- Previously redeemed Enterprise credits
Frequently asked about GitHub for Startups
Is GitHub for Startups free to apply?
Yes. Applying to GitHub for Startups 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 GitHub for Startups 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 GitHub for Startups 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 GitHub (Microsoft) 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
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Twilio for Startups
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Sentry for Startups
Discounted or credited Sentry Team/Business plans, error tracking, performance, and session replay.