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Deepak Gupta markStartup Offers
Oyster HR
Oyster HR

Oyster for Startups

Up to $1,200/member savings for 12 months, 20–30% off EOR and contractor plans. Pre-seed through Series A.

HR & PayrollNo referral needed3–10 day reviewEasy to apply
Apply at Oyster HR ↗
In a sentence

Oyster for Startups offers Up to $1,200/member/year savings to bootstrapped, pre-seed, seed startups, no VC referral required. Review takes 3–10 business days.

Max value
Up to $1,200/member/year savings
Credits valid
12 months
Regions
Global
Last verified
Apr 2026

About

Oyster HR offers up to $1,200 in savings per team member annually for the first 12 months, 20–30% off EOR and contractor plans. Separate "Oyster for Impact" track for B-corps and non-profits.

Tiers

Startup
20–30% off EOR + contractors
  • Pre-seed to Series A
  • Bootstrapped <50 employees also OK
How to qualify: Apply at oysterhr.com/startups.
Oyster for Impact
Additional discounts
  • B-corps, non-profits
How to qualify: Apply via Impact track.

Eligibility

✓ You qualify if
  • Pre-seed to Series A
  • <50 employees (for bootstrapped)
✗ You don't qualify if
  • Series B+
  • Existing paid customer

How to apply

  1. 1
    Apply
    Visit oysterhr.com/startups.
    www.oysterhr.com/startups ↗
  2. 2
    Share team plan
    Countries, headcount, hiring timeline.
  3. 3
    Onboard
    Global hiring in weeks, not months.

What else you get

  • Global EOR in 180+ countries
  • Contractor management
  • Compliance automation

What credits cover (and don't)

✓ Covered
  • Oyster EOR
  • Oyster Contractors

Tactical tips

  • Tip 1.Strong alternative to Deel with cleaner EOR pricing in some countries.
  • Tip 2.20-30% off stacks up fast with global hires.
  • Tip 3.Impact track has looser eligibility for mission-driven companies.

Common rejection reasons

  • Series B+ funding

Frequently asked about Oyster for Startups

Is Oyster for Startups free to apply?

Yes. Applying to Oyster 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 Oyster 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 Oyster 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 Oyster HR 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.

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