Rippling for Startups
6 months free on Rippling Basic Plus, HR + IT + Finance suite for US VC-backed startups.
Rippling for Startups offers up to 6 months free Basic Plus to pre-seed, seed, series a startups, no VC referral required. Review takes 3–10 business days.
About
Rippling gives US VC-backed startups 6 months free on Basic Plus, covers HR (payroll, benefits), IT (device management), and Finance (spend management, corporate cards). Contact startups@rippling.com to redeem.
Tiers
- US VC-backed
- New customer
- <100 employees
Eligibility
- US-based
- VC-backed
- New Rippling customer
- <100 employees
- Existing customer
- Non-US
- >100 employees
How to apply
- 1Email startups teamstartups@rippling.com (contact: Manvir Singh).
- 2
- 3OnboardWhite-glove onboarding typical.
What else you get
- Payroll + benefits
- Device management (MDM)
- Spend management + corporate cards
- HRIS
What credits cover (and don't)
- Rippling Basic Plus
- Enterprise tier
- Rippling Global (add-on)
Tactical tips
- Tip 1.Not pure self-serve, email is faster than the online form.
- Tip 2.If you're already on Gusto/Justworks, migration might overwhelm the 6-month savings.
- Tip 3.The device management piece is the underappreciated value, full MDM built-in.
Common rejection reasons
- Non-US
- Existing customer
- No VC backing
Frequently asked about Rippling for Startups
Is Rippling for Startups free to apply?
Yes. Applying to Rippling 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 Rippling 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 Rippling 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 Rippling 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
Deel for Startups
30% off contractors + 20% off employees for 12 months, $500 credits. First 5 seats free for life for VC-backed startups.
Gusto for Startups
Discounted Gusto payroll and benefits for early-stage US startups via accountant and accelerator partner channels, typically 3 months free or 25% off Year 1.
Oyster for Startups
Up to $1,200/member savings for 12 months, 20–30% off EOR and contractor plans. Pre-seed through Series A.