Shortcut for Startups
12 months free on Shortcut Business plan, unlimited everything + SAML SSO. One of the most generous PM programs.
Shortcut for Startups offers up to 12 months free Business plan to bootstrapped, pre-seed, seed startups, no VC referral required. Review takes 3–10 business days.
About
Shortcut gives qualifying startups 12 months free on the Business plan, unlimited projects/users and SAML SSO included. No partner required, direct-apply program. One of the most generous project-management offers available.
Tiers
- <50 employees
- <$10M external funding
- <5 years old
- New customer
- Not a services agency
Eligibility
- <50 employees
- <$10M external funding
- <5 years old
- New Shortcut customer
- Product company (not services/consulting/agency)
- Agencies/consultancies
- Existing paid customer
- >$10M raised
How to apply
- 1
- 2Provide detailsTeam size, funding, product description.
- 3Wait1 week review typically.
What else you get
- Unlimited users/projects on Business plan
- SAML SSO
- Docs + iterations + milestones
What credits cover (and don't)
- Shortcut Business
- Enterprise plan
Tactical tips
- Tip 1.Direct-apply (no VC required), rare among 12-month PM offers.
- Tip 2.SAML SSO is included, useful if you're pursuing enterprise deals.
- Tip 3.Don't apply if you're an agency, hard disqualifier.
Common rejection reasons
- Services/agency company
- Existing paid
- >$10M funding
Frequently asked about Shortcut for Startups
Is Shortcut for Startups free to apply?
Yes. Applying to Shortcut 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 Shortcut 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 Shortcut 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 Shortcut 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
Notion for Startups
Up to 6 months of Business Plan + Notion AI free for up to 100 employees, $12K value via partner referral.
Atlassian for Startups
50 seats free for 12 months across Jira, Confluence, Loom, Bitbucket, Jira Product Discovery, and Compass.
Zoom for Startups
One year free of Zoom Workplace Business Plus for up to 25 seats, Meetings, Phone, Chat, AI Companion, Whiteboard, Clips.