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Stripe
Stripe

Stripe Atlas

$500 to incorporate a Delaware C-Corp + $2,500 Stripe credits + $50K+ in partner discounts unlocked after signup.

Incorporation & LegalNo referral needed2–5 day reviewEasy to applyWidely used
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In a sentence

Stripe Atlas offers up to $2,500 Stripe credits + $50,000+ in partner perks to bootstrapped, pre-seed, seed startups, no VC referral required. Review takes 2–5 business days.

Max value
$2,500 Stripe credits + $50,000+ in partner perks
Credits valid
12 months
Regions
Global
Last verified
Apr 2026

About

Stripe Atlas is a $500 one-time service that forms a Delaware C-Corp or LLC, obtains an EIN (including for non-US founders), issues founder equity, files the 83(b) election, and unlocks a curated perks marketplace that alone pays for the fee many times over. Templates are built with Cooley LLP (post-incorporation, IP assignments, SAFE templates). First year of registered agent is included. It's the best first application for most international founders.

Tiers

Atlas
$500 one-time
  • Anyone forming a new US entity
  • Designed for software/internet startups expecting to raise VC
How to qualify: Pay $500 and submit formation details.

Eligibility

✓ You qualify if
  • Anyone forming a new US entity (domestic or international founders welcome)
  • Especially for software/internet startups planning to raise VC
✗ You don't qualify if
  • If you need a non-Delaware entity (use Firstbase or Doola instead)

How to apply

  1. 1
    Go to Stripe Atlas
    Start at stripe.com/atlas.
    stripe.com/atlas ↗
  2. 2
    Fill out company details
    Name, founders, structure, ownership.
  3. 3
    Sign electronically
    All documents signed digitally.
  4. 4
    Delaware incorporates you
    ~2 business days.
  5. 5
    EIN + 83(b) + equity issuance
    Atlas handles automatically.
  6. 6
    Unlock perks
    Post-incorporation checklist enables banking and partner perks.

What else you get

  • Delaware C-Corp, LLC, or Subsidiary formation
  • EIN application and issuance (including for non-US founders)
  • 83(b) election filing
  • Stock issuance for founders
  • Cooley LLP templates (post-incorp, IP assignments, SAFE templates)
  • First year of registered agent service
  • Stripe Dashboard account
  • $5,000 AWS Activate credits
  • Discounts on Mercury, Xero, Brex, Notion, OpenAI
  • Atlas community of 100,000+ founders

What credits cover (and don't)

✓ Covered
  • Stripe payment processing (within credit amount)
✗ Not covered
  • Delaware franchise tax
  • Registered agent renewal after year 1 (~$100/yr)

Tactical tips

  • Tip 1.The 83(b) deadline is real and unforgiving, 30 calendar days from stock issuance, mail it. Weekends don't extend it.
  • Tip 2.Perks alone justify the fee, $2,500 Stripe + $5K AWS + $50K partner deals >> $500.
  • Tip 3.Not a law firm substitute, for complex international tax, hire counsel.
  • Tip 4.Delaware-only. For Wyoming, use Firstbase ($399) or Doola ($297).
  • Tip 5.Atlas integrates Mercury banking, but Mercury can still reject foreign founders on KYC.

Common rejection reasons

  • Missing 83(b) filing window (founder mistake, not Atlas)
  • Assuming Atlas handles annual compliance (it doesn't, file Delaware annual report + franchise tax yourself)

Frequently asked about Stripe Atlas

Is Stripe Atlas free to apply?

Yes. Applying to Stripe Atlas 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 Stripe Atlas 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 Stripe Atlas 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 Stripe 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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