Credit Plus Apply now
Home/Blog/Are you eligible for AWS and Google Cloud startup credits?

Are you eligible for AWS and Google Cloud startup credits?

Neither programme asks about revenue. Both care about three things: how old the company is, what stage of funding you are at, and whether you have claimed before.

· 6 min read

Three gates decide cloud credit eligibility: company age, funding stage, and whether you have claimed credits before

Revenue is not a gate

The most common worry we hear is some version of "we have no revenue yet, is it worth applying?" It is. Neither AWS nor Google uses revenue as an eligibility criterion. Pre-revenue startups are the target audience for these programmes, not an edge case.

What both providers actually screen on is company age, funding stage, and whether the credits have already been claimed.

AWS Activate eligibility

CriterionRequirement
Company ageFounded within the last 10 years
Funding stagePre-Series B. If funded, most recent round generally within the last 12 months
WebsiteA fully functioning company website
AWS accountMust exist and be on a paid tier plan before applying
Prior creditsNew to Activate credits, or requesting more than previously received
EmailBusiness email on your company's own domain
Provider affiliationNot needed for Founders tier. Required (Organization ID) for Portfolio tier

Google for Startups Cloud Program eligibility

CriterionStart tierScale tier
Company ageFounded within roughly the last 5 yearsFounded within roughly the last 10 years
FundingNot funded by an institutional investorEquity funded, pre-seed through Series A
Recency of roundn/aIf Series A, raised within the last 12 months
Prior creditsNo Google Cloud credits beyond the free trialNot previously in the programme
TypeTechnology startupTechnology startup
AI-first upliftn/aVertex AI or Gemini core to the product

Both providers revise these terms periodically. Check the AWS Activate and Google for Startups Cloud pages for the current wording.

What actually disqualifies you

  • Series B or later. This is the hard stop on AWS. Both programmes are aimed at early-stage companies.
  • Already claimed the same amount. If a co-founder redeemed Activate credits for the company last year, applying again for the same tier will fail. Applying for a higher tier is fine.
  • Consultancies and agencies. Both programmes target product startups. Services businesses are frequently declined.
  • No real website. A waitlist page is not a company website.
  • A free email address. Not formally listed as disqualifying, but in practice it is the most common reason for an application to stall.
  • Company older than the window. Ten years for AWS; roughly five for Google's Start tier.
Being funded is not required — it is an upgrade Both programmes have self-serve entry tiers open to bootstrapped companies with no investor at all. Funding does not make you eligible; it raises your ceiling. If you are bootstrapped, apply to the entry tiers now and re-apply at a higher tier if you raise later.

A quick self-check

Answer these five and you will know where you stand:

  1. Was the company incorporated within the last 10 years? (Under 5 helps for Google's Start tier.)
  2. Are you pre-Series B?
  3. Do you have a live website that explains the product?
  4. Do you have an email address on that domain?
  5. Has anyone at the company already claimed these credits?

Four yes answers and a no to the last one means you are eligible for at least the entry tier of both programmes. Our eligibility page walks through the same checklist with the tier ceilings attached, and Indian founders should also read the DPIIT route.

Frequently asked questions

Does Google Cloud give free credits to pre-revenue startups?
Yes. Revenue is not part of the eligibility criteria for either programme. The Google for Startups Cloud Program screens on funding stage and company age, and its Start tier is explicitly aimed at startups that have not raised institutional funding.
Can I get AWS credits for a startup with no revenue?
Yes. AWS Activate eligibility is based on being pre-Series B, founded within the last 10 years, having a working company website and an AWS account on a paid tier plan. Revenue is not assessed.
What disqualifies a startup from cloud credits?
The most common disqualifiers are being at Series B or later, having already claimed credits of equal or greater value, being a consultancy rather than a product startup, having no functioning company website, or exceeding the company age window.
Do I need to be funded to get cloud credits?
No. Both AWS Activate Founders and the Google Start tier are self-serve and open to bootstrapped startups. Funding raises the ceiling — up to $200,000 on either side — rather than being the thing that makes you eligible.

Want us to handle the application?

Tell us about your startup and we'll map you to the right programme and tier. No cost, no commission, no catch.

Apply for credits Check eligibility

Keep reading

How to apply for AWS Activate credits in 2026

Step-by-step guide to applying for AWS Activate credits in 2026 — tiers from $1,000 to $200,000, eligibility rules, and why applications get rejected.

Read guide →

How to get Google Cloud credits for startups

How the Google for Startups Cloud Program works in 2026 — the Start, Scale and AI-first tiers, what each is worth, who qualifies, and how to apply.

Read guide →

AWS Activate vs Google for Startups: which credits should you take?

AWS Activate vs the Google for Startups Cloud Program compared — credit ceilings, eligibility, how each is paid out, and whether you can claim both.

Read guide →