Google for Startups Cloud credits
The Google for Startups Cloud Program offers up to $200,000 in credits for investor-backed startups — and up to $350,000 for AI-first teams building on Vertex AI or Gemini. Here's how it works and who qualifies.
How much you can get
Credit ceilings depend on your funding stage and whether AI is core to your product.
| Track | Credit ceiling | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Baseline self-serve credits | Early startups not yet backed by a qualifying investor |
| Scale (investor-backed) | Up to $200,000 over 2 years | Startups funded from seed through Series A via a qualifying investor |
| AI-first | Up to $350,000 | Teams using Vertex AI or Gemini as the foundation of their product |
For AI startups, first-year credits can cover eligible Google Cloud usage up to a high ceiling, with additional credits for those in the AI tier and reduced coverage in year two. Exact structure is set by Google and can change — we confirm your specifics when you apply.
Beyond the cloud credits
The program bundles more than raw compute. Eligible startups typically also receive:
- Google Cloud Enhanced Support credits for a year
- 12 months of Google Workspace Business Plus
- Firebase credits included in your allocation
- Mentorship from Google Cloud, Google Labs and DeepMind teams
Who qualifies
The larger Google Cloud tiers are built for investor-backed startups. To reach the higher ceilings, you'll generally need to:
- Have raised qualifying funding from seed through Series A
- Have been founded within the last 10 years
- For the AI track, use or plan to use Vertex AI or Gemini as a foundation of your product
- Not have received the same Google Cloud credits before
Not investor-backed yet? The Start track still offers baseline credits, and it's a solid place to begin while you grow into a higher tier.
AWS or Google Cloud — or both?
You don't have to choose blindly. In many cases startups qualify for both programs, and you can run different workloads where each is strongest. When you apply, we look at your stack and funding and tell you which program — or combination — makes the most sense for you. See our AWS credits guide for the other side.
Unlock your Google Cloud credits
Tell us about your startup and we'll map you to the right track — Start, Scale or AI-first.