Claude for Startups
Anthropic · LLM API
$100KUp to $45,000 in partner discounts/credits (Claude Startup Stack); VC-partner-backed founders may get up to $100,000 in extra Claude API credits via their VC
Anthropic's program for early-stage founders building on Claude: partner perks, Applied AI sessions, events, and (via partner VCs) Claude API credits.
Key terms
- Open cohort is currently full; new applications paused until the next cohort (newsletter sign-up for notice)
- Extra API credits (up to $100K) are claimed through a VC in Anthropic's partner network
- Credits work only on the first-party Claude API (Claude Console), not on AWS Bedrock, Google Vertex or Azure
- Startup Stack offers are redeemed with codes in the Claude Console
Eligibility
- Where
- Worldwide
- Stages
- pre-seed, seed, series-a
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- No
- Needs partner referral code
- No
- Must be incorporated
- Yes
- AI focus required
- No
- Students / researchers
- Not eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- Must be building on Claude
- Larger API credits require backing by an Anthropic partner VC
How to apply
Subscribe to the Claude Startup newsletter for the next cohort; if VC-backed, ask your investor whether they are an Anthropic partner and can issue credits.
- Benefit
- mixed
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- —
- Deadline
- Paused (cohort full) — next cohort TBA; VC-partner route ongoing
- Status
- Paused — next round TBA
Verified 2026-10-23 · source