Google for Startups Cloud Program — AI tier
Google Cloud · Hyperscaler
$350KUp to $350,000 over 2 years (Year 1: 100% of usage up to $250K; Year 2: 20% up to another $100K)
Enhanced Scale-tier package for VC-funded AI-first startups building on Gemini, with AI experts and roadmap access.
Key terms
- Must use or plan to use Gemini as a foundation of the primary product
- Same funding rules as Scale: Pre-Seed/Seed within 5 years or Series A within 12 months
- Founded within the last 5 years; not more than $5,000 in prior Google Cloud credits
- Credits cover Google models (Gemini, Gemma); third-party models billed directly
- Eligibility at Google Cloud's discretion
Eligibility
- Where
- Worldwide
- Stages
- pre-seed, seed, series-a
- Max company age
- 5 years
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- Yes
- Needs partner referral code
- No
- Must be incorporated
- Yes
- AI focus required
- Yes
- Students / researchers
- Not eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- Gemini-based product
How to apply
Apply via the AI program page; Google evaluates AI-first status and funding.
- Benefit
- credits
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Status
- Open
Verified 2026-10-22 · source