OpenRouter for Startups
OpenRouter · LLM gateway
$5KUp to $5,000 universal inference credits (500+ models) + 0% platform/BYOK fees for 12 months
Multi-model inference credits and a year of waived fees for pre-Series B AI-native startups referred by an OpenRouter partner.
Key terms
- Must be referred by an approved OpenRouter partner
- Existing account with under $500 lifetime spend; never received startup credits before
- Most credits expire after 6 months; fee waiver lasts 12 months
- Non-transferable, no resale; OpenRouter won't sign NDAs
Eligibility
- Where
- Worldwide
- Stages
- pre-seed, seed, series-a
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- Yes
- Needs partner referral code
- Yes
- Must be incorporated
- Yes
- AI focus required
- Yes
- Students / researchers
- Not eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- Pre-Series B, venture-scalable
- Founder working full-time
How to apply
Get a referral from a partner, then submit the application with a company-domain email.
- Benefit
- mixed
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- 6 months (fee waiver 12 months)
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Status
- Open
Verified 2026-10-22 · source