About this programme
The Google for Startups Cloud Program is Google Cloud's credit and support program for technology startups building on its platform. It is not a cash grant: the benefit is Google Cloud usage credit, applied against Google Cloud Platform services and select Google Cloud offerings, plus training credits and access to Google Cloud staff.
The program runs as two eligibility tiers. The Start tier is aimed at pre-funding, digital-native startups with a working MVP and a clear business model who plan to seek venture funding soon. The Scale tier is for startups that have already raised institutional equity funding, from Pre-Seed/Seed through a recent Series A, and are ready to grow.
A separate AI-focused track sits inside the Scale tier for startups that use, or plan to use, Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform or Gemini to deploy AI services as a foundation of their primary product. AI-first startups qualify for a larger credit allocation than the standard Scale tier.
Google Cloud states that acceptance into the program is at its discretion. It does not accept companies that have IPO'd or been acquired, educational institutions, government entities, nonprofits, personal blogs or content sites, dev shops, consultancies, agencies, cryptocurrency mining companies, or companies distributing tokens contrary to regulatory guidance in their jurisdiction.
How it works
Start tier: up to $2,000 USD in Google Cloud credits, valid for one year, plus $200 in Google Skills training credits.
Scale tier: up to $200,000 USD in Google Cloud credits over two years (up to $350,000 USD for AI-first startups), plus $500 in Google Skills training credits.
Scale-tier credits are released in two tranches: Year 1 covers 100% of usage up to $100,000 USD (100% up to $250,000 USD for AI-first startups); Year 2 covers 20% of usage up to a further $100,000 USD.
Credits apply to Google Cloud Platform services and select Google Cloud offerings, and cover Google's own models such as Gemini and Gemma. Third-party models run through Google Cloud are billed directly and are not covered by the program credits.
Scale-tier startups also get up to $12,000 USD in Google Cloud Enhanced Support credits for one year (one-hour response times for critical issues), plus a dedicated Startup Success Manager and Google Cloud Startup Customer Engineers.
Both tiers include Google-wide perks: Google Workspace Business Plus free for 12 months for new signups (the applying company's domain must not have held a paid Workspace plan in the 31 days before applying, through the day the benefit is requested), and Scale-tier startups additionally get $600 in monthly Google Maps Platform usage credits, which require a separate application.
Who can apply
Start tier: a technology startup planning to seek venture funding soon, founded within the last 24 months, that has not yet received Google Cloud credits beyond the standard free trial, and that can demonstrate a well-defined product roadmap and a clear vision for market disruption.
Scale tier: designed for startups that raised Pre-Seed/Seed funding within the last 5 years, or a Series A round within the last 12 months, founded within the last 5 years, and that have not yet received more than $5,000 in Google Cloud credits. Startups operating in stealth are supported once their funding is verified.
The Scale-tier AI track carries the same funding-recency and founding-age requirements as Scale, plus the additional requirement that the startup uses, or plans to use, Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform or Gemini to deploy AI services as a foundation of its primary product or solution.
Qualifying funding for the Scale tier is equity investment from institutional investors or VC firms, including SAFE agreements; for Web3 startups, verifiable token raises and blockchain foundation grants also qualify. Funding via private equity, government innovation grants, prize funding, crowdfunding, angel investment, or friends-and-family money does not qualify a startup for Scale, though it may still be evaluated for other program tiers.
Google Cloud states that acceptance is at its sole discretion and lists categories it does not fund: companies that have IPO'd or been acquired, educational institutions, government entities, nonprofits, personal blogs or content sites, dev shops, consultancies, agencies, cryptocurrency mining companies, and companies distributing tokens contrary to their jurisdiction's regulatory guidance.
How to apply
- Review the Start-tier and Scale-tier eligibility requirements on the program benefits page and identify which tier the startup fits.
- Go to the official application page at cloud.google.com/startup/apply and sign in with a Google account (the application form sits behind Google sign-in).
- Complete the online application with company and funding details; startups applying for the AI track can use the dedicated AI-program application entry point at cloud.google.com/startup/apply?pt=AI (the program overview lives at cloud.google.com/startup/ai).
- Google Cloud reviews the application against the published eligibility requirements for the selected tier and approves or declines at its discretion.
- Startups seeking the separate Google Maps Platform credit benefit must submit a second, separate application for that perk.
Frequently asked
How much can a startup get from the Google for Startups Cloud Program?
It depends on the tier. The Start tier gives up to $2,000 in Google Cloud credits valid for one year. The Scale tier gives up to $200,000 over two years, or up to $350,000 over two years for AI-first startups that qualify for the AI track.
Is this cash funding or equity investment?
Neither. The benefit is Google Cloud usage credit plus training credits and support access, not cash and not an equity investment in the startup. Credits apply only to Google Cloud Platform services and select Google Cloud offerings.
Does Google take equity in exchange for the credits?
No. The program is a credit and support benefit, not an investment; the official pages describe it as Google Cloud credits plus training, support, and Google-wide perks, with no equity terms mentioned.
Can a pre-revenue, pre-funding startup apply?
Yes, through the Start tier, which is built for digital-native startups with a working MVP and a clear business model that have not yet raised institutional funding but plan to seek it soon. It requires the company to have been founded within the last 24 months.
What funding sources qualify a startup for the Scale tier?
Institutional equity investment from Pre-Seed/Seed (within the last 5 years) through a recent Series A (within the last 12 months), including SAFE agreements, and for Web3 startups, verifiable token raises or blockchain foundation grants. Private equity, government grants, prize money, crowdfunding, angel money, and friends-and-family funding do not qualify a startup for Scale.
How does the AI-first credit track differ from standard Scale?
AI-first startups on the Scale tier can receive up to $350,000 in credits over two years instead of $200,000, with 100% of usage covered up to $250,000 in Year 1. To qualify, the startup must use, or plan to use, Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform or Gemini to deploy AI as a foundation of its primary product.
What kinds of companies does Google Cloud exclude from the program?
Companies that have already IPO'd or been acquired, educational institutions, government entities, nonprofits, personal blogs or content sites, dev shops, consultancies, agencies, cryptocurrency mining companies, and companies distributing tokens contrary to their jurisdiction's regulatory guidance.
Are the Google Cloud credits enough to cover any AI model a startup wants to use?
Only Google's own models. The credits cover Google's models such as Gemini and Gemma; third-party models run through Google Cloud are billed directly and are not covered by the program credits.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.