Selection criteria
Startups will be matched with the tier and benefits that best suit their stage. Startups eligible for Scale tier must:
- Have received recent startup equity funding* from pre-seed to Series A* by an institutional investor or common Web3 funding sources
- Have been founded within the last 5 years
- Have not received more than $5,000 in Google Cloud credits
- Provide verification of funding if they are operating in stealth mode
Take advantage of your benefits
$200,000 in Google Cloud credits for 2 years1 | $150,000 in additional credits for AI-first qualified startups2 | $12,000 in Enhanced Support credits for one year |
$200,000 in Google Cloud credits for 2 years1
$150,000 in additional credits for AI-first qualified startups2
$12,000 in Enhanced Support credits for one year
12 months of free Google Workspace Business Plus3 | Receive $600 monthly credit for any Google Maps service for one year4 | $500 in Google Skills credits for online training courses |
12 months of free Google Workspace Business Plus3
Receive $600 monthly credit for any Google Maps service for one year4
$500 in Google Skills credits for online training courses
Exclusive Web3 Program access for qualified startups | Dedicated business support and success manager | Additional partner offers and perks from our Google Cloud ecosystem |
Exclusive Web3 Program access for qualified startups
Dedicated business support and success manager
Additional partner offers and perks from our Google Cloud ecosystem
The ‘Future of AI: Perspectives on generative media for startups’ report
The ‘Future of AI: Perspectives on generative media for startups’ report features leading voices in AI including top founders, investors and Googlers. Hear their perspectives on the most critical generative AI innovations, media trends, opportunities, and challenges that startup leaders should consider when building and scaling in 2026.
Start building with Google Cloud's new Startup technical guide: AI agents
Learn core agentic concepts like RAG and multimodality, leverage Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, Gemini, ADK, and get step-by-step help building agentic workflows for production.
Additional programs and offers for early stage startups
Startup PerksGet preferred access to the best of the Google Cloud ecosystem through our Perks program, which offers partner benefits and discounts to pre-funded startups.
Join our Google Developer ProgramBuild new projects, advance your career, and expand your network with the Google Developer Program, created to help you scale your apps faster with AI.
ISV Startup SpringboardOur 12-week program is designed to help emerging AI startups accelerate their business growth through bespoke technical guidance and GTM resources.
- Credits can be applied toward Google Cloud services and select Google Cloud offerings as follows: Year 1: 100% up to $100,000 USD in Google Cloud credits; Year 2: 20% up to an additional $100,000 USD in Google Cloud credits.
- Recent startup equity funding definition: Pre-Seed/Seed rounds within the last five years, and Series A rounds within the last 12 months.
- Program credits cover Google's state-of-the-art models like Gemini and Gemma. Note: Third-party models are billed directly and are not covered by the program credits.
- Qualifying venture backed startups can tap into an additional $150,000 USD with the AI startup program to support product development using the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.
- Company domain must not be subscribed to a paid Google Workspace plan, or subscribed from within 31 days of applying to the Google for Startups Cloud Program, to the day the benefit is requested. This benefit cannot be applied toward annual Google Workspace Business Plus plans.
- Separate application required for Google Maps benefit.
- Acceptance into this program is at the discretion of Google Cloud. We are unable to accept companies that have IPO'd or been acquired, educational institutions, government entities, nonprofits, personal blogs or content, dev shops, consultancies, or agencies, cryptocurrency mining companies, or a company distributing tokens contrary to regulatory guidance in your jurisdiction.
- *Qualifying investment types include equity investment vehicles that support startup growth from institutional investors and venture capital firms. Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) Agreements are eligible. To support the Web3 community, we accept verifiable token raises and Blockchain foundation grants.
- Funding through private equity, government innovation grants, prize funding, crowdfunding, angel, and friends and family funding will not qualify a startup for scale but will be evaluated for other program tiers.
Gemini Startup Forum
Google for Startups, in partnership with DeepMind and Google Cloud, presents the Gemini Startup Forum. A curated gathering for seed to Series A founders to connect in person with experts from Google AI and explore what is possible at the frontier of AI.
Subscribe to our startup newsletter
Sign upJoin upcoming events and on-demand webinars
Explore events
