Anthropic
Free Credits
Claude for Startups: 1 Year of Claude Team + $1,000 API Credits Free
Anthropic expanded its Claude for Startups program on October 6, 2026, and the new package is big: approved startups get a full year of Claude Team free for up to five seats, $1,000 in Claude API credits, up to $45,000 in discounts on AI-native tools through the Claude Startup Stack, and 45-minute office hours with Anthropic's Applied AI team every other week. Startups backed by a partner VC can unlock up to $100,000 more in API credits.
What this offer actually gives you
Claude for Startups is Anthropic's program for early-stage companies building with Claude. It launched in May 2026 with thousands of participating startups, and the October 2026 expansion added the free year of Claude Team plus the $45,000 partner-offer stack. The headline numbers are per approved company: $1,000 in API credits and one year of Team for up to five premium seats, as long as the organization is new to Claude Team.
The $1,000 in API credits comes with two important limits. The credits expire six months after they are granted, and they work only on Anthropic's first-party Claude API through the Claude Console — not on AWS Bedrock, Google Cloud Vertex AI, or any other third-party platform. On the plus side, every approved company automatically gets upgraded to Anthropic's highest API rate limits.
The Claude Startup Stack is where the $45,000 figure comes from: discounts and credits from AI-native companies building on Claude, across engineering, design, data, sales, and meetings — including names like ElevenLabs, ClickHouse, Firecrawl, and Granola. Members redeem each offer with a code inside the Claude Console. These benefits come from independent third-party companies, not from Anthropic itself.
Eligibility is broader than most startup programs. Bootstrapped, pre-seed, and venture-backed startups can all apply — no VC funding required. The company must have been founded in the last five years or raised funding in the last two, and applicants need a Claude Console account plus a company email matching their website's domain. Most applications are decided within minutes; the rest go to manual review within two to three business days.
Available deals (3)
1 Year of Claude Team Free + $1,000 API Credits
Approved startups get one year of Claude Team free for up to five premium seats (organizations new to Team only) plus $1,000 in Claude API credits, automatic highest-tier API rate limits, and access to Claude Marketplace.
- 1 year of Claude Team free — up to 5 premium seats (new Team orgs only)
- $1,000 in Claude API credits (expire 6 months after grant)
- Automatic upgrade to highest API rate limits
- Access to Claude Marketplace to build plugins
How to claim this deal
- 1
Sign in to the Claude Console with your company email.
- 2
Open claude.com/programs/startups and fill out the application (about two minutes).
- 3
Wait for the decision — most arrive within minutes, the rest within 2-3 business days.
- 4
Once accepted, claim the $1,000 credits and the Claude Team offer from the Claude Startups page in the Console.
Verified October 7, 2026 on claude.com/programs/startups (1 year Team / 5 seats, $1,000 credits, 6-month credit expiry, first-party API only). Expansion announced October 6, 2026.
Key benefits
- A full year of team AI seats at zero cost
- Real API budget for building and testing
- No throttling with top-tier rate limits
Eligibility and requirements
- A Claude Console account
- A company email matching your website domain
- Founded in the last 5 years or funded in the last 2
- Organization must be new to Claude Team for the free year
- Credits valid on first-party Claude API only
Claude Startup Stack — Up to $45,000 in Partner Offers
Members can redeem up to $45,000 in discounts and credits from AI-native companies building on Claude — engineering, design, data, sales, and meeting tools — each redeemed with a code in the Claude Console.
- Up to $45,000 in partner discounts and credits
- Covers engineering, design, data, sales, and meetings tools
- Redeemed with codes inside the Claude Console
- Includes offers from ElevenLabs, ClickHouse, Firecrawl, Granola, and more
How to claim this deal
- 1
Get accepted into the Claude for Startups program.
- 2
Open the Claude Startups page in the Claude Console.
- 3
Browse the Startup Stack and redeem each offer with its code.
Partner offers are from independent third-party companies, not Anthropic, per the official program page.
Key benefits
- Stretch runway across the whole tool stack
- One redemption point in the Console
Eligibility and requirements
- Accepted Claude for Startups membership
- Available to all approved members
Up to $100,000 Extra API Credits via Partner VCs
Startups backed by a venture capital firm in Anthropic's partner network can unlock up to $100,000 in additional API credits, claimed through their VC.
- Up to $100,000 in extra API credits
- Claimed through a partner VC, not the standard application
- Stacks on top of the $1,000 base credits
How to claim this deal
- 1
Confirm your investor is in Anthropic's partner VC network.
- 2
Mention the partner VC in your program application.
- 3
Claim the additional credits through your VC after acceptance.
Per the official program FAQ, October 2026.
Key benefits
- Serious API runway for funded teams
Eligibility and requirements
- Backing by an Anthropic partner VC or accelerator
- Claimed through the VC partner channel
Pro tip
Apply with the company domain email from day one — personal emails are a common rejection reason. And diary the 6-month credit expiry: the $1,000 is use-it-or-lose-it.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility requirements
Startups founded in the last 5 years or funded in the last 2 years. Requires a Claude Console account, a company email matching the website's domain, and compliance with Anthropic's supportability policies. No VC backing required.
Claude offer FAQs
What does Claude for Startups give you?
One year of Claude Team free for up to five premium seats (if your org is new to Team), $1,000 in Claude API credits, up to $45,000 in partner tool offers, 45-minute office hours with Anthropic's Applied AI team every other week, and access to startup events like Founder House and hackathons.
Who can apply?
Startups founded in the last 5 years or funded in the last 2 years. You need a Claude Console account, a company email matching your website's domain, and compliance with Anthropic's supportability policies. Bootstrapped founders are welcome — no VC required.
Do the $1,000 API credits expire?
Yes — credits expire six months after they are granted, so plan your build and testing around that window.
Can I use the credits on AWS Bedrock or Google Vertex AI?
No. Claude Startups credits work only on Anthropic's first-party Claude API through the Claude Console.
How long does the application take?
About two minutes. Most applications are decided within minutes; the rest go to manual review, which usually takes two to three business days.
Is the program available outside the US?
The official program page lists no country restrictions — eligibility is based on company age and funding, not geography. Standard Anthropic availability terms apply.
About Anthropic
Anthropic is the AI safety and research company behind Claude, a family of AI models known for strong reasoning, coding, and agentic capabilities, serving hundreds of thousands of business customers.
