All discounts
Cloud & Startup CreditsAI / LLM API
OpenAI
OpenAI for Startups
BLUF · Discount at a glance
What you get
Free credits through partner accelerator programs; ChatGPT Business 2 years free via some aggregators
Discount type
Credits
Verification method
Direct with vendor
Who's eligible
Early-stage startups. Credit amounts vary by accelerator partner.
How to claim
Access via accelerator partnership or Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub (bundled).
Editor's take
Best for
Startup path founders using OpenAI API. Microsoft Founders Hub is the most consistent path to OpenAI credits.
Not worth it if
You are already on Anthropic or Google. Migration between LLM providers is doable but not free.
Context
OpenAI credits are almost always distributed through partners, not directly. Microsoft Founders Hub bundles them.
More Cloud & Startup Credits discounts
Amazon Web Services
AWS Activate for Startups
$1,000-$100,000 in AWS credits depending on tier
Google Cloud
Google for Startups Cloud Program
Up to $100,000 in Google Cloud credits over 2 years
Microsoft
Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub
Up to $150,000 in Azure credits + free Microsoft 365 + GitHub Enterprise + LinkedIn Premium + Visual Studio Enterprise