Google Cloud for Startups: Up to $200,000 in Credits
For VC-backed startups: up to $200,000 in Google Cloud credits, or up to $350,000 for AI-first teams.
Up to $200,000 in Google Cloud credits (up to $350,000 for AI-first)
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The $200,000 is a two-year ceiling, not a cheque. Year one covers up to $100,000 of your Google Cloud usage; year two covers 20% of usage, up to another $100,000. You only reach the full figure with heavy second-year spend — plan around the first $100,000, and note the top tiers need real VC funding.
Deal at a glance
| Provider | Google Cloud — compute, BigQuery, Vertex AI, GKE, databases and storage |
|---|---|
| Offer | Google for Startups Cloud Program: up to $200,000 in credits over two years (Scale tier), or up to $350,000 for AI-first startups |
| Also on offer | $2,000 in credits at the pre-funded / MVP stage, before you have raised |
| Credit structure | Scale tier: up to $100,000 in year one, plus 20% of usage in year two (up to another $100,000) |
| Where credits work | Google Cloud services only — not Workspace, Google Ads, Maps or third-party Marketplace tools |
| Access | Free InnMind account — no paid plan needed |
| Scale eligibility | VC-funded, Seed to Series A. Angel, friends-and-family, crowdfunding, PE and government grants do not qualify for Scale |
| Approval | By Google, on application. Acceptance is not guaranteed |
| Last verified | July 2026 |
What you get
The programme is Google’s route to getting startups onto Google Cloud, and the credit is the headline — but the training and access matter almost as much once you are in.
- Up to $200,000 in Google Cloud credits over two years on the Scale tier, or up to $350,000 if you are an AI-first startup.
- $2,000 to start earlier. Pre-funded teams still building an MVP can take $2,000 in credits before they qualify for the funded tiers.
- Credits spend across compute, BigQuery, Vertex AI, GKE, managed databases and storage — the parts of Google Cloud a product actually runs on.
- Technical training, hands-on labs and time with Google Cloud experts, plus the startup community, events and partner perks.
What founders use it for
$100,000 of first-year credit runs a serious production stack, and these are the jobs it usually covers.
Running an AI product on Vertex AI and Gemini — inference and model work is where cloud bills grow fastest, and the AI-first tier exists precisely because those workloads outrun a normal credit line.
Warehousing and querying data in BigQuery — teams that pick Google Cloud usually do it for BigQuery, and the credit covers the analytics stack while data volumes are still finding their shape.
Standing up production on GKE — managed Kubernetes, load balancing and managed Postgres or MySQL all draw on the credit, so the whole backend is covered through early growth.
Extending runway across two years — splitting the credit over year one and year two lines it up with the seed-to-Series-A window, which is the stretch where infrastructure cost hurts most.
How the tiers and the $200,000 actually work
Google runs this as a set of tiers, and which one you land in decides everything. This is the part worth reading before you apply.
| Pre-funded | $2,000 in credits to build and iterate an MVP, before you have raised. |
|---|---|
| Start tier | Digital-native startups with a working MVP, a clear business model and plans to raise venture funding soon. The entry tier, above pre-funded. |
| Scale tier | Up to $200,000 for VC-funded startups, Seed to Series A. This is the headline figure, and it is gated on institutional funding. |
| AI-first Scale | Up to $350,000 in credits plus dedicated AI training and access to Google’s AI experts, for AI-first teams on the Scale tier. |
Two things founders miss. First, the $200,000 is front-loaded: up to $100,000 of usage in year one, then 20% of usage in year two — so the second $100,000 only lands if you are spending heavily by then. Second, the funding bar is specific: angel, friends-and-family, crowdfunding, private equity and government grants do not qualify you for Scale — they route you to the Start tier instead.
Web3 startups have a separate track
The Scale tier needs institutional equity funding, which leaves out teams funded the way most Web3 projects are. Google runs a dedicated Web3 track for exactly that case: the same up to $200,000 over two years, on the same structure of 100% of usage up to $100,000 in year one and 20% up to another $100,000 in year two.
The difference is what counts as funding. A token or NFT sale, or a grant from a blockchain foundation within the last five years, can qualify you here even though it would not qualify you for the standard Scale tier. Credits cover Google Cloud and Firebase, and the track adds blockchain-foundation grants, a founder community and VIP event access. Google names partners such as Polygon, Solana, Aptos and Sui.
If your funding is a token raise or a foundation grant, apply through the Web3 program page rather than the standard Scale application.
Who is eligible
| Scale tier ($200k) | VC-funded, Seed to Series A. Institutional venture funding is required; other funding types route to a lower tier. |
|---|---|
| Start tier | A working MVP, a clear business model and plans to raise venture funding. No prior Google Cloud credits beyond the free trial. |
| Pre-funded ($2k) | Early teams still building an MVP, before raising. |
| What credits cover | Google Cloud services only. They cannot be used on third-party services or Google Cloud Marketplace, or on Workspace, Ads or Maps. |
| InnMind plan | Free InnMind account — no paid plan needed. |
| Decision | Google reviews each application and acceptance is not guaranteed. |
How to claim it
- Create a free InnMind account, or sign in if you already have one.
- Open this deal in the InnMind app and click Access Perk.
- Create a Google Cloud account and find your 18-character billing account ID — you apply with it.
- Apply to the Google for Startups Cloud Program and select the tier you qualify for.
- Google reviews the application. If accepted, the credits are applied to your billing account.
Terms worth knowing
This deal is the Google for Startups Cloud Program, run by Google. Acceptance is at Google’s discretion and is not guaranteed by an InnMind account. The $200,000 Scale figure is a two-year ceiling — up to $100,000 in year one and 20% of usage in year two — not a fixed grant; the $350,000 figure is for AI-first startups. The Scale tier requires institutional VC funding; angel, friends-and-family, crowdfunding, private equity and government-grant funding route to a lower tier. Credits apply to Google Cloud services only and cannot be used on third-party services or Google Cloud Marketplace. Tier structure and amounts are Google’s published terms as of July 2026 and can change. Deal details verified July 2026.
Questions founders ask
How much Google Cloud credit can a startup get?
Up to $200,000 over two years on the Scale tier for VC-funded startups, or up to $350,000 for AI-first teams. Pre-funded startups still building an MVP can get $2,000. The Scale figure is a ceiling — up to $100,000 in year one and 20% of usage in year two.
What is the Google for Startups Cloud Program?
It is Google’s official startup programme, offering Google Cloud credits, technical training and access to experts across tiers — pre-funded, Start and Scale — sized to your stage. You apply with an 18-character Google Cloud billing account ID.
Who qualifies for the $200,000 Scale tier?
VC-funded startups from Seed to Series A. Institutional venture funding is required — angel, friends-and-family, crowdfunding, private equity and government grants do not qualify for Scale and are routed to the Start tier instead.
What can Google Cloud credits be spent on?
Google Cloud services such as compute, BigQuery, Vertex AI, GKE, databases and storage. They cannot be applied to third-party services or Google Cloud Marketplace, or to Workspace, Google Ads or Maps.
How long do the credits last?
The Scale credit is delivered over two years: up to $100,000 of usage covered in year one, then 20% of usage in year two, up to another $100,000. The structure is designed to line up with the seed-to-Series-A window.
Can a Web3 or token-funded startup get Google Cloud credits?
Yes, through the Google Web3 track. It offers the same up to $200,000 over two years, but accepts funding from a token or NFT sale or a blockchain-foundation grant, not only equity venture capital. Apply through the Web3 program page rather than the standard Scale application.
Do I need a paid InnMind plan to claim it?
No. This deal is free with any InnMind account. You need to be signed in to open it, but no paid plan is required.