Google for Startups Cloud Program — AI-First Tier

Google for Startups Cloud Program — AI-First Tier

Invests in AI-first startups with major Google Cloud credits for products built on Gemini.

The Google for Startups Cloud Program AI-First Tier is a Google Cloud initiative that provides early-stage, VC-backed AI startups with up to $350,000 in Google Cloud platform credits over two years. The program is specifically designed for startups that deploy Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform or Google's Gemini models as the foundation of their primary product or solution, and it operates on a rolling basis with no published application deadline.

Eligibility requires that a company has received qualifying venture capital funding — from seed through Series A — be founded within the last ten years, and have received no more than $5,000 in prior Google Cloud credits. For-profit startups only; educational institutions, nonprofits, government entities, cryptocurrency mining operations, dev shops, and consultancies are explicitly excluded. The credit structure allocates up to $250,000 in Year 1, covering 100% of eligible Google Cloud Platform usage, and up to $100,000 in Year 2 at 20% coverage. The package also includes $12,000 in Enhanced Support credits, 12 months of free Google Workspace Business Plus for new domain signups, $600 per month in Google Maps credits for one year, and exclusive access to webinars and live Q&A sessions with Google Cloud AI product managers, engineers, and developer advocates.

To maximize fit, applicants should demonstrate that Gemini or the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform is genuinely central to their core product — peripheral API usage is unlikely to qualify under the AI-First designation. Applications are accepted through the dedicated AI program form at cloud.google.com/startup/apply and are evaluated at Google Cloud's discretion. All benefits are delivered as in-kind cloud credits, not cash.