Google for Startups Cloud Program — Scale Tier

Google for Startups Cloud Program — Scale Tier

Provides growing startups with Google Cloud credits over two years as they progress from pre-seed to Series A.

The Google for Startups Cloud Program — Scale tier provides up to $200,000 in Google Cloud Platform usage credits over two years to equity-funded startups from pre-seed through Series A. Year 1 covers 100% of eligible Google Cloud and Firebase usage up to $100,000; Year 2 covers 20% of eligible usage up to an additional $100,000. AI-first startups that qualify for the AI sub-tier of the Scale program can receive up to $350,000 in total credits: Year 1 extends to $250,000 (including $150,000 in additional AI-tier credits on top of the base Scale allotment), with Year 2 covering 20% up to $100,000. The package also includes $12,000 in Google Cloud Enhanced Support credits, $500 in Cloud Skills Boost training credits, 12 months of free Google Workspace Business Plus, and $600 per month in Google Maps Platform credits for one year. A Startup Success Manager and co-marketing opportunities are available to select startups. All benefits are in-kind credits; no cash is disbursed.

Eligibility requires that the startup has received qualifying startup equity funding from pre-seed through Series A (Series A raise must have closed within the last 12 months), be founded within the last ten years, and not have previously received more than $5,000 in Google Cloud credits. Qualifying investment types include equity from institutional investors, VC firms, and SAFE agreements; verifiable token raises and blockchain foundation grants are also accepted. Government innovation grants, prize funding, crowdfunding, angel, and friends-and-family funding do not qualify a startup for Scale tier. Applications are submitted on a rolling basis at cloud.google.com/startup/apply and reviewed at Google Cloud's discretion.

The Scale tier is particularly well-suited for startups with significant cloud infrastructure spend — AI, machine learning, data-intensive, and Web3 applications — where $100,000–$200,000 in GCP credits substantially offsets runway consumption. Excluded applicants include IPO'd or acquired companies, educational institutions, government entities, nonprofits, dev shops, consultancies, cryptocurrency miners, and companies distributing tokens contrary to applicable regulatory guidance. There is no geographic restriction; the program is globally available.