GitHub startup credits: up to $10K (2026)

I quick answer

GitHub offers up to $10,000 in credits.

No equity, no fees. You need a referral or partner code to apply.

Stage fit: Pre-seed to Series B. Difficulty: easy.

II key facts

GitHub at a glance

Max value: Up to $10,000
Stage fit: Pre-seed to Series B
Takes equity: No
Who files it: You, with a code (investor or partner code)
Geography: Not stated on the official page.
Referral needed: Yes
Difficulty: Easy
Review time: 2 to 3 business days (decision emailed to the applicant's primary email address)
Credits expire: Credits are valid up to 12 months from approval and expire when fully consumed or at the end of the 12 months, whichever comes first.

III available programs and tiers

What GitHub actually gives you

GitHub for Startups credits (single tier)
$10,000 in GitHub credits applied to your Enterprise Cloud account, valid up to 12 months from approval; covers GitHub Enterprise license costs and eligible add-ons: GitHub Copilot (licenses, premium models, agentic capabilities), GitHub Advanced Security and other metered usage. GitHub's pricing page shows Enterprise at $21 per user per month (labelled 'for the first 12 months'; the footnote is not shown).
Startups affiliated with a GitHub for Startups partner (VC, accelerator or incubator), with outside equity funding at Series B or earlier, and new to GitHub Enterprise

IV eligibility

Who qualifies

You likely qualify if

Your investor, accelerator or incubator is a GitHub for Startups partner (listed at github.com/enterprise/startups/partners; roughly 1,500 entries including YC, Techstars, 500 Global, a16z, Sequoia, Accel, Antler).
You have received outside funding and are at Series B or earlier. Non-equity credits do not count as outside funding.
You have not been on a GitHub Enterprise plan in the past six months.
You have never received GitHub credits or GitHub Enterprise licenses before, including through Microsoft for Startups.
You will run on GitHub Enterprise Cloud at GitHub.com (not Enterprise Server, not an Enterprise with Data Residency).
You can add a valid payment method to the Enterprise account at onboarding (GitHub runs an authorization charge within a few weeks).

You won't qualify if

Startups with no partner affiliation (bootstrapped or whose investor is not a GitHub partner), unless the investor first joins as a partner.
Startups past Series B, or whose only funding is non-equity credits.
Teams that were on a GitHub Enterprise plan within the last six months.
Anyone who previously received GitHub Enterprise credits or licenses through Microsoft or GitHub for Startups (one-time redemption only), which includes recipients of the discontinued free-seat offer.
GitHub Enterprise Server deployments and Enterprises with Data Residency.
Startups that downgrade from Enterprise before the credits are used up or the period ends forfeit remaining credits and cannot reapply.

Geography. Not stated on the official page. Only restriction is GitHub.com Enterprise Cloud accounts (no Enterprise Server, no Data Residency). Partner list includes investors and accelerators worldwide.

V how to apply

How to apply to GitHub for Startups

01Confirm your investor, accelerator or incubator appears on github.com/enterprise/startups/partners. If not, send them github.com/enterprise/startups/partner-application so they can join first (any investor, incubator or accelerator can be a partner).
02Ask the partner for a referral to the program. GitHub's partners page says it handles the rest once a partner refers you.
03Decide which GitHub.com Enterprise Cloud account should receive the credits: credits apply only to the Enterprise account submitted in the application and cannot be transferred.
04Watch the primary email address of the applicant and Enterprise account owner(s): GitHub replies within 2 to 3 business days. The application form itself is login-gated (github.com/enterprise/startups/apply redirects to GitHub sign-in) and its fields are not published.
05On approval, add a payment method to the Enterprise account. GitHub runs an authorization charge within a few weeks of onboarding; without a valid method, or if the authorization fails, the account is locked.
06Spend the credits within 12 months. When they run out or expire, Enterprise, Copilot and Advanced Security usage bills at standard rates to the payment method on file, so track your own usage.

Review time: 2 to 3 business days (decision emailed to the applicant's primary email address). Apply at github.com/enterprise/startups/partners.

VI what changed

What changed in 2025 and 2026

GitHub replaced its original offer (up to 20 free GitHub Enterprise seats for one year, announced Sept 22, 2022) with $10,000 in platform credits valid for up to 12 months. The official page now states that the previous startup offer has been discontinued and is no longer available, but does not give the date of the switch. Verified on the official page 2026-10-09.

Dated change log for every program →

VII stacks well with

Hold these alongside GitHub

VIII the AWS angle

GitHub credits and your AWS bill

Unrelated to your AWS bill: the credits are GitHub-only and cannot be spent on AWS. It stacks alongside AWS Activate (both are non-dilutive and both favor an investor or accelerator referral); the 50,000 Actions minutes per month included with Enterprise can replace CI you would otherwise run on EC2. GitHub is Microsoft-owned, and if you link an Azure subscription, GitHub credits are used first and usage then bills to Azure; there is no equivalent AWS billing path.

IXfaq

GitHub startup credits, answered

How much does GitHub give startups?

GitHub offers up to $10,000 in credits. Single tier: $10,000 in GitHub credits applied to your Enterprise Cloud account, valid up to 12 months from approval.

Does GitHub take equity?

No. GitHub for Startups is a credits program, not an investment; you keep 100% of your company. You need a referral or partner code to apply.

Who qualifies for GitHub for Startups?

Stage fit: Pre-seed to Series B (outside equity funding required). You usually qualify if: your investor, accelerator or incubator is a GitHub for Startups partner (listed at github.com/enterprise/startups/partners; roughly 1,500 entries including YC, Techstars, 500 Global, a16z, Sequoia, Accel, Antler).; you have received outside funding and are at Series B or earlier. Non-equity credits do not count as outside funding.; you have not been on a GitHub Enterprise plan in the past six months. You will not qualify if: startups with no partner affiliation (bootstrapped or whose investor is not a GitHub partner), unless the investor first joins as a partner.; startups past Series B, or whose only funding is non-equity credits.

How long does GitHub take to approve credits?

2 to 3 business days (decision emailed to the applicant's primary email address). Difficulty: easy, a short form, no referral for the base tier.

When do GitHub credits expire?

Credits are valid up to 12 months from approval and expire when fully consumed or at the end of the 12 months, whichever comes first. After that, active products move to standard paid billing on the payment method on file.

Can I combine GitHub credits with AWS credits?

Unrelated to your AWS bill: the credits are GitHub-only and cannot be spent on AWS. It stacks alongside AWS Activate (both are non-dilutive and both favor an investor or accelerator referral); the 50,000 Actions minutes per month included with Enterprise can replace CI you would otherwise run on EC2. On AWS, CloudRoute matches you for free with a vetted partner who can file MAP, POC or IW funding when the workload qualifies and AWS approves it. The GitHub application you submit yourself.

Verified against github.com/enterprise/startups on Oct 9, 2026 (confidence: high). Programs change; always confirm on the official page. 5 sources checked.