OpenAI startup credits: VC-set credits (2026)

Max value

Amount not published globally (Australia program: up to US$15,000 per OpenAI)

Stage fit

Any stage with a partner-VC investor

Takes equity

No

Who files it

You, with a code (investor or partner code)

Geography

OpenAI's startups page sets no country restriction; access depends on whether your VC is a partner.

Referral needed

Yes

Difficulty

Hard

Review time

Not published by OpenAI

Credits expire

Per OpenAI's Service Credit Terms (updated Jan 1, 2026), promotional credits expire one year after the date of issuance if unused, unless otherwise specified; they are non-refundable and non-transferable.

1. VC partner route (the credits program)
   Free OpenAI API credits (OpenAI publishes no global dollar figure), rate-limit upgrades, time with solutions engineers and technical staff, invite-only events, direct line to the Startup team, dedicated technical and GTM support
   Portfolio companies of VCs in OpenAI's partner network (named examples: Thrive Capital, Sequoia, a16z, Kleiner Perkins, Conviction Partners) that have a unique referral code from that VC
2. Open resources (no referral needed)
   Free Build Hours (live technical sessions), starter repos and cookbooks on GitHub, founder events (Builder Lounges, campus events), Startup Drop monthly newsletter. OpenAI's FAQ also says it gives out credits at some events such as hackathons (amounts unpublished)
   Any founder. Build Hours and repos are public; the community form at openai.com/leads/startup/ takes a business email, company name and website (Organization ID optional)
3. Australia startup program (regional)
   Up to US$15,000 in API credits, technical mentorship and workshops, per OpenAI's Dec 4, 2025 'Introducing OpenAI for Australia' page. Press reports from March 2026 say the cap was raised to US$50,000 plus 10 ChatGPT Business seats with Codex access; no OpenAI-owned page confirming the higher figure was found
   Startups in Australia, delivered with Australian VC partners (Blackbird, Square Peg and AirTree are named). Eligibility criteria are not published on the OpenAI page
4. OpenAI Grove
   5-week program at OpenAI's San Francisco HQ (first and last week in person, travel covered; 4-6 hrs/week async in between), about 15 participants, early access to new OpenAI tools and models, 'additional benefits such as credits' (no amount published by OpenAI). Not an accelerator. The 2026 cohort ran Jan 22 to Feb 27, 2026; applications closed Jan 12, 2026. Press coverage dates the first cohort Oct 20 to Nov 21, 2025
   Individuals at pre-idea or very early stage, any background; teams may apply together; product need not be built on OpenAI APIs. No new cohort was open as of Oct 9, 2026
5. Ramp partner reward (not run by OpenAI)
   Ramp's partner-rewards page lists OpenAI API credits for startups but shows no dollar amount or terms on the live page (checked Oct 9, 2026). An earlier page title and third-party listings cite up to $2,500; treat that figure as unconfirmed and check inside Ramp
   Startups that open a Ramp account; amount and terms are Ramp's, not OpenAI's

Geography. OpenAI's startups page sets no country restriction; access depends on whether your VC is a partner. OpenAI's VC Partnership Application accepts funds located in the US, Canada, Latin America, UK and Ireland, continental Europe, Middle East, Africa, India and Asia-Pacific, but the named partner firms are US-based. Australia has its own program. Founder events run in the US and Europe (Berlin, Stockholm, Paris, Boston, NYC and others). Grove requires in-person weeks in San Francisco (travel covered).

1. 01Ask your lead investor whether their firm is in OpenAI's VC partner network and request your unique referral code. OpenAI's startups page publishes no public credits application form; it says to reach out to your VC. If your VC is not a partner, they can apply at openai.com/form/vc-partnerships-application/
2. 02Create an OpenAI platform account at platform.openai.com and copy your Organization ID (cog icon > Settings > Organization settings > General tab)
3. 03Prepare: a description of your product and planned API use, company name, key team contacts with a business email, and basic funding details (no pitch deck)
4. 04Submit the application with the referral code, following your VC's instructions. Credits are tied to your Organization ID, and when they run out your account switches to standard billing automatically
5. 05Track the grant and its expiry at platform.openai.com/settings/organization/billing/credit-grants; promotional credits expire one year after issuance unless the grant states otherwise, and OpenAI says it cannot extend grant expiry dates
6. 06Not VC-backed? Join the free startup community (openai.com/leads/startup/), attend Build Hours and events (OpenAI says it gives out credits at some, such as hackathons), watch for the next Grove cohort, ask about the Australia program if you are based there, or use partner channels such as Ramp for Startups

Review time: Not published by OpenAI. Third-party directory creditforstartups.com (verified Oct 3, 2026) reports roughly 1-2 weeks after submission.. Apply at openai.com/business/why-openai/startups.

Apr 28 to Sep 8, 2026: OpenAI frontier models and Codex rolled out on Amazon Bedrock (GA Jun 1 for GPT-5.5/5.4, Sep 8 for GPT-6 Astra). Mar 2026: press reports Australia's startup program cap rose from US$15,000 to US$50,000 plus 10 ChatGPT Business seats (OpenAI's Dec 4, 2025 page still says up to US$15,000). Jan 1, 2026: OpenAI updated its Service Credit Terms (promo credits expire one year after issuance, non-transferable). Jan 2, 2026: OpenAI opened applications for the second Grove cohort (closed Jan 12; ran Jan 22 to Feb 27, 2026). The startups page now frames credits as a 'Scale' benefit through eligible VC partners with no self-serve path. Microsoft for Startups dropped its direct OpenAI credit perk by May 2025 (Microsoft Q&A answer dated May 14, 2025), so the Azure route now reaches OpenAI models only via Azure OpenAI paid with Azure credits. A third-party directory (guptadeepak.com) claims the program was discontinued as of Sept 14, 2026; this is contradicted by OpenAI's live FAQ and VC Partnership Application, both still live on Oct 9, 2026.

Dated change log for every program →

• AWSup to $200KCloud · moderate · referral: top tier only
• Microsoftup to $150KCloud · moderate · referral: top tier only
• Anthropicup to $100KAI models · moderate · referral: top tier only
• Ramp$350K+ in perksBusiness · moderate · referral: no
• Brex$350K+ in perksBusiness · moderate · referral: no
• Vercelup to $30KCloud · moderate · referral: yes

OpenAI's own startup credits only pay for usage billed by OpenAI on its API platform, not for anything on an AWS bill. Since 2026, OpenAI's hosted models are also sold through Amazon Bedrock (limited preview from Apr 28, 2026; GPT-5.5, GPT-5.4 and Codex generally available Jun 1, 2026; GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra and Luna Jul 9, 2026; GPT-6 Astra Sep 8, 2026) at OpenAI's first-party prices, with usage counting toward existing AWS commitments. OpenAI-granted credits do not cover that Bedrock usage. AWS's Activate credits page says credits can pay for third-party models on Bedrock and lists OpenAI among the providers, so Activate credits may cover those calls; confirm per-model and per-region eligibility with AWS. The two stack as separate funding sources: OpenAI credits for direct OpenAI API calls, Activate credits for AWS infrastructure and Bedrock usage.

• Anthropicup to $100KAI models · moderate · referral: top tier only
• Together AIup to $50KAI models · moderate · referral: no
• Runwareup to $30KAI models · easy · referral: no
• Groq$10K, now closedAI models · hard · referral: no
• ElevenLabsup to $5.5KAI models · easy · referral: no
• Perplexity AI$5K API creditsAI models · hard · referral: yes

Browse the full directory → Which ones do I qualify for? →