As a startup, you're always looking for ways to save money. One way to do that is to take advantage of cloud credit programs. AWS, GCP, and Azure all offer generous credit programs to help startups grow. Google Chrome Startup Cloud Credits can also be a great way to save money on your cloud costs.
To get started, you'll need to sign up for the Google for Startups Cloud Program. This program is open to startups of all stages, from pre-seed to Series C. Once you've signed up, you'll be eligible for up to $200,000 in Google Cloud credits over two years.
In addition to the credit program, Google for Startups also offers a number of other benefits to startups.
Coming to the big cloud providers, all three of them love startups and provide ample amounts of credit to help your startup grow with them. What’s in it for them? Even if one in ten of the startups grows 100x, by then, they become very familiar and comfortable with the services and solution, making them very likely to become lifelong customers of the cloud provider.
It offers eligible startups a package of benefits that includes credits of up to $100,000, as well as a variety of tools, resources, and educational materials customized to their specific startup stage. Upon registration, participants gain access to features like expert insights on business and technical requirements, guidance, readily available infrastructure templates, and a user-friendly AWS Activate Console. They also offer partner benefits and discounts through partners like Brex and Datadog.
It has two tiers, namely Start and Scale. These tiers provide credits covering up to $200,000 USD for Google Cloud and Firebase expenses over a span of two years (with the potential to reach up to $350,000 for AI startups). The program also offers free training vouchers, workspace access, maps platform usage, entry into the Google Cloud Startup Community, and more.
Through the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, Azure extends up to $150,000 in credits to startups, with a tiered approach starting at $1,000 in credits and increasing as the startup grows. Additionally, startups can benefit from close integration and free access to various Microsoft tools like Teams, Office 365, GitHub Enterprise, among others. Access to the Azure Open AI service is also an attractive feature for startups in the AI/ML field.
Now we look at the eligibility criteria for the three programs. All the providers have various tiers/levels in their programs. We’ve separated GCP tiers here as they have significant differences between tiers.
The AWS Lift program aims to assist established businesses in transitioning to Amazon's cloud services. It begins with a $750 introductory promotional credit and offers escalating tiers, reaching up to $83,500 over 12 months. Importantly, there are no binding contracts or hidden charges.
The AWS Impact Accelerator is designed for early-stage startups led by underrepresented founders, including Black, women, Latino, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. It provides $125,000 in cash and up to $100,000 in AWS credits, along with training, mentoring, and technical guidance.
The AWS AI accelerator offers up to $300,000 in credits for startups focused on generative AI. This program includes mentorship, technical support for AWS services, and a demo day. The 2023 cohort is already in progress, so watch out for upcoming editions.
The Pegasus program, which is by invitation only, operates as an accelerator program. It grants startups access to Microsoft's sales channels, industry-specific technical expertise, and dedicated support for any cloud-related inquiries.
To qualify for credits from any of these additional programs, you should not have already received credits from the primary programs mentioned earlier.
If your startup is heavily focused on artificial intelligence, take advantage of the substantial cloud credits available from these providers. Explore how you can integrate AI into your solutions for added value.
If you're an unfunded startup and haven't participated in any startup programs before, consider this as an opportunity to align your startup's value proposition and gain valuable insights about the market.
If your target customers are corporate clients, Microsoft's program offers attractive incentives in terms of networking opportunities and expert guidance.
When dealing with large datasets and machine learning models, Google's BigQuery remains unmatched.
Don't let the array of services overwhelm you. Start with a manageable scope, expand as your startup grows, and optimize along the way.
If you're in the early stages and primarily testing prototypes without substantial scale or demand, consider using tools that simplify cloud complexities, such as Argonaut, Vercel, Cloudways, or Netlify.
Experiment with switching between different cloud providers to access more free credits and benefits.
Free training and support
Access to Google's network of mentors and investors
Discounts on other Google products and services
Not all cloud services are created equal. Some services are more expensive than others. Do some research to figure out which services you need and how much they cost.
Once you've chosen the services you need, make sure you're using them efficiently. There are a number of ways to optimize your cloud usage, such as using reserved instances and spot instances.
It's important to monitor your cloud costs regularly so you can catch any unexpected spikes in spending. Google Cloud offers a number of tools to help you monitor your costs, such as the Cost Explorer.
Google Chrome Startup Cloud Credits can be a great way to save money on your cloud costs. By following the tips above, you can make the most of your credits and help your startup grow.
Here’s an informative guide on maximizing startup credits and common pitfalls to avoid.
If you're a startup, you may be wondering if it's possible to switch between cloud providers and still get free credits. The answer is yes!
All of the major cloud providers offer free credit programs to startups. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when switching between providers:
Each provider has its own eligibility criteria for its free credit program. Be sure to check the eligibility requirements before you switch providers.
Before you switch providers, be sure to export all of your data from your current provider. This will make it easier to migrate your data to your new provider.
Once you've exported your data from your current provider, you can import it into your new provider. This process will vary depending on the provider you're switching to.
Be sure to keep track of your billing cycles with each provider so you know when your free credits expire.
Once your free credits with your new provider expire, you can switch back to your original provider and take advantage of their free credit program again.
Once you've switched cloud providers, you'll be eligible for the free credit program offered by your new provider. This means that you can double or even triple your overall cloud credits by switching between providers.
Not all cloud services are created equal. Some services are more expensive than others. Do some research to figure out which services you need and how much they cost.
Once you've chosen the services you need, make sure you're using them efficiently. There are a number of ways to optimize your cloud usage, such as using reserved instances and spot instances.
It's important to monitor your cloud costs regularly so you can catch any unexpected spikes in spending. Google Cloud offers a number of tools to help you monitor your costs, such as the Cost Explorer.
Many cloud providers offer discounts and promotions to startups and other customers. Be sure to check the provider's website for the latest deals.
By following these tips, you can switch cloud providers and get more free credits without any major disruptions to your business.
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