Eligible startups receive $10,000 in GitHub credits to use across the full GitHub Enterprise platform for up to 12 months.

Credits are applied to the startup’s Enterprise account and are used toward their GitHub Enterprise license costs and eligible add-ons, including GitHub Copilot (licenses, premium models, and agentic capabilities), GitHub Advanced Security, and other metered offerings—giving teams the flexibility to adopt the tools they need as they grow.

Eligible startups must be affiliated with a GitHub for Startups partner, have received outside funding (up to Series B or earlier), and be new to GitHub Enterprise - meaning they have not been on a GitHub Enterprise plan within the past six months. Startups must also not have previously received GitHub credits or GitHub Enterprise licenses.

If you are new to GitHub Enterprise and have not previously received credits or licenses, you are eligible for GitHub for Startups benefits.

This refers to startups that are either using GitHub Enterprise for the first time, or that previously used GitHub Enterprise but have not been on an Enterprise plan within the past six months, and have not previously received credits.

If you’re not currently eligible for GitHub for Startups but would like to try GitHub’s premium features (Enterprise, Advanced Security, Copilot), you can sign up for a trial here.

Yes, any investor, incubator, or accelerator is eligible. Share this link to refer your partner.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the startup team at startups@github.com.

If your application is approved, the GitHub for Startups benefits will be applied directly to your account, and the account admin will receive an onboarding email within 24 hours. If ineligible, we’ll notify you of the reason.

You can apply to be an investor partner by applying on our application page. We partner with leading VCs, incubators, and accelerators dedicated to helping early-stage startups succeed.

• Credits Application: Credits will be applied only to the Enterprise account submitted in this application and cannot be transferred to another account.

• One-Time Redemption: Startups may redeem the GitHub for Startups offer only once. If you have previously received GitHub Enterprise credits through Microsoft or GitHub for Startups you are not eligible to receive additional credits. Accounts found to be in violation of these terms may have credits revoked at GitHub’s discretion.

• Payment Method: Please expect an authorization charge on your payment method within a few weeks of onboarding. Failure to have a valid payment method on file or a failed authorization will result in your account being locked.

• Program Duration: Credits are valid for up to 12 months from approval. Credits expire upon full consumption or at the end of the 12-month period, whichever occurs first.

• Automatic Billing Transition: Upon credit exhaustion or program expiration, any active products will automatically transition to standard paid billing and will be charged to the payment method on file.

• Primary Contact Responsibility: All important program and billing communications are sent to the primary email address of the Enterprise account owner(s). Participants are responsible for monitoring this inbox.

• Downgrades: Participants may downgrade from GitHub Enterprise at any time. However, if the account is downgraded before credits are fully consumed or the program period ends, the startup forfeits any remaining credits and will not be eligible to reapply.