Anthropic expanded its Claude for Startups program on Tuesday, offering qualifying companies a free year of Claude Team — its paid plan for groups with up to five premium seats — plus $1,000 in API credits for building with Claude. The program, which launched as part of Anthropic's SF Tech Week event, also gives startups access to the Claude Marketplace for building plug-ins and the option to book virtual office hours with Anthropic's Applied AI team.
The company stated it created the program because it believes "the benefits of AI will reach most people through the companies that build on top of models, rather than through the models alone." This makes partnering closely with founders and developers central to its mission.
Eligibility and Application
Companies qualify if they were founded within the last five years or received funding in the last two years. Interested applicants can apply through the Claude for Startups program page.
Program Benefits
- Free year of Claude Team (normally a paid group plan)
- $1,000 in API credits for Claude model usage
- Access to Claude Marketplace for building plug-ins
- Virtual office hours with Anthropic's Applied AI team
Anthropic's strategy focuses on the ecosystem of companies building on top of its models, positioning these partnerships as central to delivering AI benefits to end users.