DigitalOcean Startups Program 2026

About

A grant program providing free cloud resources and technical support for AI-native startups, designed to help them scale their operations and access essential tools for development. Participants will benefit from a tailored support system that includes mentorship and networking opportunities with industry partners.

Benefits

• ☁️ Cloud Credits
  Free cloud credits on the DigitalOcean platform for 12 months, customized based on needs
• 🛠️ Technical Support
• 15 months of free standard technical support and one-on-one expert guidance
• 🌐Community Networking
  Access to a startup community for networking and collaboration opportunities
• 🤝Partner Services
  Discounts and credits from partners like Stripe, Airtable, Notion, and Hubspot
• 📈Resource Access
  Access to AI cloud platform resources tailored for startups

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a new AI-native startup that has not previously applied for cloud resource subsidies from DigitalOcean
• Only product-based startups are eligible; consulting, software development, and marketing service companies are not accepted
• Must have a company website and corresponding business email
• Must have a valid credit card
• Must register for a DigitalOcean team account

Participation Commitments

• Must register for a DigitalOcean team account
• Must provide a valid credit card for account verification
• Must maintain a company website and business email
• Participation in community networking events may be required

Target Region

Open to startups globally

Target Sector

Focused on AI-native startups