Prepare the evidence before asking for startup cloud credits.

Most cloud credit conversations fail because the request is too vague.

"Can we get credits?" is not enough. A better request gives the reviewer enough context to route the case:

• Is the startup eligible?
• Which provider fits?
• What credits were already used?
• What workload will the credits support?
• What is the current or projected cloud spend?
• Is there a project, migration, AI workload, or customer deployment?

Use this checklist before applying directly, asking a partner, or booking a cloud-benefit review.

TL;DR

• Prepare company, funding, and legal details.
• List prior AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure credits.
• Pull gross cloud usage before credits.
• Explain the workload and provider fit.
• Include project or migration details if relevant.
• Approval is case-by-case.

1. Company identity

Prepare:

• Legal company name.
• Trading name, if different.
• Website.
• Country of registration.
• Registered address.
• Founded year.
• Founder or decision-maker email.
• Business registration number, if needed.

Why it matters:

Cloud programs often care about startup age, legal status, and whether the company is a real software/product business.

2. Website and product description

Your website should explain:

• What the product does.
• Who uses it.
• Whether it is software-based.
• What stage the product is in.
• Why cloud infrastructure matters.

If the site is vague, fix that first. A clear website is one of the easiest trust signals to improve.

3. Funding and traction

Prepare:

• Funding stage.
• Amount raised, if public or shareable.
• Round date.
• Investors or accelerator.
• Grants, if relevant.
• Customer traction.
• Launch date or roadmap milestone.

Funding is not the only signal, but it often strengthens the case. Customer traction can also matter when it explains future usage.

4. Prior cloud credits

Prepare a simple table:

Do not hide previous credits. They determine what routes are still realistic.

5. Current cloud usage

Prepare:

• Current provider.
• Monthly gross usage before credits.
• Monthly invoice after credits.
• Remaining credit balance.
• Expiry date.
• Top services by cost.
• Usage growth over the last 3 months.

Gross usage matters because credits can hide the real run-rate.

6. Workload details

Prepare a plain-English workload description:

• Hosting or compute.
• AI inference.
• AI training.
• GPUs.
• Data pipelines.
• BigQuery, data warehouse, or analytics.
• Managed databases.
• Kubernetes or container workloads.
• Customer-specific deployments.
• Migration project.

The more specific the workload, the easier it is to match to a support path.

7. Provider fit

For each provider you want to check, explain why it fits:

Avoid saying every provider fits. That sounds like credit shopping.

8. Project or migration details

If you have a project, prepare:

• Project name.
• Business reason.
• Technical owner.
• Timeline.
• Workload.
• Expected usage.
• Current provider.
• Target provider.
• Whether partner-funded professional help would be useful.

Specific projects can unlock routes that generic credit requests do not.

Why partners ask for this information

A serious partner is not only checking whether you fit a public credit form. They are deciding whether there is a real case to route.

That can include:

• Startup credits.
• Credit extension.
• Provider switch.
• Discount.
• Payment terms.
• Funded professional services.
• Migration funding.
• Marketplace or vendor discount path.

The initial review should not cost the startup money. If there is a real provider opportunity, the partner may be paid through provider-side economics such as resale margin, incentives, or funded work.

The documents make the case legible. Without them, nobody can tell whether there is a real provider opportunity or just a request for free credits.

9. Decision-maker and next step

Prepare:

• Who can approve cloud provider changes?
• Who controls billing?
• Who owns infrastructure?
• Who can attend a short confirmation call?
• What decision needs to happen next?

If nobody owns the next step, the review stalls.

One-page prep template

Copy this:

Company:
Website:
Country:
Founded:
Funding stage:
Current provider:
Monthly gross cloud usage:
Credits received before:
Credits remaining / expiry:
Top cloud services:
AI/data/GPU/migration workload:
Provider being checked:
Why this provider fits:
Upcoming launch/project:
Decision-maker:

Sources

• AWS Activate application guide: https://aws.amazon.com/startups/learn/applying-for-aws-activate-credits-a-step-by-step-guide
• Google Cloud Startups: https://cloud.google.com/startup
• Azure startup credit offer: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/signups/startup-programs
• AWS Partner funding benefits: https://aws.amazon.com/partners/funding/
• Google Cloud Partner Network: https://partners.cloud.google.com/
• Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider program details: https://partner.microsoft.com/en-ca/partnership/cloud-solution-provider/program-details