Formerly known as Hatch, DigitalOcean offers support initiative that provides early-stage companies with access to cloud infrastructure credits, expert support, mentorship, and community exposure. If you’re planning on building with DigitalOcean, you won’t want to miss this opportunity.

• Compute Credits over 12 months, available to cover development, deployment, and growth needs.
• Note that the credits do not cover GPU Droplet usage
• Free access to Standard-tier paid support for 15 months
• Connections to DigitalOcean’s product managers, engineers, and more for personalized guidance
• Access to the DigitalOcean Marketplace to get your tools in front of an audience

Eligibility is pretty similar to credit programs from other providers. In general, they’re looking for early-stage startups that are new customers and can show how they’ll be using the credits to power their product. They prioritize AI-native startups, and service-based startups are not eligible.

• Your company must have raised $10m or less
• Must have a company website and company email address
• Must create a registered DigitalOcean team account with a company email
• Must not have previously received DigitalOcean credits

To apply:

• Prepare your startup’s assets:
• Create a DigitalOcean team account using a business email that matches your company’s domain.
• Make sure your company website is public and operational.
• Complete the online form and include information about your company, product, and team.
• If applicable, include referral information from a partner to unlock higher credit tiers.
  • If you’re not currently backed by a VC, incubator, or accelerator program, select “Other” when prompted for an affiliated partner organization.
• DigitalOcean typically reviews and responds to applications within 3 to 10 business days.

• Use your company domain email to apply, rather than a generic email like Gmail or Outlook. This adds credibility and aligns with DigitalOcean’s verification checks.
• Mention any affiliations with recognized accelerators or VCs to strengthen your application and potentially access larger credit amounts.
• Describe your product clearly, focusing on its technical components and how you plan to use cloud or GPU resources.
• Plan your usage of credits across the 12-month duration, since they are distributed monthly and do not carry over. If you go over, you’ll be charged for the extra.

• GPU Droplet usage is separate. Core credits will not cover your GPU Droplet usage.
• Direct applicants may receive lower credits than those referred by partners. If you are connected with an incubator or funding body, ask if they are part of DigitalOcean’s partner network. 
• The 12-month window is firm. All credits, whether used or not, expire at the end of 12 months. Start using them early and plan ahead.
• The startup program includes more than just cloud perks. Many startups miss the chance to claim perks like $5,000 in Segment credits, 90% off HubSpot, or GitHub Enterprise seats for a year.

DigitalOcean’s Startups program is a strong offering for startups, especially those building AI, data, or cloud-native products. It provides generous compute credits, technical support, and ecosystem exposure. Whether you’re an early-stage founder or a scaling startup, DigitalOcean offers accessible tools and resources to help you build confidently and grow efficiently.