OpenAI Startup Program

The OpenAI Startup Program provides API credits, higher rate limits and early model access to startups building heavily on OpenAI models, usually accessed through partner VCs/accelerators or specific cohorts. It is essential for GenAI-first products managing inference costs. Because access typically requires a referral from a partner VC or accelerator rather than a direct application, startups usually first need to be portfolio companies of, or accepted into, one of OpenAI's partner programmes before credits are unlocked. The credit allocation is aimed squarely at GenAI-first products where LLM inference cost is a meaningful line item, and higher rate limits plus early model access are the main non-monetary benefits beyond the credits themselves.