Aiven Startup Program: credits for managed open-source data services

What you get

• From $12,000 up to $100,000 in Aiven credits, used over 12 months
• Office hours and 1:1 mentoring with Aiven technical experts and startup advisors
• Startup Slack community, startup events and promotion on Aiven's blog and social channels
• Perks unlock in levels based on your activity and usage

Eligibility

• Founded no more than 7 years ago
• Raised external funding up to Series B, or (if not yet funded) affiliated with an Aiven partner accelerator, incubator or co-working space
• Has a company website and a business email
• Not an agency, consultancy, NGO or educational institution. Current paying customers with a monthly invoice under $400 may qualify

Aiven only gives this offer to startups referred by one of its partner investors, accelerators or communities. Check with your investor or accelerator for a referral code first.

How the Aiven startup program works

Credit types and validity

• Aiven platform credits from $12,000 up to $100,000, used over 12 months; tier set by stage and funding
• Office hours and 1:1 access to Aiven technical experts
• Startup program Slack, startup-focused virtual events, and promotion on Aiven's blog and social channels

How the credits are applied and when they expire

Apply at aiven.io/startups with your company email, funding stage and investor or partner details. Once accepted, book the required kickoff session from Aiven's email; credits then cover Aiven services for 12 months and expire at the end of the programme. If you aren't ready to use them yet, say so in the form so the start date can be adjusted. Extensions are not guaranteed.

Approval time

Allow 14 days for review; Aiven accepts new startups every month

For founders in India

No India-specific terms published. Indian startups qualify on the same age, funding and business-email criteria; Aiven services can run on major clouds and regions, including Indian regions where your chosen cloud offers them.

How to apply, step by step

1. Go to aiven.io/startups and click 'Apply Now'
2. Apply with your company email and give your funding stage and investor or partner affiliation
3. If you are not ready to use credits yet, say so in the form so the start date can be adjusted
4. Allow 14 days for review. New startups are accepted every month
5. Once accepted, book the required kickoff session using the link Aiven sends

Documents and details to keep ready

• Business email address
• Company website
• Proof of affiliation with a VC investor and/or an Aiven ecosystem partner

Common reasons applications are declined

• Founded more than 7 years ago
• No external funding (pre-seed to Series B) and no affiliation with an Aiven partner
• Agencies, consultancies, NGOs and educational institutions are excluded
• Startup credits already received once before

Tips before you apply

• Apply with your company-domain email, not Gmail; Aiven uses it to verify you
• Note in the form if you want a later start date, because the 12-month clock runs from activation
• Book the kickoff session promptly after acceptance
• Existing paying customers with a monthly invoice under $400 may still qualify

Terms to know

• Credits generally last 12 months and expire at the end of the programme. Extensions are not guaranteed
• Startup credits can only be received once