AssemblyAI startup program: credits and startup pricing for voice AI teams

What you get

• '12 months of recurring free credits' (amount not published) for the Speech-to-text, Streaming speech-to-text and Dictation APIs
• Discounted startup pricing that continues after credits run out, with standard pricing phased in gradually
• A dedicated Forward Deployed Engineer who contacts you in week one
• Co-marketing opportunities and access to a voice AI builder community

Eligibility

• Early-stage: pre-seed to Series A; bootstrapped teams are welcome
• Building a product with voice or audio at its core
• In production or launching within 6 months

How the AssemblyAI startup program works

Credit types and validity

• 12 months of recurring free credits (amount not published) for Speech-to-text, Streaming speech-to-text and Dictation APIs
• Discounted startup pricing after credits run out, phased gradually to standard pricing
• A dedicated Forward Deployed Engineer from week one
• Co-marketing and a voice AI builder community

How the credits are applied and when they expire

Fill in the short application at assemblyai.com/contact/startup-program (what you're building, stage, investors; no deck). Once approved, credits land in your console within 48 hours. They are a fixed amount spread over 12 months. Afterwards, discounted startup pricing continues and steps up gradually; it does not apply to LLM Gateway.

Approval time

Within one week; 48 hours for portfolio companies of partner VCs such as Accel and Y Combinator

For founders in India

No India-specific terms published; bootstrapped Indian teams qualify on the same stage and product criteria.

How to apply, step by step

1. Go to assemblyai.com/contact/startup-program
2. Fill in the short application: what you're building, your stage and who backs you (no deck required)
3. Wait for a decision: within one week, or 48 hours for portfolio companies of partner VCs such as Accel and Y Combinator
4. Once approved, credits land in your console within 48 hours

Documents and details to keep ready

• No pitch deck required
• Form asks what you're building, your stage and your investors

Common reasons applications are declined

• Later than Series A
• Voice or audio is not core to the product
• Not in production or launching within 6 months

Tips before you apply

• Mention partner-VC backing (e.g. Accel, Y Combinator) for a 48-hour decision
• Pace usage — credits are a fixed amount spread across 12 months
• Budget LLM Gateway at standard rates; startup pricing excludes it

Terms to know

• Discounted pricing does not apply to LLM Gateway
• Credits are a fixed amount spread over 12 months