Scale up Your Startup

Why did Aiven launch the Aiven for Startups program?

Startup programs were key to Aiven’s early growth — they helped us scale into the unicorn we are today. Now that we’re more established, we’re giving back by supporting the next generation of startups with credits, technical guidance, and community so they can scale up and succeed too.

What does Aiven do?

Aiven makes setting up and running cloud data infrastructure simple, secure, and fully managed, so you can focus on building your product, not your databases.

We offer reliable, open-source technologies — like Apache Kafka, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Apache Flink, ClickHouse, and OpenSearch — deployed in minutes on all major cloud platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure).

With Aiven, you keep full control of your data: move it between cloud regions and providers whenever you need to — without vendor lock-in. We handle the heavy lifting so you can use your data to grow, experiment, and innovate.

What are the eligibility criteria for startups?

To be eligible to apply to Aiven for Startups startup program, you need:

1. Proof of affiliation with a VC investor and/or with one our ecosystem partners.
2. To have been founded no more than 7 years ago.
3. To have raised external funding (up to Series B).
4. Company website and a business email address.

The Aiven for Startups program is only available to innovative technology companies and at the moment is not open to agencies, consulting companies, NGOs or educational institutions.

How many credits can I get?

The credit value depends on your stage of growth and funding. We'll use the information provided in your application to determine your credit tier, it can be as high as $100,000. You'll be informed the amount of credits you are eligible for when you're accepted into the program.

How can we participate if we don’t have investor backing?

If you haven't raised funding yet, you can still apply as long as you are affiliated with one of the accelerators, incubators or co-working spaces in our partner network.

Can existing Aiven customers apply to the Aiven for Startups program?

Yes, but decision on your eligibility will be made case-by-case.

What is the application process and timeline?

Applications are reviewed and accepted continually, with new participants selected each month. Once you apply, please give us 14 days to review your application and, if needed, get back to you with any additional questions.

Newly accepted startups join the program on a rolling basis. Once you're accepted, you'll receive a link to reserve your personal kickoff session that is required to start your journey!

Please note that Aiven reserves the right to change the schedule as necessary.

I am not associated with any of the startup program's partners. Can I still apply?

No problem. We can accept you into the program as long as you've raised VC funding up to series B!

I want to join the program but I am not ready to use the credits right away. Should I still apply?

Yes, you should still apply and indicate in the application form that you would like to start using credits later on. We can then discuss and adjust the starting date for you.

Where can I find the full list of network partners affiliated with Aiven for Startups?

Here is a full list of partners associated with Aiven for Startups.

What perks do I get in the Aiven for Startups program?

When you join Aiven for Startups, you get way more than credits. You'll unlock a full support system to help your startup grow faster.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Aiven credits — Up to $100,000 to run Aiven’s fully managed open-source data services for 12 months.
• Office hours & 1:1 mentoring — Direct access to our technical experts and startup advisors to help you solve challenges, plan your architecture and get the most from Aiven.
• Community & knowledge sharing — Connect with other founders and engineers in our Startup Slack, ask questions and learn from peers and Aiven Crabs alike.
• Promotion — We love to showcase your progress! You can get a chance to be featured on our blog, social channels and events.
• Events & online events — Join special sessions tailored for startups on topics like data infrastructure, scaling your product and more.

Perks are allocated to levels and those levels are unlocked throughout the program based on your startup’s activity and usage of Aiven. The more you lean in, the more support and exposure you’ll get!

We offer free credits through the Aiven for Startups program generally for a 12-month period to help early-stage companies get off the ground quickly. With so many amazing startups now part of the program, we've set up a system to keep things fair and consistent for every participating startup.

However, we understand that startup's growth journey is not always linear. You can request credit extension by contacting our team. The extension is not guaranteed and we require strong reasoning and indicators of growth to consider the request.

You may still be eligible for the program.
If you are a current paying customer with a monthly invoice under $400, you can be accepted into the program if you satisfy other criteria.

We're dedicated to building a thriving and focused startup ecosystem within the Aiven for Startups program.

To ensure that every startup joining through our partners receives the best possible experience and tailored support, we carefully select our strategic collaborations. We look for and accept partnerships that bring in startups with strong technical alignment and where our platforms truly complement each other. This thoughtful approach allows us to provide deep engagement and customized support to every startup we welcome.

We focus on fostering partnerships that clearly demonstrate mutual value and a long-term alignment with our program's goals.

Think you'd be a great fit as a partner for Aiven for Startups? Fill out the short form here and we'll get back to you shortly!

What are the terms and conditions of the Aiven for Startups program?

When an applicant submits the application form, the applicant must agree to acknowledge that the use of the Aiven services is subject to Aiven online T&Cs which are to be accepted when signing in to the Aiven console, and that Aiven may always stop giving free credits or cancel any credits given.

The amount of credits awarded to successful applicants is up to $100,000 depending on the use of services.

Aiven reserves the right to cancel credits in order to be able to react in the event participant would breach the online T&Cs or would otherwise use the credits against the purpose of the Aiven for Startups program.

What happens if I don’t use all my credits within the year?

Your credits are valid for 12 months, so if you haven’t used them by the end of the program, they will expire.

Can I apply for credits more than once?

No. You can only receive Startup credits once.

I started out on the lowest credit tier and I am now affiliated with one of the Aiven for Startups partners. Can I get more credits?

Yes, you can access the difference between the lowest tier and the amount you are eligible for through affiliation with our partner. We can’t extend the time frame when you can use the credits, but we can grant you the difference. Reach out to us at cluster@aiven.io to discuss the details.

Do I have to continue using Aiven after the Aiven for Startups program ends?

We don’t ask you to commit to using Aiven after you run out of credits. However, we think that you are going to like the product and and hope you'll stay with Aiven for the long run.