Last updated: April 2026
GPU compute is the single most expensive line item for any team training or running ML models at scale. The good news: you can get over $250,000 in free H100, A100, and B200 access through 6 programs that do not require equity, do not require VC funding, and do not require an accelerator. NVIDIA Inception alone is the gateway program that unlocks tier upgrades at most other GPU providers. Here is the complete 2026 map: 6 programs, exact credit amounts, eligibility rules, and direct application links.
This is the third article in the free credits series. Previously: $500K in cloud credits and $400K in AI API credits.
NVIDIA Inception
- Credits: Free program, no equity. Training, SDKs, hardware discounts plus up to $100K AWS credits through partnership
- Eligibility: Open to AI/ML startups. 19,000+ members already enrolled
- Duration: Ongoing membership
- How to apply: nvidia.com/inception
- Extras: The gateway program. NVIDIA Inception membership unlocks higher tiers at Nebius, CoreWeave, and other GPU providers. Apply here first, then leverage membership elsewhere
Modal for Startups
- Credits: $500 to $50K on GPU (B200, H100)
- Eligibility: Under 5 years old
- Duration: 1 year
- How to apply: modal.com/startups
- Extras: Serverless GPU infrastructure. No cluster management needed. Pay only for what you use. Good for burst workloads and experimentation
Groq for Startups
- Credits: $10K on fast LLM inference
- Eligibility: Apply through selection or VC
- Duration: 90 days
- How to apply: Direct via Groq website
- Extras: Fastest LLM inference available (LPU architecture). Ideal for latency-sensitive applications. Short duration but high value per dollar
CoreWeave Accelerator Program
- Credits: GPU cloud credits (amount not publicly specified) plus compute discounts
- Eligibility: AI- and ML-focused startups solving complex problems with high-performance GPU compute
- Duration: Open-ended (no set deadline)
- How to apply: coreweave.com
- Extras: Access to 10+ NVIDIA GPU SKUs (A100, H100), dedicated support engineers, VC introductions. Also offers CoreWeave Ventures, a "compute-for-equity" program where credits serve as the investment
Vast.ai Startup Program
- Credits: Up to $2,500 in free GPU credits
- Eligibility: AI startups looking to move GPU workloads to Vast.ai
- Duration: Not publicly specified
- How to apply: Contact Vast.ai directly to discuss project details and compute needs. Credits finalized after discussion
- Extras: 24/7 priority support, full GPU marketplace access (consumer-grade to H200s/A100s), SOC 2 Type II certified, GDPR/HIPAA-aligned configurations. Claims up to 81% savings vs. major cloud GPU providers. Launched February 2026, relatively new program
Nebius AI for Startups (AI Lift)
- Credits: Up to $150,000 in cloud credits plus $10,000 inference credits (via NVIDIA Inception partnership). Self-serve tiers: AI Explorer ($5K), AI Builder (up to $100K + $6K inference), AI Scaler (custom)
- Eligibility: AI-focused startups, bootstrapped to pre-Series B. AI Lift tier requires NVIDIA Inception membership. AI Explorer requires no partner affiliation
- Duration: Not publicly specified, tied to program tier
- How to apply: nebius.com/startup-program or through NVIDIA Inception partnership
- Extras: Priority access to NVIDIA H100/H200/Blackwell GPUs. Co-branding/case study participation expected. 7 to 10 business day review
Which program did you apply for? Reply or comment, I update this list with real approval data, friction levels, and any program changes I learn about.
Next in the series: free database credits ($500K across PostgreSQL, MongoDB, vector databases, and data warehouses). Subscribe to get notified when it drops.
