What GitHub offers startups
GitHub Copilot for Startups provides eligible startups with up to $10,000 in GitHub Copilot Business credits. That covers the entire Copilot suite: code completions, Copilot Chat, code review, and the new agent mode — across Claude (Sonnet & Opus), GPT-4 / GPT-5, and Gemini models, all inside VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Visual Studio, Neovim, and Xcode.
For most software startups, Copilot is the highest-leverage AI tool you can give your team. Code completions alone reliably save 20–40% of typing time, and Copilot Chat with multiple frontier models means you don't need separate ChatGPT or Claude subscriptions for engineering work. $10k buys roughly 25–40 seats for a year — enough for a sizable team.
Everything in the program
- Up to $10,000 in GitHub Copilot Business credits
- AI code completions in VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, Neovim, Xcode
- Copilot Chat with multi-model support (Claude Sonnet/Opus, GPT-4/5, Gemini)
- Copilot code review (PR review automation)
- Copilot agent mode for multi-file refactors and full-task execution
- Organization-level policy controls and audit logs
Who qualifies
- Must be admitted to the broader GitHub for Startups program
- Startup under 10 years old, fewer than 20 employees
- Backed by an approved GitHub for Startups partner
- Not currently a paying Copilot Business customer
- Have a valid GitHub organization (not just personal accounts)
The application path
- Apply to GitHub for Startups via your approved partner (accelerator, VC, or incubator)
- During the application, indicate interest in Copilot for Startups
- GitHub reviews and provisions Copilot seats alongside your Enterprise plan
- Assign Copilot seats to engineers via the organization settings
- Begin using Copilot in your IDE of choice
Maximize your approval odds
- Copilot Chat lets you switch models mid-conversation — try Claude Opus for complex refactors and GPT-5 for general questions
- Enable Copilot code review on PRs to catch bugs before human review
- Agent mode is best for well-scoped tasks (e.g., "convert this component to TypeScript") — not open-ended research
- Use organization policies to block public-code suggestions if your customers require it for compliance
Founders ask before applying
How much in GitHub Copilot credits can my startup get?
Up to $10,000 in GitHub Copilot Business credits, valid for 12 months — enough for roughly 25–40 seats for a year.
Which AI models does GitHub Copilot support?
Copilot supports Claude (Sonnet and Opus), GPT-4 / GPT-5, and Gemini, switchable per-conversation in Copilot Chat.
Do I need GitHub for Startups to qualify for Copilot credits?
Yes — Copilot for Startups is bundled with the broader GitHub for Startups program. Apply for that first.
Can I use Copilot agent mode with startup credits?
Yes. Agent mode, code review, and Copilot Chat are all included in Copilot Business and covered by the credit allocation.