Funding, credits and support for startups everywhere.
Global accelerators and cloud credits, industry tracks for AI, fintech, health, climate and more, and government support in 8 countries and regions. Every card links to the official source. Updated October 2026.
Global accelerators, credits and tools
These accept founders from most countries. Terms, credit amounts and deadlines change, so check the official page before you apply.
Y Combinator
A three-month programme with investment, a peer group of founders and Demo Day. Founders from any country can apply.
- Stage
- Idea to early revenue
- Apply
- Online, several batches a year
Techstars
Mentor-led accelerator programmes in many cities, several of them focused on one industry.
- Stage
- Early-stage startups
- Format
- Three-month programmes with investment
500 Global
Early-stage investor with accelerator programmes in several regions, including emerging markets.
- Stage
- Early-stage
- Focus
- Tech startups across regions
Antler
Helps individuals meet co-founders and build a company from scratch, with programmes in many countries.
- Stage
- Before you have a team or idea
- Format
- Residency, then pre-seed investment
Entrepreneur First
Backs ambitious individuals before they have a co-founder or a company.
- Stage
- Pre-team, pre-idea
- Format
- Cohort programme with investment
Google for Startups
Google Cloud credits, technical help and regional accelerators. A separate AI tier offers larger credits.
- Who
- Early-stage startups; higher tiers usually need funding from an institutional investor
- Bonus
- Accelerators for AI, climate and regional founders
AWS Activate
AWS credits, training and technical support for startups.
- Who
- Self-funded startups and those backed by accelerators or VCs
- Tip
- Ask your accelerator or investor for an Activate provider code
Microsoft for Startups
Azure credits, developer tools and access to AI models through Azure.
- Who
- Early-stage software startups
- Tip
- Credits grow as you verify funding or traction
Stripe Atlas
Form a US company (Delaware C-corp or LLC) online, with a bank account and payments, from most countries.
- Best for
- Founders selling to or raising from the US
- Includes
- Incorporation, EIN, banking partners, Stripe account
Programmes and rules for your sector
Where to find money and help in 8 sectors, and the rules that most often catch founders out.
AI and machine learning
Compute is the biggest early cost for most AI startups, so start with the credit programmes. Then plan for data and AI rules early, especially if you sell into Europe.
- Google for Startups Cloud Program (AI tier) larger cloud and GPU credits for AI-first startups
- NVIDIA Inception free programme with training, hardware discounts and investor exposure
- AWS Generative AI Accelerator cohort programme with credits and mentoring
- Microsoft for Startups Azure credits and access to AI models
Watch for: EU AI Act duties if you sell in Europe, data protection laws (GDPR, India DPDP Act, US state laws), and the licence terms of any model or dataset you build on. EU AI Act overview →
Fintech
Most fintech products need a licence or a regulated partner before launch. Regulatory sandboxes let you test with real customers under supervision.
- UK FCA Innovation Hub and sandbox test regulated products with real users
- MAS FinTech Regulatory Sandbox Singapore’s sandbox for financial services
- RBI regulatory sandbox themed cohorts in India
- US CFPB consumer finance rules in the United States
Watch for: Payment, lending and e-money licences, KYC and anti-money-laundering checks, and data security standards such as PCI DSS.
Health, medtech and biotech
Long timelines and strict rules, but also some of the largest non-dilutive grants available to startups.
- NIH SEED (SBIR/STTR) US federal funding for health and life-science startups
- FDA Digital Health Center of Excellence guidance for software and digital health products
- EIC Accelerator EU grant plus equity for deep-tech and medtech
Watch for: HIPAA in the US, the EU Medical Device Regulation (CE marking), CDSCO approval in India, and clinical evidence requirements.
Climate and cleantech
Climate startups can combine grants, programme support and patient capital from climate-focused funds.
- Breakthrough Energy Fellows funding and support for early climate technologies
- US Department of Energy SBIR/STTR R&D grants for energy technology
- EIC Accelerator EU funding for breakthrough innovation
Watch for: Environmental and carbon claims must be backed by evidence. Regulators in the EU, UK and US are cracking down on greenwashing.
E-commerce and D2C brands
Margins depend on marketing costs, returns and logistics, so get your pricing and tax set-up right early.
- Google Merchant Center free product listings on Google Shopping
- Stripe Atlas US entity and payments for cross-border sellers
- EU VAT One Stop Shop one VAT return for EU-wide online sales
Watch for: Sales tax, VAT or GST on cross-border orders, consumer protection and returns rules, and product labelling. Pricing strategies guide →
SaaS and software
Plenty of free and discounted software is available to startups. Enterprise buyers will ask about security early.
- HubSpot for Startups discounted CRM and marketing tools
- Atlassian for Startups free Jira and Confluence for eligible startups
- GitHub for Startups GitHub Enterprise credits
Watch for: Data protection laws (GDPR and others), and security reviews such as SOC 2 or ISO 27001 for larger customers. Lean Canvas guide →
Hardware and manufacturing
Hardware needs more capital before revenue: prototypes, tooling, certification and stock.
- HAX hardware-focused accelerator and investor
- SBIR/STTR US R&D grants that fund many hardware startups
- Innovate UK UK grants for R&D and prototypes
Watch for: Product safety certification (CE in Europe, FCC in the US, BIS in India), minimum order quantities and import duties. Supply chain drivers guide →
Food, agritech and consumer goods
Food businesses must register with the food regulator before they sell, and labelling rules differ by country.
- US FDA food facility registration required for most food sold in the US
- UK Food Standards Agency registration and labelling guidance
- FSSAI (India) food business licence and registration
Watch for: Food safety registration, ingredient and allergen labelling, shelf-life testing and import rules. Market segmentation guide →
Government support in major startup markets
The official places to register, get funding and find tax incentives. Your country not listed? Ask us and we will point you to the right portal.
United States
- SBA small business loans, guides and free local advice through SBDCs
- SBIR/STTR federal R&D funding, reauthorised through 2031
- Delaware Division of Corporations where many venture-backed startups incorporate
- IRS EIN federal tax ID for your business
United Kingdom
- Companies House register a limited company online
- SEIS and EIS tax relief that makes your shares more attractive to investors
- Innovate UK grants for innovation projects
- Start Up Loans government-backed personal loans with mentoring
European Union
- EIC Accelerator grant and equity for deep-tech startups and SMEs
- Horizon Europe the EU research and innovation programme
- Your Europe: Business rules for starting and running a business in each EU country
- VAT One Stop Shop simplified VAT for cross-border sales
India
- Startup India DPIIT recognition and tax benefits
- Startup India Seed Fund seed funding through incubators
- MCA company and LLP registration
- All 9 Indian schemes MUDRA, PMEGP, CGTMSE, Udyam and more, below
Singapore
- Startup SG grants, equity co-investment and support schemes
- ACRA BizFile+ register a company
- Enterprise Singapore grants for growth and going overseas
United Arab Emirates
- Hub71 Abu Dhabi tech ecosystem with incentive packages
- Dubai Future Foundation programmes for future-tech startups
- UAE government business portal mainland and free-zone company set-up
Canada
Australia
- R&D Tax Incentive tax offset for eligible R&D
- business.gov.au grants finder search federal and state grants
- Australian Business Register get an ABN
Other countries
- Google for Startups Accelerators regional programmes for Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and more
- Your company registry and tax authority the official place to register and get a tax ID
- Ask Googlesir tell us your country and we will find the right portals
9 Indian schemes and programmes in detail
Limits and rules change. Always confirm current details on the official website before applying.
Startup India (DPIIT recognition)
Official recognition for eligible startups that unlocks tax, compliance and IPR benefits.
- Who
- Private limited companies, LLPs and registered partnerships up to 10 years old with turnover under ₹100 crore, working on innovation
- Key benefits
- Possible income tax holiday under Section 80-IAC (3 of the first 10 years, with IMB approval), self-certification under some labour and environment laws, rebates on patent and trademark fees
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
Early-stage funding routed through selected incubators.
- Who
- DPIIT-recognised startups, generally incorporated within the last 2 years
- Support
- Up to ₹20 lakh for proof of concept or prototype, and up to ₹50 lakh for market entry or commercialisation
PM MUDRA Yojana
Collateral-free loans for micro and small non-farm businesses through banks, NBFCs and MFIs.
- Categories
- Shishu up to ₹50,000; Kishore up to ₹5 lakh; Tarun up to ₹10 lakh; Tarun Plus up to ₹20 lakh for borrowers who repaid a Tarun loan
- Apply
- Any bank branch or the Udyamimitra portal
PMEGP
Credit-linked subsidy for new micro enterprises, run by KVIC.
- Project cost
- Up to ₹50 lakh for manufacturing and ₹20 lakh for service units
- Subsidy
- Roughly 15% to 35% of project cost depending on category and location
Stand-Up India
Bank loans for greenfield enterprises set up by women and SC/ST entrepreneurs.
- Loan size
- ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore
- Use
- Manufacturing, services, trading or agri-allied activities
CGTMSE
Government-backed guarantee that lets banks lend to micro and small enterprises without collateral.
- Cover
- Collateral-free loans for eligible micro and small enterprises; the ceiling was raised in Budget 2025
- Apply
- Through your lending bank
Udyam Registration
Free, paperless MSME registration that gives access to many MSME schemes and protections.
- Cost
- Free
- Benefits
- Priority sector lending, delayed-payment protection under the MSMED Act, scheme eligibility
Fund of Funds for Startups
Government capital invested in startups through SEBI-registered venture funds, managed by SIDBI.
- How it works
- You raise from a VC fund that has received FFS commitments
- Managed by
- SIDBI
State startup policies
Most states run their own startup policy, often with grants, incubation support and reimbursements on top of central schemes.
- Typical support
- Seed or sustenance grants, patent cost reimbursement, incubator space, and fee rebates (these vary by state)
- Find yours
- Your state’s startup or industries department portal
Starting a company, step by step, in any country
The order most founders follow. Names differ by country, so the last column gives examples.
| Step | What it involves | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Validate the idea | Talk to potential customers and test demand before spending on set-up | Our product-market fit guide |
| 2. Choose a structure | Sole trader, partnership, LLP or LLC, or a private company | Ltd (UK), C-corp or LLC (US), Pvt Ltd (India) |
| 3. Decide where to incorporate | Usually your home country; a second entity only if investors or customers need it | Delaware, UK, Singapore or UAE are common choices |
| 4. Register the company | File with the company registry | Companies House, Delaware, MCA, ACRA |
| 5. Get tax IDs | Business tax number and employer registration | EIN (US), UTR (UK), PAN and TAN (India) |
| 6. Open a business bank account | Keep business money separate from day one | A local bank, or a digital bank for cross-border founders |
| 7. Register for sales tax when required | VAT, GST or sales tax once you cross a threshold or sell across borders | VAT (UK, EU), GST (India, Australia, Singapore), state sales tax (US) |
| 8. Licences, trademarks and contracts | Sector licences, trademark your name, a founders agreement with vesting | Your local registry and trademark office |
| 9. Set up bookkeeping and compliance | Invoicing, expense tracking and a calendar of filing dates | An accountant plus accounting software |
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