$120,000
Akamai Cloud Rise
- For-profit startups under 7 years old with traction (employees, users, revenue or VC funding), new to Rise
Akamai Startup Credits: Program Explained
Startups under 7 years old with some traction can get up to $120K in Akamai Cloud credits in year one plus discounts in years two and three.
Last verified October 29, 2026
Quick answer
Available programs
Startups under 7 years old with some traction can get up to $120K in Akamai Cloud credits in year one plus discounts in years two and three.
Don’t miss the next $100K in creditsGet monthly updates on new credits, perks, and funding opportunities. Discover $5M+ in credits.
Best for
SaaS, media and gaming startupsBootstrapped teams with real tractionGPU/VM-heavy workloads moving off hyperscalers
Do you qualify for Akamai?
You likely qualify if
- Company is under 7 years old and new to Rise
- You show one traction signal: paid non-founder employees, real users (not friends/family/investors), or initial revenue
- Akamai Cloud will be one of your primary infrastructure providers, with a defined scaling plan
- New startup account with corporate email, matching-domain website, valid card and company entity in the Company field
You won't qualify if
- You are a managed hosting provider, MSP, system integrator or reseller
- Company is 7+ years old
- No traction signal yet (idea-stage)
Common rejection reasons
- No traction signal
- Akamai would not be a primary provider
- Reseller/MSP business model
How to apply for Akamai
- Check eligibility: <7 years old, one traction signal, Akamai as primary provider
- Create a new Akamai Cloud account with corporate email, matching website, card and company entity
- Apply at linode.com/rise
- Interview: if eligible, a team member schedules a call to set your credit amount
- Activate: credits added to your account; next steps with the program coordinator
Stacks well with
Founders who claim Akamai often pair it with these to build a bigger credit stack.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Akamai give startups?
$500 to $120,000 in cloud credits in year 1, discounted services in years 2–3, dedicated support. Startups under 7 years old with some traction can get up to $120K in Akamai Cloud credits in year one plus discounts in years two and three.
Does Akamai take equity?
No. These are non-dilutive credits and perks; you do not give up equity.
Who qualifies for Akamai?
Company is under 7 years old and new to Rise. You show one traction signal: paid non-founder employees, real users (not friends/family/investors), or initial revenue. Akamai Cloud will be one of your primary infrastructure providers, with a defined scaling plan.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed for the main program.
How do I apply for Akamai?
1) Check eligibility: <7 years old, one traction signal, Akamai as primary provider 2) Create a new Akamai Cloud account with corporate email, matching website, card and company entity 3) Apply at linode.com/rise 4) Interview: if eligible, a team member schedules a call to set your credit amount 5) Activate: credits added to your account; next steps with the program coordinator
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Don’t miss the next $100K in credits
Get monthly updates on new credits, perks, and funding opportunities. Discover $5M+ in credits.