12 months of recurring
AssemblyAI Startup Program
- Pre-seed to Series A (bootstrapped welcome) building voice/audio products, in production or shipping within 6 months
AssemblyAI Startup Credits: Program Explained
Early-stage voice AI startups get a year of free speech-to-text credits, then discounted pricing.
Last verified October 29, 2026
Quick answer
Available programs
Early-stage voice AI startups get a year of free speech-to-text credits, then discounted pricing.
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Best for
Products with speech/audio at the coreVoice agents and transcription appsYC and Accel portfolio companies (fast-tracked)
Do you qualify for AssemblyAI?
You likely qualify if
- Pre-seed to Series A, bootstrapped welcome
- Voice or audio is central to the product
- In production or launching within 6 months
- Not currently a paying AssemblyAI customer (free users may apply)
You won't qualify if
- Speech is not a core part of the product
- No launch planned within 6 months
- Already a paying AssemblyAI customer
Common rejection reasons
- Audio/voice not central to the use case
- Product too far from launch
How to apply for AssemblyAI
- Check eligibility: pre-seed to Series A, speech-centric product, launching within 6 months
- Create an AssemblyAI account/API key with the same email you'll apply with
- Apply via the short form at assemblyai.com/startup-program (no deck needed)
- Wait for review: about 1 week, ~48 hours for partner VC/accelerator portfolio companies
- Activate: credits land in your console within 48 hours of approval; a Forward Deployed Engineer reaches out in week one
Stacks well with
Founders who claim AssemblyAI often pair it with these to build a bigger credit stack.
Frequently asked questions
How much does AssemblyAI give startups?
12 months of recurring free credits on core voice APIs, then startup pricing, plus forward deployed engineer support. Early-stage voice AI startups get a year of free speech-to-text credits, then discounted pricing.
Does AssemblyAI take equity?
No. These are non-dilutive credits and perks; you do not give up equity.
Who qualifies for AssemblyAI?
Pre-seed to Series A, bootstrapped welcome. Voice or audio is central to the product. In production or launching within 6 months.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed for the main program.
How do I apply for AssemblyAI?
1) Check eligibility: pre-seed to Series A, speech-centric product, launching within 6 months 2) Create an AssemblyAI account/API key with the same email you'll apply with 3) Apply via the short form at assemblyai.com/startup-program (no deck needed) 4) Wait for review: about 1 week, ~48 hours for partner VC/accelerator portfolio companies 5) Activate: credits land in your console within 48 hours of approval; a Forward Deployed Engineer reaches out in week one
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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.