Anthropic said on Tuesday that it is expanding its Claude Startups program, its latest move to build closer ties with founders and fast-growing companies, CNBC reported. The program first launched in May, and thousands of companies already take part, according to Anthropic. It is now being opened to more organizations.
Members can receive up to $45,000 in discounts and credits through what Anthropic calls the Claude Startup Stack, benefits meant to cover the software and services a young company depends on. Eligible organizations can also claim a one-time $1,000 credit for the company's API and twelve months of Claude Team access covering as many as five premium seats. Anthropic said members can book virtual office hours with its applied AI team and meet other members at events.
To apply, a company must have been founded in the last five years or have raised funding in the last two.
Beth Robertson, Anthropic's head of startups, said in a statement that young companies tend to be the earliest to test the limits of Claude and are ready to start on new projects the day a model ships. She said the program gives founders credits, tools and direct time with the team.
The competitive backdrop is clear. Most of Anthropic's revenue comes from business customers, CNBC noted, and the company has spent much of the past year defending its position against OpenAI and Google, which both run startup programs of their own. Anthropic is gearing up for an IPO that is widely expected to draw heavy demand, and it wants the next generation of businesses to be built on its products.