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description: Apply for up to $10,000 in cloud credits. Rails Cloud backs early-stage companies with infrastructure, support, and community.
og:description: Apply for up to $10,000 in cloud credits. Rails Cloud backs early-stage companies with infrastructure, support, and community.
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og:title: Startup Program — Rails Cloud
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twitter:description: Apply for up to $10,000 in cloud credits. Rails Cloud backs early-stage companies with infrastructure, support, and community.
twitter:title: Startup Program — Rails Cloud
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[document-links]
About: /about
Apply Now: /register?account_type=startup
Cookie Policy: /legal
Features: /features
Launchpad: /launchpad
Legal: /legal
Pricing: /pricing
Rails Cloud: /
Request access: /register
Sign in: /login
Sites: /sites
Status: /status
Ubuntu Ignite Incubation: /ubuntu-ignite/founders
Ubuntu Ignite incubation: /ubuntu-ignite/founders

[content]
Startup Program — Rails Cloud
Rails Cloud
Features
Launchpad
Sites
Pricing
About
Legal
Sign in
Request access
Features
Launchpad
Sites
Pricing
About
Legal
Sign in
Request access
Startup Program
Up to $10,000 in cloud credits for early-stage companies building on Rails Cloud. Infrastructure, support, and community to help you ship.
Up to $10,000 Credits
Cloud credits you can use across VPS, databases, container registry, and all other Rails Cloud services.
12 Months Validity
Credits are valid for a full year from approval. Enough time to build, launch, and find product-market fit.
Full Platform Access
VPS, managed databases, container registry, object storage, and more. No feature restrictions.
Eligibility
Company less than 5 years old
Building a tech product
No other cloud credits active
New to Rails Cloud
Credit tiers
Credits are awarded based on your stage and needs. Start small, scale up.
$1,000
Seed
Pre-product startups with a clear idea and founding team. Great for prototyping and MVPs.
$5,000
Build
Startups with a working product and early users. Ready to scale infrastructure and onboard customers.
$10,000
Scale
Startups with traction, revenue, or funding. Need serious infrastructure for growth.
What you can build
Credits work across the entire Rails Cloud platform. Use them for anything.
FinTech & Payments
Mobile wallets, lending platforms, insurance tech, and payment integrations using Rails Pay APIs.
SaaS & Enterprise
Business tools, CRMs, ERPs, and productivity apps deployed on VPS with managed databases.
AI & Machine Learning
Train models, run inference, and build AI-powered products using GPU-accelerated VPS instances.
Media & Content
Streaming platforms, content delivery, and media apps using cloud infrastructure and object storage.
More than just credits
The Startup Program gives you the tools and connections to actually succeed.
Technical Mentorship
Architecture reviews, deployment guidance, and direct access to Rails engineers when you need help.
Full API Access
Rails Auth and Pay APIs included. Build a complete product on one platform.
Community & Network
Join the Ubuntu Ignite community. Connect with other founders, attend hackathons, and get featured at Demo Day.
Go-to-Market Support
Product positioning, launch strategy, and introductions to potential customers through our partner network.
How It Works
1
Register
Create an account and select "Startup" as your account type.
2
Apply
Tell us about your company, product, and how you'll use Rails Cloud.
3
Review
We review applications within 1-3 business days. Most startups hear back the same week.
4
Build
Credits are applied instantly. Start deploying and building on Rails Cloud.
What we look for in applications
We're not looking for a perfect pitch deck. We want to understand what you're building and why.
Clear problem statement
What problem are you solving, and for whom? The more specific, the better.
Technical plan
How will you use Rails Cloud? VPS, APIs, databases — what does your architecture look like?
Founding team
Who's on the team? What's your background? Solo founders are welcome.
Traction or timeline
Already have users? Great. Still pre-launch? Tell us your 90-day plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do you take equity?
No. The Startup Program is credits-only. We don't take equity, revenue share, or any other ownership in your company.
Can I apply if I'm pre-revenue?
Absolutely. Most of our startups apply at the idea or MVP stage. You don't need revenue or funding to qualify.
What happens when credits run out?
You transition to standard pay-as-you-go pricing. No cliff — your infrastructure keeps running. You can also apply for additional credits if you're still in the growth phase.
Do I need to be in Zimbabwe?
The program is open to startups building products for African markets. You don't need to be physically located in Zimbabwe, but your product should serve the continent.
How is this different from the Ubuntu Ignite incubation?
The Startup Program gives you credits to build independently. The
Ubuntu Ignite incubation
is a structured 6-month program with mentorship, milestones, and Demo Day. You can be in both.
Ready to apply?
Register with a startup account and submit your application. Most reviews are completed within 1-3 business days.
Apply Now
Ubuntu Ignite Incubation
Features
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