[metadata]
article:modified_time: 2026-07-23T15:22:35.028Z
article:published_time: 2026-07-02T19:10:05.624Z
article:publisher: https://www.facebook.com/konginc/
description: Kong for Startups gives early-stage companies up to $100K in credits and 50% off for two years. AI Gateway, Konnect, and Mesh built for how you ship. Apply today!
og:description: Kong for Startups gives early-stage companies up to $100K in credits and 50% off for two years. AI Gateway, Konnect, and Mesh built for how you ship. Apply today!
og:image: https://prd-mktg-konghq-com.imgix.net/images/2026/07/6a6231ac-kong-for-startups-thumbnail.png?auto=format
og:image:height: 720
og:image:width: 1280
og:locale: en_US
og:site_name: Kong Inc.
og:title: Kong for Startups: Apply for $100K Credits & 50% Off AI Gateway
og:url: https://konghq.com/solutions/startup-program
robots: index,follow
theme-color: #001408
theme-color: #cdd4cb
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:creator: @kong
twitter:data2: 1 min read
twitter:description: Kong for Startups gives early-stage companies up to $100K in credits and 50% off for two years. AI Gateway, Konnect, and Mesh built for how you ship. Apply today!
twitter:image: https://prd-mktg-konghq-com.imgix.net/images/2026/07/6a6231ac-kong-for-startups-thumbnail.png?auto=format
twitter:label2: Est. reading time
twitter:site: @kong
twitter:title: Kong for Startups: Apply for $100K Credits & 50% Off AI Gateway
viewport: width=device-width

[canonical-links]
https://konghq.com/solutions/startup-program

[document-links]
/
/events/conferences/api-ai-summit
DISCOVER & TEST KONNECT APIS IN REAL TIME WITH INSOMNIA 13: /blog/product-releases/insomnia-13
DON'T MISS OUT ON API + AI SUMMIT 2026 | PRICES INCREASE SEPTEMBER 1: /events/conferences/api-ai-summit
English: https://konghq.com
Home: https://konghq.com
Japanese: https://jp.konghq.com
MIGRATE 50% FASTER WITH KONG MIGRATION SERVICES: /products/ascent-ai-powered-api-migration
Migration Services API Advisory Services + Forward Deployed Engineers NEW: /products/ascent-ai-powered-api-migration
NEW Kong for Startups Apply for $100k credits & 50% off AI Gateway: /solutions/startup-program
Privacy: /legal/privacy-policy
Solutions: https://konghq.com/solutions
Terms: /legal/terms-of-use
Trust and Compliance: https://trust.konghq.com/
[ AI Connectivity ] ( /ai-connectivity ) AI Connectivity: /ai-connectivity
[ AI FinOps ] ( /solutions/ai-cost-governance-finops ) AI FinOps: /solutions/ai-cost-governance-finops
[ AI Gateway Alternatives ] ( /performance-comparison/ai-gateway-alternatives ) AI Gateway Alternatives: /performance-comparison/ai-gateway-alternatives
[ AI Gateway HOT ] ( /products/kong-ai-gateway ) AI Gateway HOT: /products/kong-ai-gateway
[ AI Governance ] ( /solutions/ai-governance ) AI Governance: /solutions/ai-governance
[ AI Monetization ] ( /solutions/ai-monetization ) AI Monetization: /solutions/ai-monetization
[ AI Security ] ( /solutions/ai-security ) AI Security: /solutions/ai-security
[ API + AI Summit ] ( /events/conferences/api-ai-summit ) API + AI Summit: /events/conferences/api-ai-summit
[ API Gateway ] ( /products/kong-gateway ) API Gateway: /products/kong-gateway
[ API Gateway for Istio ] ( /solutions/istio-gateway ) API Gateway for Istio: /solutions/istio-gateway
[ API Gateway: Build vs Buy ] ( /campaign/secure-api-scalability ) API Gateway: Build vs Buy: /campaign/secure-api-scalability
[ API Governance Solutions ] ( /solutions/api-governance ) API Governance Solutions: /solutions/api-governance
[ API Monetization ] ( /solutions/api-monetization ) API Monetization: /solutions/api-monetization
[ API Service Catalog ] ( /products/kong-konnect/features/api-service-catalog ) API Service Catalog: /products/kong-konnect/features/api-service-catalog
[ APIOps & Automation ] ( /products/apiops-automation ) APIOps & Automation: /products/apiops-automation
[ About Kong ] ( /company/about-us ) About Kong: /company/about-us
[ About Us ] ( /company/about-us ) About Us: /company/about-us
[ Agent Gateway ] ( /agent-gateway ) Agent Gateway: /agent-gateway
[ Agentic Infrastructure ] ( /solutions/agentic-ai-workflows ) Agentic Infrastructure: /solutions/agentic-ai-workflows
[ Blog ] ( /blog ) Blog: /blog
[ Book Demo ] ( /contact-sales ) Book Demo: /contact-sales
[ Careers ] ( /company/careers ) Careers: /company/careers
[ Certification ] ( /academy/certification ) Certification: /academy/certification
[ Community ] ( /community ) Community: /community
[ Contact Us ] ( /company/contact-us ) Contact Us: /company/contact-us
[ Contact ] ( /company/contact-us ) Contact: /company/contact-us
[ Context Mesh ] ( /products/kong-konnect/features/context-mesh ) Context Mesh: /products/kong-konnect/features/context-mesh
[ Customer Stories ] ( /customer-stories ) Customer Stories: /customer-stories
[ Customers ] ( /customer-stories ) Customers: /customer-stories
[ Decentralized Load Balancing ] ( /solutions/decentralized-load-balancing ) Decentralized Load Balancing: /solutions/decentralized-load-balancing
[ Demos ] ( /resources/demos ) Demos: /resources/demos
[ Developer Platform ] ( /solutions/building-developer-platform ) Developer Platform: /solutions/building-developer-platform
[ Developer Portal ] ( /products/kong-konnect/features/developer-portal ) Developer Portal: /products/kong-konnect/features/developer-portal
[ Documentation ] ( https://developer.konghq.com ) Documentation: https://developer.konghq.com
[ Documentation ] ( https://docs.konghq.com/ ) Documentation: https://docs.konghq.com/
[ Enterprise Support Portal ] ( https://support.konghq.com/s/ ) Enterprise Support Portal: https://support.konghq.com/s/
[ Event Gateway ] ( /products/event-gateway ) Event Gateway: /products/event-gateway
[ Events ] ( /events ) Events: /events
[ Everything is 200 OK ](https://status.konghq.com/): https://status.konghq.com/
[ Financial Services ] ( /solutions/financial-services-industry ) Financial Services: /solutions/financial-services-industry
[ GenAI App Development ] ( /solutions/power-openai-applications ) GenAI App Development: /solutions/power-openai-applications
[ Get Started ] ( /products/kong-konnect/register ) Get Started: /products/kong-konnect/register
[ Get Started ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/ ) Get Started: https://developer.konghq.com/
[ Healthcare ] ( /solutions/healthcare ) Healthcare: /solutions/healthcare
[ Higher Education ] ( /solutions/api-platform-for-education-services ) Higher Education: /solutions/api-platform-for-education-services
[ Ingress Controller ] ( /products/kong-ingress-controller ) Ingress Controller: /products/kong-ingress-controller
[ Insomnia ] ( https://insomnia.rest/ ) Insomnia: https://insomnia.rest/
[ Insurance ] ( /solutions/insurance ) Insurance: /solutions/insurance
[ Istio API Gateway Integration ] ( /solutions/istio-gateway ) Istio API Gateway Integration: /solutions/istio-gateway
[ KAi Agent ] ( /products/kong-konnect/features/kai-ai-agent ) KAi Agent: /products/kong-konnect/features/kai-ai-agent
[ Kafka Cost Optimization ] ( /solutions/reduce-kafka-cost ) Kafka Cost Optimization: /solutions/reduce-kafka-cost
[ Kafka Event Streaming ] ( /solutions/kafka-stream-api-management ) Kafka Event Streaming: /solutions/kafka-stream-api-management
[ Kong AI Gateway ] ( /products/kong-ai-gateway ) Kong AI Gateway: /products/kong-ai-gateway
[ Kong AI Gateway ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/ai-gateway/ ) Kong AI Gateway: https://developer.konghq.com/ai-gateway/
[ Kong API Gateway ] ( /products/kong-gateway ) Kong API Gateway: /products/kong-gateway
[ Kong Community ] ( /community ) Kong Community: /community
[ Kong Event Gateway ] ( /products/event-gateway ) Kong Event Gateway: /products/event-gateway
[ Kong Event Gateway ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/event-gateway/ ) Kong Event Gateway: https://developer.konghq.com/event-gateway/
[ Kong Gateway ] ( /products/kong-gateway ) Kong Gateway: /products/kong-gateway
[ Kong Gateway ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/gateway/ ) Kong Gateway: https://developer.konghq.com/gateway/
[ Kong Gateway ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/gateway/install/ ) Kong Gateway: https://developer.konghq.com/gateway/install/
[ Kong Insomnia ] ( /products/kong-insomnia ) Kong Insomnia: /products/kong-insomnia
[ Kong Insomnia ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/insomnia/ ) Kong Insomnia: https://developer.konghq.com/insomnia/
[ Kong Konnect ] ( /products/kong-konnect ) Kong Konnect: /products/kong-konnect
[ Kong Konnect ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/konnect/ ) Kong Konnect: https://developer.konghq.com/konnect/
[ Kong MCP ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/konnect-platform/konnect-mcp/ ) Kong MCP: https://developer.konghq.com/konnect-platform/konnect-mcp/
[ Kong Mesh ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/mesh/ ) Kong Mesh: https://developer.konghq.com/mesh/
[ Kong Metering & Billing ] ( /products/kong-konnect/features/usage-based-metering-and-billing ) Kong Metering & Billing: /products/kong-konnect/features/usage-based-metering-and-billing
[ Kong Operator ] ( /products/kong-operator ) Kong Operator: /products/kong-operator
[ Kong Partner Program ] ( /partners ) Kong Partner Program: /partners
[ Kong for Startups ] ( /solutions/startup-program ) Kong for Startups: /solutions/startup-program
[ Kong vs AWS ] ( /performance-comparison/kong-vsaws ) Kong vs AWS: /performance-comparison/kong-vsaws
[ Kong vs Apigee ] ( /performance-comparison/kong-vs-apigee ) Kong vs Apigee: /performance-comparison/kong-vs-apigee
[ Kong vs IBM ] ( /performance-comparison/ibm-api-connect-vs-kong ) Kong vs IBM: /performance-comparison/ibm-api-connect-vs-kong
[ Kong vs Mulesoft ] ( /performance-comparison/kong-vs-mulesoft ) Kong vs Mulesoft: /performance-comparison/kong-vs-mulesoft
[ Kong vs Postman ] ( /performance-comparison/kong-vs-postman ) Kong vs Postman: /performance-comparison/kong-vs-postman
[ Kubernetes API Management ] ( /solutions/build-on-kubernetes ) Kubernetes API Management: /solutions/build-on-kubernetes
[ Kubernetes and Microservices ] ( /solutions/build-on-kubernetes ) Kubernetes and Microservices: /solutions/build-on-kubernetes
[ Kuma ] ( https://kuma.io/ ) Kuma: https://kuma.io/
[ Learning Center ] ( /blog/learning-center ) Learning Center: /blog/learning-center
[ Legacy Migration ] ( /solutions/legacy-api-management-migration ) Legacy Migration: /solutions/legacy-api-management-migration
[ Login ] ( https://cloud.konghq.com/login ) Login: https://cloud.konghq.com/login
[ MCP Production ] ( /solutions/mcp-production-and-consumption ) MCP Production: /solutions/mcp-production-and-consumption
[ MCP Registry NEW ] ( /products/mcp-registry ) MCP Registry NEW: /products/mcp-registry
[ MCP Traffic Gateway ] ( /solutions/mcp-governance ) MCP Traffic Gateway: /solutions/mcp-governance
[ Manufacturing ] ( /solutions/manufacturing ) Manufacturing: /solutions/manufacturing
[ Meetups ] ( /events/meetups ) Meetups: /events/meetups
[ Mobile App API Development ] ( /solutions/mobile-application-api-development ) Mobile App API Development: /solutions/mobile-application-api-development
[ Observability ] ( /products/kong-konnect/features/api-observability ) Observability: /products/kong-konnect/features/api-observability
[ Observability ] ( /solutions/observability ) Observability: /solutions/observability
[ Open Banking API Solutions ] ( /solutions/open-banking ) Open Banking API Solutions: /solutions/open-banking
[ Open Banking ] ( /solutions/open-banking ) Open Banking: /solutions/open-banking
[ Open Source ] ( /community ) Open Source: /community
[ Platform Cost Reduction ] ( /solutions/api-platform-consolidation ) Platform Cost Reduction: /solutions/api-platform-consolidation
[ Plugin Hub ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/plugins/ ) Plugin Hub: https://developer.konghq.com/plugins/
[ Plugins ] ( https://developer.konghq.com/plugins/ ) Plugins: https://developer.konghq.com/plugins/
[ Press Room ] ( /company/press-room ) Press Room: /company/press-room
[ Press ] ( /company/press-room ) Press: /company/press-room
[ Pricing ] ( /pricing ) Pricing: /pricing
[ Read more ] ( /blog/news/the-age-of-ai-connectivity ) Read more: /blog/news/the-age-of-ai-connectivity
[ Reports ] ( /resources/reports ) Reports: /resources/reports
[ Retail ] ( /solutions/retail ) Retail: /solutions/retail
[ Runtime Management ] ( /products/kong-konnect/features/runtime-management ) Runtime Management: /products/kong-konnect/features/runtime-management
[ See All Events ] ( /events ) See All Events: /events
[ Service Mesh Connectivity ] ( /solutions/service-mesh-connectivity ) Service Mesh Connectivity: /solutions/service-mesh-connectivity
[ Service Mesh ] ( /products/kong-mesh ) Service Mesh: /products/kong-mesh
[ Software & Technology ] ( /solutions/software-and-technology ) Software & Technology: /solutions/software-and-technology
[ Token Cost Management ] ( /solutions/ai-cost-optimization-management ) Token Cost Management: /solutions/ai-cost-optimization-management
[ Training ] ( https://education.konghq.com ) Training: https://education.konghq.com
[ Transportation ] ( /solutions/transportation-and-logistics ) Transportation: /solutions/transportation-and-logistics
[ Usage Billing & Metering $ ] ( /products/kong-konnect/features/usage-based-metering-and-billing ) Usage Billing & Metering $: /products/kong-konnect/features/usage-based-metering-and-billing
[ User Calls ] ( /events/user-calls ) User Calls: /events/user-calls
[ Videos ] ( /resources/videos ) Videos: /resources/videos
[ Volcano ] ( https://volcano.dev/ ) Volcano: https://volcano.dev/
[ We're Hiring! ] ( /company/careers ) We're Hiring!: /company/careers
[ Webinars ] ( /events/webinars ) Webinars: /events/webinars
[ Why Kong ] ( /company/why-kong ) Why Kong: /company/why-kong
[ Workshops ] ( /events/workshops ) Workshops: /events/workshops
[ ] ( /search ): /search
[ eBooks ] ( /resources/e-book ) eBooks: /resources/e-book
[ startup-deal@konghq.com ] ( mailto:startup-deal@konghq.com ) startup-deal@konghq.com: mailto:startup-deal@konghq.com
_ API & AI CONNECTIVITY TECHNOLOGIES _ The Unified API and AI Platform [ ]: /products/kong-konnect
https://github.com/kong/kong
https://www.linkedin.com/company/konghq
https://www.meetup.com/topics/kong/all
https://www.youtube.com/@KongInc
https://x.com/kong

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[content]
Kong for Startups: Apply for $100K Credits & 50% Off AI Gateway | Kong Inc.
DISCOVER & TEST KONNECT APIS IN REAL TIME WITH
INSOMNIA 13
MIGRATE
50% FASTER
WITH KONG MIGRATION SERVICES
DON'T MISS OUT ON
API + AI SUMMIT 2026
| PRICES INCREASE SEPTEMBER 1
[
Why Kong
]
(
/company/why-kong
)
Why Kong
+
Products & Agents
Products & Agents
_
API & AI CONNECTIVITY
TECHNOLOGIES
_
The Unified API and AI Platform
[
]
API Management
AI Management
Event Management
Monetization
Migration Services
API Advisory Services + Forward Deployed Engineers
NEW
RUNTIMES
[
API Gateway
]
(
/products/kong-gateway
)
API Gateway
[
AI Gateway
HOT
]
(
/products/kong-ai-gateway
)
AI Gateway
HOT
[
Event Gateway
]
(
/products/event-gateway
)
Event Gateway
[
Service Mesh
]
(
/products/kong-mesh
)
Service Mesh
[
Context Mesh
]
(
/products/kong-konnect/features/context-mesh
)
Context Mesh
[
Ingress Controller
]
(
/products/kong-ingress-controller
)
Ingress Controller
[
Kong Operator
]
(
/products/kong-operator
)
Kong Operator
CORE SERVICES
[
MCP Registry
NEW
]
(
/products/mcp-registry
)
MCP Registry
NEW
[
API Service Catalog
]
(
/products/kong-konnect/features/api-service-catalog
)
API Service Catalog
[
Runtime Management
]
(
/products/kong-konnect/features/runtime-management
)
Runtime Management
[
APIOps & Automation
]
(
/products/apiops-automation
)
APIOps & Automation
APPS & AI AGENTS
[
Developer Portal
]
(
/products/kong-konnect/features/developer-portal
)
Developer Portal
[
Usage Billing & Metering
$
]
(
/products/kong-konnect/features/usage-based-metering-and-billing
)
Usage Billing & Metering
$
[
Observability
]
(
/products/kong-konnect/features/api-observability
)
Observability
[
KAi Agent
]
(
/products/kong-konnect/features/kai-ai-agent
)
KAi Agent
DEVELOPER TOOLS
[
Insomnia
]
(
https://insomnia.rest/
)
Insomnia
[
Plugins
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/plugins/
)
Plugins
[
Volcano
]
(
https://volcano.dev/
)
Volcano
[
Kong MCP
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/konnect-platform/konnect-mcp/
)
Kong MCP
[
Documentation
]
(
https://docs.konghq.com/
)
Documentation
[
Open Source
]
(
/community
)
Open Source
+
Solutions
Solutions
FOR PLATFORM TEAMS
[
Developer Platform
]
(
/solutions/building-developer-platform
)
Developer Platform
[
Kubernetes and Microservices
]
(
/solutions/build-on-kubernetes
)
Kubernetes and Microservices
[
Observability
]
(
/solutions/observability
)
Observability
[
Service Mesh Connectivity
]
(
/solutions/service-mesh-connectivity
)
Service Mesh Connectivity
[
Kafka Event Streaming
]
(
/solutions/kafka-stream-api-management
)
Kafka Event Streaming
FOR EXECUTIVES
[
AI Connectivity
]
(
/ai-connectivity
)
AI Connectivity
[
Open Banking
]
(
/solutions/open-banking
)
Open Banking
[
Legacy Migration
]
(
/solutions/legacy-api-management-migration
)
Legacy Migration
[
Platform Cost Reduction
]
(
/solutions/api-platform-consolidation
)
Platform Cost Reduction
[
Kafka Cost Optimization
]
(
/solutions/reduce-kafka-cost
)
Kafka Cost Optimization
[
API Monetization
]
(
/solutions/api-monetization
)
API Monetization
[
AI Monetization
]
(
/solutions/ai-monetization
)
AI Monetization
[
AI FinOps
]
(
/solutions/ai-cost-governance-finops
)
AI FinOps
FOR AI TEAMS
[
Agent Gateway
]
(
/agent-gateway
)
Agent Gateway
[
AI Governance
]
(
/solutions/ai-governance
)
AI Governance
[
AI Security
]
(
/solutions/ai-security
)
AI Security
[
Token Cost Management
]
(
/solutions/ai-cost-optimization-management
)
Token Cost Management
[
Agentic Infrastructure
]
(
/solutions/agentic-ai-workflows
)
Agentic Infrastructure
[
MCP Production
]
(
/solutions/mcp-production-and-consumption
)
MCP Production
[
MCP Traffic Gateway
]
(
/solutions/mcp-governance
)
MCP Traffic Gateway
FOR DEVELOPERS
[
Mobile App API Development
]
(
/solutions/mobile-application-api-development
)
Mobile App API Development
[
GenAI App Development
]
(
/solutions/power-openai-applications
)
GenAI App Development
[
API Gateway for Istio
]
(
/solutions/istio-gateway
)
API Gateway for Istio
[
Decentralized Load Balancing
]
(
/solutions/decentralized-load-balancing
)
Decentralized Load Balancing
BY INDUSTRY
[
Financial Services
]
(
/solutions/financial-services-industry
)
Financial Services
[
Healthcare
]
(
/solutions/healthcare
)
Healthcare
[
Higher Education
]
(
/solutions/api-platform-for-education-services
)
Higher Education
[
Insurance
]
(
/solutions/insurance
)
Insurance
[
Manufacturing
]
(
/solutions/manufacturing
)
Manufacturing
[
Retail
]
(
/solutions/retail
)
Retail
[
Software & Technology
]
(
/solutions/software-and-technology
)
Software & Technology
[
Transportation
]
(
/solutions/transportation-and-logistics
)
Transportation
NEW
Kong for Startups
Apply for $100k credits & 50% off AI Gateway
[
Pricing
]
(
/pricing
)
Pricing
+
Resources
Resources
DOCUMENTATION
[
Kong Konnect
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/konnect/
)
Kong Konnect
[
Kong Gateway
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/gateway/
)
Kong Gateway
[
Kong Mesh
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/mesh/
)
Kong Mesh
[
Kong AI Gateway
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/ai-gateway/
)
Kong AI Gateway
[
Kong Event Gateway
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/event-gateway/
)
Kong Event Gateway
[
Kong Insomnia
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/insomnia/
)
Kong Insomnia
[
Plugin Hub
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/plugins/
)
Plugin Hub
EXPLORE
[
Blog
]
(
/blog
)
Blog
[
Learning Center
]
(
/blog/learning-center
)
Learning Center
[
eBooks
]
(
/resources/e-book
)
eBooks
[
Reports
]
(
/resources/reports
)
Reports
[
Demos
]
(
/resources/demos
)
Demos
[
Customer Stories
]
(
/customer-stories
)
Customer Stories
[
Videos
]
(
/resources/videos
)
Videos
EVENTS
[
API + AI Summit
]
(
/events/conferences/api-ai-summit
)
API + AI Summit
[
Webinars
]
(
/events/webinars
)
Webinars
[
User Calls
]
(
/events/user-calls
)
User Calls
[
Workshops
]
(
/events/workshops
)
Workshops
[
Meetups
]
(
/events/meetups
)
Meetups
[
See All Events
]
(
/events
)
See All Events
FOR DEVELOPERS
[
Get Started
]
(
https://developer.konghq.com/
)
Get Started
[
Community
]
(
/community
)
Community
[
Certification
]
(
/academy/certification
)
Certification
[
Training
]
(
https://education.konghq.com
)
Training
COMPANY
[
About Us
]
(
/company/about-us
)
About Us
[
We're Hiring!
]
(
/company/careers
)
We're Hiring!
[
Press Room
]
(
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Home
Solutions
Kong for Startups
_
KONG FOR STARTUPS
_
#
Build the AI connectivity layer with
Kong
**
Ship your AI and API stack on Kong AI Gateway, API Gateway, Dev Portal, and Billing & Metering — dev-friendly, production-ready.
**
-
Early-stage builders shipping AI, API, or agent infrastructure
-
In production or launching within 6 months
-
Y Combinator companies pre-qualified
[
Apply Now
]
(
#apply
)
Apply Now
[
Read the Terms
]
(
#faq
)
Read the Terms
_
WHAT YOU GET
_
##
Selected startups get
exclusive access
**
The same Kong used by 40,000+ companies — at a price built for runway. Plus the people, plugins, and patterns to ship fast.
**
_
KONG CREDITS
_
Up to +$100K Kong credits
Up to $100,000 in credits, valid for 12 months on Kong Konnect Plus. Spend across AI Gateway, API Gateway, Metering and Billing, Mesh, Event Gateway.
_
ONBOARDING SUPPORT
_
Direct access
Dedicated Slack with Kong product experts. Architecture reviews. Office hours. Priority response on launch-blocking issues.
_
ACCESS
_
All included
Access to AI Gateway, Konnect, Mesh, and Event Gateway from day one.
_
DISCOUNTED PRICING
_
50% off for 2 years
Once credits run out, keep the velocity. 50% off list pricing for two full years on every Kong product you're using.
###
1ms sub-ms latency
Median added latency on Kong Gateway. Fast enough for real-time agents and voices.
###
SOC 2 enterprise security
Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA-ready. The compliance ceiling you’ll grow into.
###
99.99% SLA on Konnect cloud
Multi-region, multi-cloud plane. Production from day one.
###
+80M Gateway installs
The most-deployed API gateway in the world. Battle-tested in every stack you can imagine.
##
From application to
first prompt
in days.
No legal back-and-forth. No procurement loop. Apply, get accepted, get credits in your console.
[
Start Your Application
]
(
#apply
)
Start Your Application
###
01/ Apply
Tell us about your startup, what you’re building, and which Kong products you’ll use. 5 minutes.
###
02/ Get accepted
Our team reviews every application. We typically respond with 5 business days, often the same week.
###
03/ Start building
Credits land in your Konnect org within 24 hours of acceptance. Discount auto-applies on every invoice.
##
Tell us what you're building.
**
We read every application. The more concrete you are about what you’ll ship with Kong, the faster we can get credits in your hands.
**
YC Company? Indicate your batch on your application
##
Startup application
THIS IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AGENT MODE
Switch back to Human Mode to interact with this section
##
Are you a
YC company
?
Kong is officially listed on YC’s external partner deals. Every YC-backed company is pre-qualified for the full $100K Kong Konnect Plus credits and 50% two-year discount. Indicate your batch on your application.
##
FAQs
If your question isn't here, email
[
startup-deal@konghq.com
]
(
mailto:startup-deal@konghq.com
)
startup-deal@konghq.com
— a real person from the Kong startup team will reply.
How much in credits will I receive?
+
Up to $100,000 in Kong Konnect Plus credits, depending on your stage and intended usage. Most early-stage startups receive between $25K and $100K upfront.
When do the credits expire?
+
Credits are valid for 12 months from the date they land in your Konnect organization. Unused credits do not roll over, but the 50% two-year discount kicks in automatically when credits run out.
How does the 50% discount work?
+
After credits expire — or for any usage beyond your credit balance — you pay 50% of Kong Konnect Plus list pricing for 24 months. The discount applies across Konnect Plus: AI Gateway, Mesh, Event Gateway, plugins.
Who is eligible?
+
Early-stage AI/API startups, typically pre-seed through Series A, with under $10M in total funding. You must be in production or planning to launch within 6 months. Kong makes final eligibility decisions based on program capacity and applicant fit.
I'm a YC company — what do I do?
+
Kong is an official YC external partner. YC companies are pre-qualified. Indicate your batch in your application.
Can existing Kong customers apply?
+
Yes, if you meet the stage and funding criteria. Existing customers who get accepted will have their credit balance increased and discount applied to the next invoice.
How long does approval take?
+
We respond to most applications within 5 business days. Credits land in your Konnect org within 24 hours of acceptance.
I run a VC, accelerator, or builder community — can I refer my portfolio?
+
Yes. Email
[
startup-deal@konghq.com
]
(
mailto:startup-deal@konghq.com
)
startup-deal@konghq.com
and we'll set up a partner pipeline, custom onboarding for your portfolio companies, and joint office hours with our solutions engineers.
##
Get started with the API & AI platform
[
Book Demo
]
(
/contact-sales
)
Book Demo
Stay connected
##
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_
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_
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)
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)
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[
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)
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Book Demo
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Compare
[
AI Gateway Alternatives
]
(
/performance-comparison/ai-gateway-alternatives
)
AI Gateway Alternatives
[
Kong vs Apigee
]
(
/performance-comparison/kong-vs-apigee
)
Kong vs Apigee
[
Kong vs AWS
]
(
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)
Kong vs AWS
[
Kong vs IBM
]
(
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)
Kong vs IBM
[
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(
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)
Kong vs Mulesoft
[
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]
(
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)
Kong vs Postman
Explore More
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Kong for Startups
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Open Banking API Solutions
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Open Banking API Solutions
[
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Istio API Gateway Integration
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[
API Gateway: Build vs Buy
]
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API Gateway: Build vs Buy
Open Source
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)
Kong Gateway
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]
(
https://kuma.io/
)
Kuma
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Insomnia
]
(
https://insomnia.rest/
)
Insomnia
[
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Kong enables the connectivity layer for the agentic era – securely connecting, governing, and monetizing APIs and AI tokens across any model or cloud.
+
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