DigitalOcean Startups (Hatch) 🎁 Program

What you get

DigitalOcean's startup program (formerly Hatch, now "DigitalOcean Startups") gives:

• Infrastructure credits for 12 months. DigitalOcean does not publish a single amount: your award level depends on your approved partner and is stated in your onboarding email. Participants generally have a $10,000 monthly usage limit on credits.
• Free Standard-tier support for 15 months.
• One-to-one sessions with DigitalOcean product managers and engineers, a community, and a Marketplace listing.
• Partner offers listed on the page, such as 20% off Stripe Atlas and credits from other tools.

Who qualifies

• You have raised $10 million or less.
• You have a company website and an email address on that domain, and you register a DigitalOcean team account with that business email and a valid card.
• You are a new startup that has not used DigitalOcean credits before.
• Service businesses (consultancies, web or app development shops, marketing agencies) are not eligible. Priority goes to AI-native startups.

Good to know

• Core credits do not cover GPU products, third-party hosted AI models, Paperspace, Cloudways or other pass-through charges. GPU credits are separate and only for select customers after review.
• Credits cannot be transferred or extended, cannot be used for crypto mining, and unused credits are forfeited.
• If your accelerator, incubator or VC is a DigitalOcean partner, apply through them; otherwise pick "Other" on the form.

Verdict

A good fit if you want simple, predictable infrastructure and do not need GPU credits. The lack of a published credit amount makes it hard to compare until you are accepted.

1. Create a DigitalOcean team account with your company email address and add a valid card.
2. Check the portfolio partner list or ask your accelerator, incubator or VC whether they partner with DigitalOcean.
3. Submit the startup application; choose your partner, or "Other" if you have none.
4. Read your onboarding email for your credit amount, then use the credits within 12 months.