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Who is eligible for GitHub for Startups
To apply, your company must:
- Be a new GitHub Enterprise customer
- Not have previously received GitHub Enterprise credits
- Have received external funding (up to Series A)
- Apply through an approved partner such as FounderPass
If you meet these criteria, you can apply for the full startup benefits.
What you get with GitHub for Startups
If accepted into the program, you will receive:
- GitHub Enterprise free for 12 months (up to 20 seats)
- Office hours with GitHub experts
- Live demos and learning sessions
- Networking opportunities with other startups
- Access to the industry’s leading DevOps and collaboration platform
This is one of the most valuable startup programs available for development teams.
How to redeem this GitHub offer
- Sign up or log in to your FounderPass account.
- Request this deal
- Complete the short application form (takes around 3 minutes).
- GitHub will review your application and respond within 1 to 3 business days.
- If approved, your GitHub Enterprise benefits will be activated.
There is no promo code to enter. Approval is handled through GitHub’s startup program process.
What is GitHub
GitHub is a developer platform that helps teams plan, build, test, and deploy secure software. It supports version control, collaboration, automation, and security across the entire development lifecycle.
GitHub is used by startups, enterprises, and independent developers worldwide, and scales easily as teams grow.
The GitHub for Startups program is designed to support companies from early stage through to IPO, providing access to enterprise-grade tools and resources.
Is GitHub good for startups?
Yes. GitHub is widely considered one of the best platforms for startups because it offers:
- Reliable version control with Git
- Strong collaboration through pull requests and code reviews
- Access to a huge open-source ecosystem
- Powerful automation with GitHub Actions
- Easy integrations with project management and CI/CD tools
- Built-in security scanning and compliance tools
- Strong visibility for hiring and investor credibility
For startups building serious products, GitHub is often the default choice.
Why founders use GitHub
For founders building technology products, GitHub is far more than a code hosting platform, it becomes the central system where product development, collaboration, quality control and delivery all come together.
Most startups use GitHub as their 'source of truth' for product development, every change to the product is tracked, reviewed and documented, which makes it much easier to manage growth, onboard new developers and maintain stability as their business scales.
GitHub also allows founders to keep full visibility over development progress without needing to be deeply technical. Through pull requests, issues and project boards, founders can see what is being built, what is blocked and what is ready to ship.
As teams grow, GitHub helps enforce quality through code reviews, automated testing and deployment pipelines, this reduces bugs, improves reliability and creates confidence when releasing new features.
For many startups, GitHub also becomes part of their company culture, and it encourages transparency, accountability, collaboration etc across engineering, product and operations teams.
GitHub alternatives worth considering
GitHub is the go to choice for many startups, but it is not the only option, some founders prefer tools that are simpler, more lightweight or better aligned with specific workflows such as enterprise compliance, open-source collaboration or internal development teams.
Below are some that you may find suitable alternatives for your needs:
GitHub FAQ
Is GitHub free for startups?
GitHub itself offers free plans, but the GitHub for Startups program provides significantly more value by giving eligible startups up to 12 months of GitHub Enterprise at no cost, plus additional support benefits.
What is GitHub Enterprise?
GitHub Enterprise is GitHub’s advanced plan designed for growing and enterprise teams. It includes enhanced security, compliance controls, access management and administrative features that are important as companies scale.
Do I need GitHub Enterprise as a startup?
Not all startups need GitHub Enterprise immediately, many begin on basic plans and move to Enterprise once their team grows, security requirements increase or customer compliance becomes important.
The startup program allows founders to access these features earlier without the usual cost, meaning its a good option to go with even if you don't need it straight away.
Is GitHub only for developers?
GitHub is primarily a developer platform, but founders, product managers and operations teams often use it to track progress, manage documentation, review changes and maintain transparency across the business.
Can non-technical founders use GitHub?
Yes, while GitHub is technical by nature, many founders use it to understand product progress, review activity and stay close to development without writing code themselves. Having said this, you will need some basic technical knowledge to understand and use this tool properly.
How long does GitHub for Startups approval take?
Most applications receive a response within 1 to 3 business days after submission, however during holidays this can be longer.
Can I apply if I already use GitHub?
You can apply as long as you are not currently a GitHub Enterprise customer and have not previously received GitHub Enterprise credits.
Deal change log
- January 13, 2026 - Update to content