Eligibility criteria for the Notion startup offer
To apply for this Notion coupon, your company must:
- Not already be on a paid Notion plan
- Have fewer than 50 employees
- Have raised less than $10 million in funding
- Apply using a work email address
- Apply through an approved startup partner such as us (FounderPass)
If you meet these criteria, you can submit an application for the program.
What you get
If approved, you receive:
- 6 months free on the Notion Business plan
- Notion AI included for 6 months
- Priority access to Notion’s founder community
- Full access to advanced team and collaboration features
This gives your team enough time to properly adopt Notion and replace multiple tools in your stack without upfront cost.
How to redeem the Notion deal
- Log in to your FounderPass account.
- Click the “Get the deal” button on this page
- Complete the short application form.
- If approved, Notion will activate your 6-month free Business plan access.
There is no public promo code to enter. Approval is handled through Notion’s startup program.
What is Notion
Notion is a connected workspace that combines documents, databases, project management, collaboration and AI into a single platform.
Founders use Notion to replace multiple tools such as Google Docs, Trello, Confluence, Airtable, and internal wikis. Over 90% of Forbes Cloud 100 companies and more than half of Y Combinator companies use Notion (according to Notion themselves)
What makes Notion different is its flexibility. You can structure it as:
- A task manager
- A CRM
- A content calendar
- A product roadmap
- A knowledge base
- A company wiki
- Or all of the above in one system
Notion and AI
Notion AI is now deeply integrated into the platform. Founders and teams use it to:
- Summarise documents and meeting notes
- Generate content drafts
- Rewrite and improve writing
- Extract action points
- Answer questions across company knowledge
- Speed up research and planning
Because AI is embedded directly into your workspace, it becomes far more practical than standalone AI tools.
Why founders use Notion
Founders use Notion because it:
- Reduces tool sprawl
- Improves team visibility
- Centralises company knowledge
- Adapts as the business grows
- Supports both structure and flexibility
Many teams report replacing two or more tools after adopting Notion properly.
Our thoughts on Notion
Notion has evolved into far more than a note-taking tool, it is now a complete operating system for modern businesses, combining documents, databases, project management and of course, AI in one connected workspace.
For founders, this means fewer tools, less friction and better visibility across the entire company. We use Notion within our company for both internal docs as well as sharing to do lists and documents and find it's a great tool in our tech stack.
With this FounderPass startup offer, you can experience the full Notion Business plan with AI for 6 months, giving your team enough time to properly adopt it, build internal systems and decide whether it deserves a permanent place in your stack. For many startups, Notion becomes the backbone of how the business runs.
Notion alternatives
Notion is a powerful and flexible workspace, but it isn’t the perfect fit for every startup. Some teams want tools that prioritise structure over flexibility, others need stronger automation or built-in workflows, and some prefer platforms that come with more defined feature sets out of the box.
Notion FAQs
Is Notion really suitable for running a business?
Yes, although many still think of Notion as just a tool for notes, it is now far more than this. Many startups use Notion as their central operating system.
It is commonly used for project management, documentation, product roadmaps, hiring pipelines, content planning, CRM systems as well as internal knowledge bases.
How long does it take to get value from Notion?
Most teams start seeing value within days, however, the real benefit comes over time as you build custom databases, templates and processes. So its certainly one that requires a bit of time to set it up for your business.
That is why the 6 month free period is valuable, as it allows proper adoption rather than a rushed trial.
Will Notion replace other tools?
For many teams, yes. Notion often replaces tools like Trello, Confluence, Google Docs, internal wikis, basic CRMs and content planning tools. Some companies reduce their software stack significantly after adopting Notion fully.
Is Notion difficult to learn?
Notion is easy to start with and powerful to grow into, founders can begin with simple pages and gradually introduce databases, automations and AI features as their team becomes more comfortable.
What makes Notion different from other productivity tools?
Notion does not force a fixed structure. Instead, it allows founders to design their own systems, this flexibility is why it works across so many different industries and business models.
How does Notion AI help founders?
Notion AI helps founders save time by summarising documents, generating content, answering questions from internal knowledge, and turning rough ideas into structured outputs. It becomes especially valuable for planning, documentation, and communication.
Can small teams use Notion effectively?
Yes. Notion works just as well for solo founders and small teams as it does for larger organisations. Many startups begin using it with just one or two people and scale naturally.
What happens after the 6 month free period?
After the free period ends, you can continue on a paid plan, downgrade, or cancel. There is no obligation to continue if it is not right for your business.
Is this offer really exclusive to FounderPass?
Yes. This startup offer is provided through FounderPass as an approved partner, which is why members are able to access extended free usage that is not available publicly.
Deal change log
- January 14, 2026 - Update to description and small changes to redemption process instructions
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