Shotstack Startup Program
AI Platform Credits
Up to 80% off
Empower your startup with Shotstack's advanced video editing API. Qualifying startups receive an 80% discount on Professional plans and $5,000 in credits for 12
Who qualifies
Every condition below is taken from the vendor’s own published criteria. Read them before you spend an afternoon on the application.
Raised under $15M
Total funding must be below $15M at the time you apply. Vendors verify this against public funding records, so an unannounced round usually still counts.
Under 3 years old
The company must be less than 3 years old, measured from incorporation rather than launch. Predecessor entities and reincorporations are usually counted from the original date.
Startups
The programme is aimed at startups. Vendors read this loosely, but expect to describe the company and what you are building on the application.
Empower your startup with Shotstack's advanced video editing API. Qualifying startups receive an 80% discount on Professional plans and $5,000 in credits for 12 months, along with robust developer support and access to a global community.
About Shotstack Startup Program
Quick answer
Empower your startup with Shotstack's advanced video editing API. Qualifying startups receive an 80% discount on Professional plans and $5,000 in credits for 12
Shotstack is a cloud-based video editing API and Studio platform that lets startups programmatically generate, edit, and deliver video at scale. The Startup Program bundles an 80% discount on Professional tier pricing with $5,000 in service credits over 12 months, plus developer support and community access—ideal for teams embedding video into SaaS products or automating video content workflows.
Shotstack Startup Program at a glance
Shotstack is a cloud-based video editing API and Studio platform that lets startups programmatically generate, edit, and deliver video at scale. The Startup Program bundles an 80% discount on Professional tier pricing with $5,000 in service credits over 12 months, plus developer support and community access—ideal for teams embedding video into SaaS products or automating video content workflows.
- 80%Discount on Professional plans
- $5,000Service credits (12 months)
- <3 yearsMax company age
- Series AMax funding stage
The Shotstack Startup Program offer explained
Qualifying startups receive an 80% reduction on Shotstack's Professional tier monthly subscription, plus $5,000 in platform credits applied to your account over 12 months. Credits cover API calls, Studio usage, and video rendering. The discount and credits stack—meaning you pay 20% of the regular Professional rate, then draw down the $5K credit pool as you scale usage.
Heads up: credit programs change their terms and caps regularly — confirm the current offer on the application page before you plan around it.
Apply to Shotstack Startup ProgramHow Shotstack Startup Program compares
Here's how Shotstack Startup Program stacks up against other AI/ML platform credits in the same category:
| Program | Headline offer | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Shotstack Startup Program | Up to 80% off | This page |
| Rime API Credits Program for YC Startups | $5,000 in credits | AI Platform Credits |
| Free Google Workspace Business Starter Offer | $72 in credits | AI Platform Credits |
| thirdweb Startup Program | $690 in credits | AI Platform Credits |
Who should apply — and who shouldn't
Apply if
- You're building video generation or editing into a SaaS product (e.g., social media tools, marketing automation, personalized video platforms).
- Your startup is <3 years old and has raised seed or Series A funding—you meet the core eligibility bar.
- You want to avoid hiring video engineers; Shotstack's API handles rendering, encoding, and delivery.
- You're willing to commit to 12 months of usage; the credit window is fixed, so early adoption maximizes ROI.
Skip if
- Your startup is >3 years old or has raised beyond Series A; you won't qualify.
- You need video editing for one-off internal use (e.g., marketing clips); the program is designed for product-embedded or high-volume workflows.
- You're already locked into a competing video API (Mux, AWS MediaConvert, etc.) and switching costs are high.
More AI Platform Credits
If Shotstack Startup Program isn't the right fit, compare it against Rime API Credits Program for YC Startups, Free Google Workspace Business Starter Offer, thirdweb Startup Program, Veridion Startup Program — or browse the full AI Platform Credits category.
What the credit covers
- 80% discount on Professional tier pricing
- $5,000 in service credits (12-month validity)
- Shotstack Studio: browser-based video editor UI
- JSON-based video API for programmatic workflows
- Dynamic merge fields for personalized video generation
- Cloud-based rendering and encoding
- Global CDN delivery
- Priority developer support
- Access to startup community and resources
- No VC sponsor requirement
Programme tracks
What Shotstack Startup Program publishes for each stage — confirm on the application, since credit programmes are re-cut more often than list pricing.
| Track | Value | Who it is for | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Program (Professional tier, discounted) | 20% of regular Professional pricing | Monthly, for 12 months | 80% discount on Professional tier · $5,000 in service credits · Shotstack Studio access · Full API access (JSON-based workflows) · Priority developer support · 12-month validity |
| Post-Program (Full Professional pricing) | Regular Professional tier rate | Monthly, after 12-month program term expires | Shotstack Studio access · Full API access · Standard support · No discount applied |
How to apply
4 steps. The last one is the part most people skip.
- 1
Open Shotstack Startup Program through the link on this page
It carries our referral tag. The terms you get are identical either way, and it never changes what this page says about the programme.
- 2
Have the eligibility evidence ready
Applications are checked against 3 conditions — raised under $15m, under 3 years old, startups. Incorporation date, cap table and a one-line description of what you are building cover most of it.
- 3
Size the migration against the 12 months window
Credits start burning from activation, not from when you get round to using them. Work out what you will genuinely consume in that window before you move production workloads across.
- 4
Know the rate you land on when it runs out
Empower your startup with Shotstack's advanced video editing API. Qualifying startups receive an 80% discount on Professional plans and $5,000 in credits for 12 months, along with robust developer support and access to a global community.
Where this programme wins and loses
What works
- Deep discount + meaningful credits 80% off Professional tier + $5,000 in credits stacks to deliver real savings for 12 months.
- No VC sponsor gatekeeping Direct application; you don't need an investor introduction or third-party endorsement.
- Full-featured platform Shotstack Studio (UI) + API (JSON-based workflows) means you can build both UI-driven and programmatic video workflows.
- Developer support included Startup tier includes priority support and access to a developer community.
- Global infrastructure Cloud-based rendering and CDN delivery; no self-hosted video encoding burden.
- Clear eligibility criteria Age and funding stage are transparent; easy to self-qualify before applying.
What doesn't
- 12-month credit expiry Unused credits don't roll over; you must consume the $5K within the year or lose it. Requires committed usage planning.
- Narrow use-case focus Program is designed for video-first products; if video is peripheral to your offering, the credits may not justify the effort.
- Discount ends after 12 months Once the program term expires, you revert to full Professional pricing unless you reapply or negotiate separately.
The bottom line
The 80% discount + $5K credits is a substantial offer for early-stage startups building video-first products. No VC sponsor requirement lowers friction, and the 12-month window is long enough to validate product-market fit. Eligibility is straightforward; apply if you're <3 years old and have raised up to Series A.
Shotstack Startup Program FAQ
The questions we actually get asked about this programme.
Ask us something elseStartups incorporated less than 3 years ago and funded up to Series A (pre-seed, seed, or Series A). No VC sponsor required.
Credits are valid for 12 months from approval. Unused credits expire after 12 months and cannot be rolled over.
No. Shotstack's Startup Program accepts direct applications; VC sponsorship is not required.
You can continue using Shotstack at full Professional pricing, or apply for renewal if you still meet eligibility criteria. Shotstack may offer renewal terms on a case-by-case basis.
Typically, no. The 80% discount and $5K credits are the standard startup offer. Combining with other promos is not standard; contact Shotstack sales to confirm.
Approval timeline is not publicly specified. Expect 3–7 business days; contact Shotstack support for expedited review if time-sensitive.
