**[Claude Startup Support Expanded: Self-Funded Teams Can Also Receive API Credits]** Beating AI News: Anthropic has expanded the Claude Startups support program. Under the previous rules, early-stage startup teams could join the program, but to receive API credits and additional benefits, they had to have already secured institutional equity investment. Now, companies established for no more than 5 years or those that have received funding in the past 2 years are eligible to apply. Anthropic explicitly states that self-funded companies, pre-seed stage startups, and venture-backed startups are all within the scope of eligibility. Approved companies can use Claude Team for free for one year, with up to 5 Premium seats. Each company will also receive $1,000 in Claude API credits, valid for 6 months. The free Team subscription is only available to companies that have not previously subscribed to Team. Anthropic has also launched the Claude Startup Stack. Companies like Linear, Lovable, ElevenLabs, Granola, and Hex will provide discounts and credits, with a total claimed value of up to $45,000. Members can also schedule one-on-one technical consultations with the Anthropic Applied AI team and receive assistance in building Claude Marketplace connectors and plugins, as well as submitting them for review. Among the terms for these additional benefits, there is one clause that may be easily overlooked. If a startup discloses product architecture or other confidential information during consultations with Anthropic Applied AI, Anthropic may continue to use general ideas, experiences, and techniques retained by employees from memory. The terms also clarify that Anthropic is not restricted from independently developing similar or competitive technologies, but it may not directly disclose such confidential information or use it without obtaining relevant patent or copyright permissions. [Original Link]