# Build the AI connectivity layer with Kong
**Run AI Gateway, Konnect, and Mesh on the same platform Fortune 500s trust — for the cost of an afternoon’s tinkering.**
- - Early-stage builders shipping AI, API, or agent infrastructure
- - In production or launching within 6 months
- - Y Combinator companies pre-qualified
## Selected startup get exclusive access
**The same Kong used by 40,000+ companies — at a price built for runway. Plus the people, plugins, and patterns to ship fast.**
Up to +$100K Kong credits
Up to $100,000 in credits, valid for 12 months on Kong Konnect Plus. Spend across AI Gateway, API Gateway, Metering and Billing, MeshEvent Gateway.
Direct access
Dedicated Slack with Kong product experts. Architecture reviews. Office hours. Priority response on launch-blocking issues.
All included
Access to AI Gateway, Konnect, Mesh, and Event Gateway from day one.
50% off for 2 years
Once credits run out, keep the velocity. 50% off list pricing for two full years on every Kong product you're using.
Median added latency on Kong Gateway. Fast enough for real-time agents and voices.
Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA-ready. The compliance ceiling you’ll grow into.
Multi-region, multi-cloud plane. Production from day one.
The most-deployed API gateway in the world. Battle-tested in every stack you can imagine.
Tell us about your startup, what you’re building, and which Kong products you’ll use. 5 minutes.
Our team reviews every application. We typically respond with 5 business days, often the same week.
Credits land in your Konnect org within 24 hours of acceptance. Discount auto-applies on every invoice.
## Tell us what you're building.
**We read every application. The more concrete you are about what you’ll ship with Kong, the faster we can get credits in your hands.**
YC Company? Indicate your batch on your application
## Startup application
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## Are you a YC company?
Kong is officially listed on YC’s external partner deals. Every YC-backed company is pre-qualified for the full $100K Kong Konnect Plus credits and 50% two-year discount. Indicate your batch on your application.
## FAQs
If your question isn't here, email [startups@konghq.com](mailto:startups@konghq.com)startups@konghq.com — a real person from the Kong startup team will reply.
How much in credits will I receive?
Up to $100,000 in Kong Konnect Plus credits, depending on your stage and intended usage. Most early-stage startups receive between $25K and $100K upfront.
When do the credits expire?
Credits are valid for 12 months from the date they land in your Konnect organization. Unused credits do not roll over, but the 50% two-year discount kicks in automatically when credits run out.
How does the 50% discount work?
After credits expire — or for any usage beyond your credit balance — you pay 50% of Kong list pricing for 24 months. The discount applies across Konnect Plus: AI Gateway, Mesh, Event Gateway, plugins.
Who is eligible?
Early-stage AI/API startups, typically pre-seed through Series A, with under $10M in total funding. You must be in production or planning to launch within 6 months.
I'm a YC company — what do I do?
Kong is an official YC external partner — go to deals.ycombinator.com/external-partners, find Kong, and claim your credits directly. All active YC companies are pre-qualified.
Can existing Kong customers apply?
Yes, if you meet the stage and funding criteria. Existing customers who get accepted will have their credit balance increased and discount applied to the next invoice.
How long does approval take?
We respond to most applications within 5 business days. Credits land in your Konnect org within 24 hours of acceptance.
I run a VC, accelerator, or builder community — can I refer my portfolio?
Yes. Email startups@konghq.com and we'll set up a partner pipeline, custom onboarding for your portfolio companies, and joint office hours with our solutions engineers.