---
title: "Shortcut for Startups"
slug: "shortcut-startup-program"
provider: "Shortcut"
status: "verified"
verifiedAt: "2026-10-12"
listedAt: "2026-09-12"
canonical: "https://aifree.dev/offer/shortcut-startup-program"
---

# Shortcut for Startups

> 12 months of Shortcut's Business Plan free for eligible startups

- Provider: [Shortcut](https://aifree.dev/provider/shortcut-com)
- What is free: Startup program
- Status: verified by a person on 2026-10-12
- Credit card: not required
- Sign-up: required
- For: Startups
- Claim at: https://www.shortcut.com/startups/

## What you get

Eligible startups get 12 months of free access to Shortcut's Business Plan (unlimited everything plus SAML SSO) if they have fewer than 50 employees and meet Shortcut's funding and age criteria.

## The catch

Only new Shortcut customers qualify: fewer than 50 employees, under 5 years old, pre-Series A with under $10M raised; must upgrade if users pass 50 or funding passes $10M.

## Eligibility

New Shortcut customers with fewer than 50 employees, a business less than 5 years old, pre-Series A funding under $10M; no VC or accelerator affiliation required.
- New Shortcut customers
- fewer than 50 employees
- a business less than 5 years old
- pre-Series A funding under $10M
- pre-Series A funding under $10M
- Apply through the Startup Program page as a new customer

## Limits

- 12 months free Business Plan
- New customers only; not service providers or consulting agencies
- Fewer than 50 employees
- Less than 5 years old
- Pre-Series A, under $10M external funding
- Upgrade required above 50 users or after raising $10M+

## Details

## Overview
[Shortcut for Startups](https://www.shortcut.com/startups/) gives eligible early-stage companies 12 months of free access to Shortcut's Business Plan. Shortcut is a project management and issue-tracking tool for software teams; the program is open to all startups regardless of VC-fund or accelerator affiliation.

## Program Credits & Benefits
- **12 months free** on the Business Plan — "unlimited everything, plus SAML SSO."
- Available to startups with fewer than 50 employees.
- No accelerator or VC affiliation required.
- Companies that don't qualify can still sign up for a 14-day Shortcut trial.
- If you exceed 50 users, Shortcut asks you to contact its Customers Team to upgrade; if you secure more than $10M in funding mid-program, contact the team to discuss upgrading.
- Before the 12 months end, you can renew or cancel your Shortcut subscription.

## Eligibility
Your company must meet all of the following:
- You're a new Shortcut customer.
- You have fewer than 50 employees.
- You're not a service provider or consulting agency.
- You're in Pre-series A funding stage.
- You have raised less than $10M USD in external funding.
- You are a business that's less than 5 years old.

## How to Apply
1. Review the eligibility criteria at https://www.shortcut.com/startups/.
2. Click "Apply now" to complete the application form.
3. If approved, you get the Business Plan and SAML SSO free for 12 months.

## More

- HTML page: https://aifree.dev/offer/shortcut-startup-program
- Change history: https://aifree.dev/offer/shortcut-startup-program/history
- How it was verified: https://aifree.dev/offer/shortcut-startup-program/verification
- More in [Free AI coding tools](https://aifree.dev/free-ai-coding-tools.md)
- JSON: https://aifree.dev/api/v1/offers/shortcut-startup-program