Where the next generation of startups grow
Hatch is our global startup program that provides the cloud infrastructure startups like yours need to scale their businesses
Grow your startup with our powerful and easy-to-use infrastructure
We designed Hatch to power your startup – giving you the cloud infrastructure you need to grow quickly.
Apply now
How do we support startups?
Infrastructure credit
Startups can receive 12 months of infrastructure credit (amount varies by partner organization).
Training
Get access to one-on-one meetings with our Product Managers, Solutions Engineers, Developer Advocates, and other experts in their field.
Prioritized support
Where your tickets get moved up the queue. We support you with 24/7/365 technical support and a 99.99% uptime SLA for all services.
A community of builders
We bring together other founders, investors, and influencers to connect online and meet in-person at Hatch events.
Member perks
Receive exclusive benefits from our perk partners. Exclusive discounts, access to beta products, and mentorship and support.
A thriving community
Join, learn, and share with more than 2,000 organizations using the Hatch program to help build and scale companies and deliver innovative projects that are changing the world.
The myCast platform allows fans to speculatively select who should play characters in their favorite stories by proposing actors, commenting on other individuals’ ideas, and voting for their favorite suggestions.
BreachBits works to empower organizations by helping them understand what attackers see, think, and do.
Easysize is an AI-powered clothing fit and size platform. They provide a plugin for fashion shops that allows customers to find their perfect size by answering a few simple questions.
Hack The Box offers advanced training for IT security professionals and hackers through gamified, hands-on experiences.
Vuukle is a publisher workspace and collection of tools to help creators super-charge their content, maximize ad revenue, improve site speed and amplify audience engagement.
Parabol is a remote meeting platform for Agile teams. They make it easy for Agile product development teams and business agility teams to routinely hold plannings, scrum, and retrospective meetings online.
Why startups choose Hatch
As a founder and somebody that doesn't have a DevOps background, I didn't spend every morning of my life wearing a pager and doing XML sit-ups…what I wanted to do was ship an application to users so that we could begin iterating it.
The cost savings we get by using DigitalOcean enables us to offer our customers pricing that is roughly 5 times more affordable than what the competition is offering. DigitalOcean is the perfect fit for small and medium sized businesses.
We had been growing 10 to 20% a month. And every step of the way, DO had tools that were exactly what it is right. We came for the simplicity and then, as we scaled, we were actually very pleasantly surprised by many things on the platform.
Our Hatch Partner Network
We’re partnering with select accelerators, incubators, and venture capital funds to build a quality platform for growing young companies. For more information, please reach out to us at hatch@digitalocean.com.
Additional resources
Successful Customer Acquisition for Startups
For many entrepreneurs attempting to monetize or build a business out of their products, what comes after the initial proof of concept is somewhat of a mystery.
From Startup to Sustainability: Best Practices for Engineering Teams in Times of Transition
A more reliable way to scale where you move fast, and break less. Learn how to structure your business goals to mitigate potential risk, knock down technical debt, and improve processes.
Startup funding explained: Series A, Series B, Series C
Startup funding can get confusing. Outside of bootstrapping a startup with founder funds, many early-stage businesses raise funding from various sources.
Frequently asked questions
What is Hatch?
Why is DigitalOcean doing this?
Who is eligible for DigitalOcean Hatch? How do you select Hatch members?
We prioritize streaming, gaming, fintech, devtools, B2B startups, and edtech startups who serve developers and businesses. New applicants are evaluated using the following criteria:
- Must be affiliated with an approved accelerator, incubator, or VC firm (see full list here).
- Must not have received previous DigitalOcean promotional credits.
- Must have raised a Series A or less.
- Must have a company website, and an email address associated with the company website.
- Must have proof (verification email or partner letter) demonstrating affiliation with an approved partner organization (accelerator, incubator, or VC firm)
- Must create a registered DigitalOcean team account with a business/company email (not a personal email account).
- Must not be an existing DigitalOcean customer.
How do I know if my accelerator/incubator/VC firm has a relationship with Hatch?
Please see our portfolio partner list. You can ask your program manager if you have a partnership with Hatch.
I do not see my accelerator listed in the partner section. Can I still apply for the Hatch Program?
Yes, have your program manager apply to become a Hatch program partner here.
How can I get started if I’m not backed by a VC, incubator, or accelerator program?
Please fill out the application here and select "Other" when prompted for an affiliated partner organization.
How many credits do I get?
DigitalOcean awards startups credits through approved Hatch partners. To learn more about your eligibility award level, please contact your program manager at your Hatch Partner.
What if I have already received credits for my startup?
This program is for new startups that have not used prior credits with DigitalOcean.
I am an existing customer, do I qualify for Hatch?
Existing customers are not eligible for DigitalOcean Hatch. If you have been assigned an account manager you are not eligible for Hatch. Your account manager can communicate alternative support programs and offerings for you and your team.
How do the Hatch credits work?
You will be given a fixed amount of monthly credits to be used over the 1-year program.
Can you help migrate my customers from other public clouds to DigitalOcean?
Yes, we have migration plans, technical assistance, and credits available to make it easy for your clients.
How do I know if I'm eligible?
We welcome startups to apply that have raised up to/including Series A.
What happens if I go over the monthly credit limit?
If you go over the monthly credit limit, you will be charged for the additional usage for that month.
Do I need to be a DigitalOcean customer to sign up for Hatch?
Before applying for DigitalOcean Hatch, you must create a new DigitalOcean team account for your startup with 1) the corporate email address associated with your company domain and 2) a valid credit card. You can learn more about DO Team Accounts here. For security reasons, applicants must include a working website and matching corporate email address.
Can I transfer my Hatch credits?
No. The Hatch credits are designed to help you scale your infrastructure and are not transferable. If you do not use the credits, they will be forfeited.
Are there any other limitations on how I use the Hatch credits?
Yes. You cannot use the Hatch credits for the mining of cryptocurrency (e.g. bitcoin mining). You can also not use the Hatch credits for programs that consume excessive network capacity, CPU cycles or disk IO. If you do, DigitalOcean may end your participation in the Hatch program. Please review the Hatch Terms of Service.
I have some questions about extensions. How can I get support?
For any program-specific questions, please email hatch@digitalocean.com, and a member of our team will get back to you within a few business days.
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