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What is Z Fellows and how much does it give?
Z Fellows is a one-week program with an optional $10,000 investment. Its headline is "1 week. $10,000." The perk card shows who qualifies and how to claim.
The program brings together ten builders with founders of billion-dollar companies. It is built for ambitious people early in their journey, which fits a student with a side project. AI Perks tracks the Z Fellows card alongside more student and educator offers, so you can compare them in one place.
This guide covers what the $10,000 really is, how the week runs, and which free AI credits you can claim to build with. Open the card first if you want to see the offer itself.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Z Fellows $10,000 investment at a $1B valuation cap
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
Is the $10,000 a grant or an investment?
It is an investment, not a grant. The program says you can participate without money, or take a $10,000 investment at a $1B valuation cap. That money converts into stock at your next priced round.
That structure matters for a student founder. Taking the money is a choice, and joining without it is allowed. Read the terms on the Z Fellows card before you decide.
| Item | What the program says |
|---|---|
| Headline | 1 week, $10,000 |
| Type of money | Optional investment, not a grant |
| Valuation cap | $1B |
| Conversion | Into stock at your next priced round |
| Taking the money | Optional, you can join without it |
Who is Z Fellows for?
Z Fellows is for technical builders of all ages working on side projects and startups. The program has worked with high school dropouts, college students and people with full-time jobs across many industries. So "student and young founders" is a fit, but it is not the only group.
You do not need an existing company, because the program says it can help you set one up. You can come solo or with co-founders, and you can be based anywhere in the world. The exact qualifying details are on the card, not in this article.
If you are building alone, our guide to free AI credits for solo founders covers the same ground from a different angle.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Z Fellows $10,000 investment at a $1B valuation cap
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
How does the one-week format work?
Cohorts are mostly virtual, with the last day in person in SF or NYC. Most fellows end up coming to SF or NYC for the entire week. The program runs multiple cohorts every year.
Here is the format at a glance:
| Part | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | One week |
| Group | Ten builders per experience |
| Who you meet | Founders of billion-dollar companies |
| Location | Mostly virtual, final day in person in SF or NYC |
| Where you live | Anywhere in the world |
Cohort dates are not published on the program page. Check the Z Fellows card for current details.
What do founders get after the week ends?
The program says it does not end after one week. It continues to help you for the life of your company. That is a long promise, and the program does not spell out the specifics.
What is published: the week puts you in a room with founders of billion-dollar companies, and the optional investment gives you a cap table entry from day one.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Z Fellows $10,000 investment at a $1B valuation cap
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
Which free AI credits can a student founder claim to build?
The $10,000 does not buy compute by itself, and you may not take it at all. Free credits cover the build cost either way. The catalogue lists these perks, and each row opens its own card.
| Company | Free credits | How to get |
|---|---|---|
| Z Fellows | $10,000 investment | Get this perk |
| Anthropic API | $20,000 | Get this perk |
| Google Cloud (Vertex AI, Gemini) | $350,000 | Get this perk |
| OpenRouter | Up to $3,000 | Get this perk |
| Lovable (students) | Up to $150 | Get this perk |
| Replit (students) | $120 | Get this perk |
Total in free credits: $20,000 + $350,000 + $3,000 + $150 + $120 = up to $373,270 across the five credit rows, plus the $10,000 Z Fellows investment listed separately.
The big numbers sit with $20,000 in Anthropic API credits and $350,000 in Google Cloud credits. Up to $3,000 on OpenRouter lets you switch between models while you test. The two student rows are smaller but quick to open.
Each card shows who qualifies and how to claim. We do not list requirements here because they change, and the card is the current source. For a wider comparison, see free AI credits for students.
How do I get started? Step by step
- Open AI Perks. Go to getaiperks.com and browse the full catalogue of companies and perks. Filter for the student and startup offers in the table above.
- Open the Z Fellows card. Read the investment terms and see who qualifies. Decide whether you want the $10,000 or only the week.
- Pick one model provider. Open the Anthropic card or the OpenRouter card and start the trial from there.
- Add cloud credits. Open the Google Cloud card if your project needs hosting or Gemini.
- Prototype fast. Use the Lovable or Replit student cards to get a working demo.
If you are not funded by outside money, free AI credits for bootstrapped startups shows how far credits alone can go.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Z Fellows $10,000 investment at a $1B valuation cap
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
FAQ
Is Z Fellows a grant?
No. The $10,000 is an optional investment at a $1B valuation cap, and it converts into stock at your next priced round. You can also join without taking the money. The perk card on AI Perks shows who qualifies and how to claim, so open it before you decide.
Do I need a company to join?
No. The program says it can help you set one up, and you can join solo or with co-founders. For who qualifies and how to claim, open the Z Fellows card in the catalogue at getaiperks.com, where AI Perks keeps the details current.
Do I have to live in San Francisco or New York?
Cohorts are mostly virtual and finish with an in-person day in SF or NYC. Most fellows end up coming to SF or NYC for the whole week. You can be based anywhere in the world, since the program says there are fellows all over the globe.
Can I use free AI credits alongside Z Fellows?
Yes. The catalogue lists them as separate perks. You will find $20,000 in Anthropic API credits, $350,000 for Google Cloud and up to $3,000 on OpenRouter. Browse them all at getaiperks.com and open a card to see who qualifies.
Does the support end after the week?
No. The program says it continues to help you for the life of your company. The one-week format is the start, not the end. The experience brings together ten builders with founders of billion-dollar companies, and the Z Fellows card shows how to take part.
Is Z Fellows only for students?
No. Z Fellows is for technical builders of all ages working on side projects and startups. It has worked with high school dropouts, college students and people with full-time jobs across many industries. It is aimed at ambitious people early in their journey.
Ready to build?
Whether or not you take the $10,000, the credits above cut your build cost. Open the cards, check who qualifies, and start a trial today. If you are also looking at accelerator-style perks, see free AI credits for YC startups.
Get free AI credits at getaiperks.com →
AI Perks tracks free AI credits and free API keys across a full catalogue of companies, so you can find your next credit at getaiperks.com.
