This content originally appeared on Level Up Coding - Medium and was authored by Dr. Varshita Sher
TECH RESOURCES
All you need to start your tech venture (or a hobby project for your resume) for $0.
Imagine you’re an entrepreneur, trying to make your new venture successful. Tech startups face a few big challenges: figuring out if the idea will work, if it’s feasible, or if anyone will even pay for the final product or service.
With so much uncertainty, it not only makes sense to make use of all the free resources available on the market but do so in a timely manner as delays can lead to missed opportunities. From cloud credits to startup grants, these resources not only save you money but also give you the tools to scale smartly.
Plus, who doesn’t love free stuff?
P.S. As the adage goes, there are no free lunches. All of these resources require you to fill some applications, though they are not too time consuming. Since they are highly competitive, make sure your application stands out.
Let’s begin! 🚀
1. ElevenLabs for audio generation
ElevenLabs is a leading tech company specializing in AI-powered voice synthesis and text-to-speech (TTS) technology. With over 120 voices in 29 languages, it is a great tool for integrating natural-sounding audio into your data products.
Think of usecases like enhancing a text chatbot with voice capabilities or building the next Alexa.
Startups selected for the grant program receive a substantial amount of free minutes, typically up to 12,000 minutes per month for 3 months. This is roughly equivalent to $3600 each month.
Pro-tip: if you get the grant, use it for generating audios using professional voice clones as they come with a 50x multiplier due to the high-quality training data provided by professional voice artists.
P.S. This is a one-time-only credit, companies cannot apply for a second time.
2. Microsoft Azure credit
This one is by far the easiest to apply, just need your LinkedIn profile and 2–5 minutes to complete the rest of the application. The catch is that you apply as an individual, not as a company. In other words, the grant is awarded based on the individual’s credentials and past achievements.
Once approved, Microsoft offers free credits worth 25K in the first year, followed by an additional 150K for the second year, provided you are able to use at least 12.5K from the first year.
These credits can be used across any of their Azure services, including Azure OpenAI (AOI). Highlighting AOI here is important because LLM costs in the Generative AI space can escalate quickly. Even if your application isn't tied to Microsoft, you can still utilize Azure credits for LLMs like GPT-4o or vision models like DALL-E 3.
3. Essential Reading for Tech Entrepreneurs
The one thing all successful entrepreneurs have in common is that they prioritize learning. And what better way than to learn and grow from reading about case studies of other companies?
Books like Art of the Start share some pure nuggets of gold when it comes to bootstrapping, pitching perfectly, and forming partnerships. If you don’t have the time to read them end-to-end, at the very least, get familiarized with their key ideas using book summary apps.
AcceleratEd is just one of many apps (with over 8000+ books across genres like business, leadership, and entrepreneurship), however, its AskTed chatbot makes it unique. It can be used to deep-dive into competing business strategies across industries, simplify complex financial terms like EBITDA and P/E ratio in an ELI5 manner, or break down intricate key ideas — something other apps don’t offer (I have done a detailed comparison here).
Regardless, all of them offer free trials and 1 free book a day, making it easy to get started. My three must-reads for entrepreneurs are Zero to One, The Lean Startup, and The Hard Thing About Hard Things.
4. Save tax on CapEx for Research & Development
This one is not technically a freebie but a way for the company to enjoy some savings.
If you are working in the R&D space (which by default most tech startups would fall under), there are schemes that allow you to apply for tax rebates on your company’s CapEx (capital expenditures) that are associated with R&D activities. This includes costs associated with patents, specialized software licenses, salaries, and more.
In some countries, the tax relief can be as high as 33%, so check it out!
Similarly, sustainability grants are available for tech companies working on projects that help protect the environment. These grants support ideas in areas like clean energy, waste reduction, and sustainable farming.
5. MongoDB Atlas for vector database
Pretty much everyone these days is building a RAG-based chatbot and if you are one of them, applying for the MongoDB for Startups program could be useful.
The program is open to startups at the Series A or earlier funding stages who are building a product or a service (in short consultancies are not eligible).
If selected, you’ll receive $5,000 in credits for MongoDB Atlas, which is more than sufficient for implementing semantic search using the Atlas Vector Search for efficient search and retrieval of high-dimensional data.
Here’s a bonus one
6. 50% discount on Azure certification
Many large (and even small) companies are now part of Microsoft’s ESI program (Enterprise Skills Initiative). If you are fortunate enough to work at one of these companies, you can avail yourself of a 50% discount on the Microsoft certification exam.
During the scheduling process, look for an explicit step offering discounts and use your work email to claim it.
P.S. This discount used to be a full 100% a few months back.
Final Thoughts
The digital age has unlocked endless possibilities for indie developers and solopreneurs, empowering anyone with an idea to transform it into reality.
By leveraging these freebies, you’re not just saving money — you’re gaining the tools and support to innovate and compete with the big players in your space. Sometimes, success comes down to being bold, resourceful, and a little scrappy — and these resources can help you check all those boxes.
Remember, lack of funding doesn’t have to be the reason your vision stays on the drawing board.
With these no-cost tools and grants at your disposal, you’re already one step closer to building something incredible. Now, it’s time to take that step.
Happy learning 🚀
5 Freebies For Tech Startups (and Solopreneurs) was originally published in Level Up Coding on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
This content originally appeared on Level Up Coding - Medium and was authored by Dr. Varshita Sher
Dr. Varshita Sher | Sciencx (2025-01-07T17:50:15+00:00) 5 Freebies For Tech Startups (and Solopreneurs). Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/01/07/5-freebies-for-tech-startups-and-solopreneurs/
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