Introducing the Llama Startup Program
53 comments
·May 21, 2025neilv
Better hurry:
> Applications for the initial cohort close on May 30, 2025 at 6:00 pm PT.
yellow_lead
Nice, just a little over a week. I'm sure they'll get many great applications.
rgbrgb
> Funding + Support -> Apply for Llama Startup Program by May 30 -> Vision
Feels a little backwards, no? Perhaps should have consulted Gemini.
Fomite
This was my thought too. But somewhat revealing of the mindset involved in an awful lot of the AI "industry".
First, start with a pile of money and the vague notion of an AI tool. Usefulness will come later, surely, definitely, before we run out of pile of money.
pocketarc
Is it the AI industry or just VC in general? YC quite famously invests in founders, not ideas. Other accelerators are similar. They start with a pile of money and the vague notion of a startup idea. Usefulness comes later, after however many pivots, before they run out of the pile of money.
lr1970
> and may help to fund their use of Llama models.
I love open weight (and better open source) LLMs and wish Llama all the best! But God help Meta if they have to pay startups to entice them to use their open weights model.
adamloving
Quick summary: Apply for up to $6K reimbursement per month for up to 6 months for Llama usage (wherever you use it). Incorporated startups with less than $10 million USD in funding are eligible. (disclosure: I work at Meta as Llama Partner Engineer)
concerndc1tizen
> ... to receive cloud reimbursements of up to $6,000 USD per month for up to six months
kjok
> Employ at least one developer
What kind of developer? full/part-time or 1099 contractor?
lostmsu
Do I count as the founder? I use contractors from Eastern Europe to do frontend, does that count?
Overall seems like a very niche offering, considering $6K is peanuts these days. You can get more by applying for any of Microsoft, Google, or Amazon startup programs. MSFT for instance straight up gives > $100K in cloud credits when you are funded (and if not, how do you pay your developer?)
bix6
Is this pure reimbursement or are there any strings attached?
joshuanapoli
The 6k is only for AI cloud hosting.
> Join us for the opportunity to receive cloud reimbursements of up to $6,000 USD per month for up to six months, technical resources, and a vibrant community
teruakohatu
> disclosure: I work at Meta as Llama Partner Engineer
Do you know of any programmes for Tertiary Education initiatives?
maxloh
How does this program, or the adoption of Llama in general, benefit Meta?
BizarroLand
If you come up with a great idea, then Facebook can either steal it from you or buy you out without them having to spend the funds to test all of the potential options.
Facebook hasn't had a good idea for over a decade (and even that one was trash), so they need a little help now and again.
YetAnotherNick
Does this just apply to API cost or finetuning/hosting on prem cost?
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maxloh
How does this program, or the adoption of Llama in general, benefit Meta?
reilly3000
I want to know the same thing, but the other day I heard an interesting stat that ChatGPT is the #4 top site by traffic, just behind Instagram and ahead of X. We mustn’t let all of that attention go elsewhere shall we?
ks2048
Does anyone know of a good list of similar programs (cloud credits for startups)?
shooker435
Azure and GCP both offer startup credits if you're incorporated, more if you've raised funding or have revenue. Not sure about AWS.
k__
"for early-stage startups in the United States"
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flaviuspopan
To confirm, an LLC with a solo dev wouldn’t qualify?
busymom0
Unfortunately, limited to US only.
seunosewa
Make a good model first. Then you can start pushing for usage. Llama 4 isn't even the best open source non-reasoning model.
phillipcarter
It is a good model, but I think my bar is to stop faking benchmarks first.
littlestymaar
What Llama4 model is good in your opinion?
phillipcarter
I've only used Scout, but I found it more than acceptable as a "GPT-4 or better" level model for coding questions. I've not stress tested it in any way because I didn't need to. So it's fine! It's just not special.
maxloh
> Llama 4 isn't even the best open source non-reasoning model.
It isn't even open source. There is a 700 million monthly active users limit.
https://huggingface.co/meta-llama/Llama-4-Scout-17B-16E-Inst...
kouteiheika
> There is a 700 million monthly active users limit.
...so? Who cares? Why does it matter if big megacorporations cannot use it for free? I sure as hell don't care.
If you want to complain about the license a better target is the annoying advertising clause:
> i. If you distribute or make available the Llama Materials (or any derivative works thereof), or a product or service (including another AI model) that contains any of them, you shall (A) provide a copy of this Agreement with any such Llama Materials; and (B) prominently display “Built with Llama” on a related website, user interface, blogpost, about page, or product documentation. If you use the Llama Materials or any outputs or results of the Llama Materials to create, train, fine tune, or otherwise improve an AI model, which is distributed or made available, you shall also include “Llama” at the beginning of any such AI model name.
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Waiting for an obligatory WinampAI post because... It Really Whips the Llama's Ass.