FAQ

We START you UP is a program from Aruba Cloud that offers free Cloud credit to startups involved in technology and innovation.

Any startup that plans to develop truly innovative products or services, based on an IT infrastructure that is suitable for use in the Cloud. Participating startups must have been set up for less than 36 months, have a registered address on national territory and submit a sustainable business model.

The START stage is the entry-level available to all startups that would like to start the We START you UP course. To sign up, all you need to do is fill in the online form, sum up your business plan and accept the terms and conditions for entry. The Aruba Cloud team will assess your request and confirm whether you are suitable for the program by phone or email. Once you have been accepted, you will receive our Welcome Kit and the first Cloud credit voucher worth 3,000 Euro to use within 12 months.

The outcome of your request to sign up with START will be sent to you within 7 working days.

By taking part in We START you UP, you will have access to all of Aruba's Cloud solutions, free Cloud credit, the support of our experts and a raised profile via our resources.
In exchange, we ask you to include the program's logo on your website, in one of the main sections (home, footer, tech partners), with a link to www.arubacloud.com

By joining the program, you’ll have access to:

• all Aruba Cloud solutions: Cloud Computing, Cloud VPS, Cloud Backup, Cloud Object Storage, Cloud Monitoring;
• Knowledge Base with tools and detailed guides on how to manage your Cloud Server;
• direct consultation on the use and configuration of the service. You can send a request from the Aruba Cloud technical panel: our team will send you a favourable quote for start-ups and, if accepted, the amount will be deducted from your free cloud credit.
• technical support 24/7

You can get through to the UP stage by taking part in and winning the Pitch Day, Aruba Cloud's startup competition. This stage offers 50,000 Euro of free Cloud credit, valid for 24 months. Involvement in the Pitch Day is subject to initial approval based on your business plan and the scalability of your startup's infrastructures.

Pitch Day is the annual competition organised by Aruba Cloud, when startups compete to go through to the UP stage. To take part, you need to fill in the online form with details about your business plan; the information you provide will not be made public. The competition is only open to startups who have completed or are in the process of completing their first year of the START stage. The Aruba Cloud team will assess the documentation and decide which startups will take part in the Pitch Day.
The selected participants must present their project during the event to an audience and Aruba's panel of judges (top management, marketing staff and Cloud experts). The panel will choose the 3 best projects and award the winning startups allowing them to go through to the UP stage worth 50,000 Euro.

The vouchers of the START stage are valid for 12 months from the date you receive the code. On the expiration date the Cloud credit will be cancelled and the voucher blocked. To avoid being without credit, simply request the new voucher near the expiration date by writing to: [email protected]

At the end of the program, Aruba Cloud will carry on supporting your startup with limited ad hoc special offers designed to fit in with your IT infrastructure. A few months before the end of the program, we will get in touch via email and, if you are interested, we will put you in touch with one of our sales representatives.

Yes, We START you UP is a program dedicated to innovative technology startups based anywhere in the world! The program will be held in English and most of the events will be held in Europe.

In order to receive the .cloud bonus the startup taking part in the START Stage needs to demonstrate how it’s using a .cloud domain as its main domain (e.g. as the startup's website, advertised on its social media accounts and marketing material). The EUR 1,000 credit voucher is provided as a one-off voucher once eligibility has been verified (either at the time of application or at a later stage following a rebranding) and can be used during the 3 years of the START Stage.

Aruba Cloud is always delighted to introduce We START you UP to new incubator and accelerator partners. To join the program, all you need to do is fill in the online form and enter the requested information. Aruba Cloud will assess the request and confirm your acceptance by phone and via email.

As a Partner, you will be able to give your startups the chance to use Cloud services for free and take part in a technology training course with exclusive benefits. You will also be able to raise your profile with ad hoc events and nurture new relationships within your startup ecosystem.

All you need to do is fill in the online form, providing the name of the Partner that represents them. All incubated startups that fulfil the eligibility criteria will have direct access to the START stage. There are no limits to the number of startups that can be signed up.

When you become a Partner for We START you UP, you can sign up startups to the program, raise your profile, organize tech events and get involved in communication and promotional activities.
In exchange, we ask you to include the program's logo on your website in one of the main sections (home, footer, tech partners), with a link to www.arubacloud.com/aruba-cloud-startup-program/

Incubated startups are supported during the assessment for the START stage with direct access to the program, and for the UP stage. During the UP stage incubators may help them work on their presentation for the Pitch Day, in accordance with Aruba Cloud guidelines. As well as this, one of them has a guaranteed place in the final of the Pitch Day.

Aruba Cloud is always available to organize workshops, road shows, hackathons and all sorts of other activities together with Partners. Of particular interest are the training days: days when you can learn about the program and Cloud solutions exclusively aimed at startups. These days can be organized at the offices of incubator and accelerator partners or via remote connection.