Apply for Notion for Startups to get up to 6 months free on the Notion Business plan with Notion AI included.
TL;DR
This guide explains what the Notion for Startups perk includes and how to Apply for Notion for Startups through XRaise so you can reduce software costs while building one scalable operating system for your team.
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- What you get: up to 6 months free on the Notion Business plan with Notion AI included.
- Who qualifies: startups with fewer than 100 employees; partner-affiliated may get 6 months, others may get 3 months if new users.
- How to apply: submit through XRaise, then follow the activation instructions provided after approval.
- Next step: apply through XRaise, and use the official Notion page only to confirm terms/details.
What is Notion for Startups (and why founders apply)?
Notion for Startups is a program that helps early-stage teams adopt Notion with a time-limited benefit: up to 6 months free on the Notion Business plan, with Notion AI included. The point is simple: make it easier for startups to consolidate work into one workspace while spending less at the start.
Notion itself is an AI-powered workspace where teams can centralize knowledge and execution: docs, wikis, project tracking, roadmaps, onboarding, calendars, and database-style systems like lightweight CRM and fundraising trackers. It’s designed to replace scattered documents and disconnected tools with a single system your team can search, update, and scale.
If you want a broader overview (and how founders compare it to other systems), see: Notion for Startups: features and comparisons.
What do you get when you apply for Notion for Startups?
Based on the perk details you provided, here’s what you receive when you Apply for Notion for Startups and are approved.
Apply for Notion for Startups: what’s included
- Up to 6 months free on the Notion Business plan
- Notion AI included at no additional cost
- Tools for docs, projects, wikis, CRM-style databases, calendars, and collaboration workflows
- AI capabilities for writing, meeting summaries, research, and email drafts
- Enterprise search across work tools and databases (as described in your input)
- Real-time collaboration, permissions, and automation
- Templates for roadmaps, OKRs, onboarding, and documentation
- A path to replace multiple SaaS tools and reduce costs
What’s excluded (or may vary)
Some “all-in-one” claims depend on how you implement the workspace:
- Whether you truly replace your CRM, email tooling, or calendar tooling can vary by your setup and integrations.
- Specific plan limits and fine print (AI usage limits, admin/security controls, and program exceptions) should be confirmed in the vendor terms.
Use the vendor page only for official details and eligibility rules: official Notion for Startups terms.
Who is eligible (and who isn’t)?
Here’s the clean eligibility summary from your perk input.
Apply for Notion for Startups eligibility checklist
- Startups with fewer than 100 employees
- Partner-affiliated startups: can redeem 6 months free when affiliated with an approved partner
- Non-partner but new Notion users: can redeem 3 months free if they are new users without partner affiliation
Common disqualifiers (or reasons you won’t get “6 months”)
- You’re over the employee threshold
- You assume everyone gets 6 months (duration often depends on partner affiliation)
- Your workspace/user status doesn’t match “new Notion users” for the 3-month path (this can vary)
If anything about your status is unclear, treat it as “Varies by program/workspace” and confirm on the official Notion for Startups terms.
How to apply for Notion for Startups through XRaise (step-by-step)
If you want the simplest path, follow the XRaise flow end-to-end, then use Notion’s site only to confirm program terms.
Apply for Notion for Startups: what you’ll need ready
- Open the XRaise apply page.
- Sign in (or create an account) to start the application
- Select the Notion for Startups perk and confirm your startup basics (company + team size)
- If you’re partner-affiliated, provide that information when requested
- Submit your application through XRaise
- Wait for the approval response and activation instructions
- Activate the benefit in your Notion workspace following the instructions you receive
- Set a calendar reminder for the month your free period ends so you can decide whether to keep Business, change plans, or reduce seats
When you need to confirm the official rules (not to apply), reference: official Notion for Startups terms.
What the Notion for Startups offer is worth in practice
“Up to 6 months free” matters most when you use it to remove duplication in your stack and reduce the cost of coordination.
Why founders apply for Notion for Startups
Scenario 1: Consolidate docs + project execution in one place
Early teams often keep specs in documents and tasks in a separate PM tool, which creates rework: tasks lose the decision context, and updates get missed. In Notion, one project page can hold the spec, key decisions, and an embedded task view filtered to that project. The result is fewer “where is the latest version?” conversations.
Scenario 2: Build onboarding that scales without founder time
Founders lose hours when onboarding depends on live explanations. Use Notion to build a lightweight operating system: handbook, SOPs, onboarding checklists, and role expectations. When a new hire joins, they can self-serve the basics, and your team answers fewer repeated questions.
Scenario 3: Run fundraising and partnerships without spreadsheet chaos
A Notion database can track investor outreach, intros, stage, notes, and next actions, next to your investor updates and materials. It’s not a full CRM replacement for every sales org, but it’s often enough for early fundraising and partner workflows.
If you’re planning your broader “perks + credits” approach for runway, this is the companion guide: getting the most out of startup resources.
Tips to maximize approval + value
These are the practical moves that make the free months actually matter after you Apply for Notion for Startups.
Timing advice
- Apply when you can implement, not when you’re in peak launch week. Free months wasted on a half-built workspace don’t convert into savings.
- If you expect partner affiliation, confirm that relationship early (don’t assume it’s automatic).
Setup tips that reduce tool sprawl
- Start with a single Home page that links to your core systems: wiki, roadmap, meeting notes, hiring, fundraising.
- Move only what your team touches weekly: handbook, roadmap, one tracker (projects or CRM).
- Use templates for OKRs and onboarding once your structure is stable.
Avoidable mistakes
- Migrating everything at once (you create a messy archive, not a usable system)
- Letting every team create their own structure (you lose searchability and shared habits)
- Waiting until the free period ends to decide what stays (review at month 2-3)
If you’re applying to multiple programs and want a repeatable method, use: startup programs strategy (2026).
Alternatives (optional, only if helpful)
Notion is strongest when writing + knowledge + context drive speed. If your bottleneck is strict work tracking, these may fit better:
- Asana or ClickUp: better when structured project management is the primary need and docs are secondary. Comparison: Asana vs ClickUp for startups.
- Dedicated CRM: better if you have a high-volume sales motion with advanced pipeline reporting.
- Dedicated knowledge base: better if you need strict publishing approvals and constraints.
A simple rule: choose Notion when the “system of record” matters most; choose PM-first tools when the “system of execution tracking” matters most.
FAQ
How do I apply?
Use the XRaise apply page After submission/approval, follow the activation instructions you receive.
What do I need to qualify?
You need to be a startup with fewer than 100 employees. The free-month duration depends on partner affiliation and/or being a new Notion user (as described in the perk inputs). Confirm edge cases on the official Notion for Startups terms.
Can I stack this with other offers?
Not publicly confirmed. Stacking rules can vary by workspace/program. Verify in the official Notion for Startups terms.
What happens after it expires?
Billing typically reverts to standard pricing for your plan unless you change plans or cancel. Treat month 2–3 as your review window so you’re not deciding under time pressure.
Does Notion really replace other tools?
It can replace multiple tools for many early teams (docs, wiki, lightweight projects, onboarding, simple CRM tracking), but full replacement depends on your workflows and integrations.
Final Thoughts
If your team is bouncing between docs, tasks, meeting notes, and trackers across multiple tools, Notion for Startups is most valuable when you use the free months to consolidate into one operating system, not just “try a new app.”
Apply for Notion for Startups through XRaise here.
For official eligibility and program requirements (terms/details only), reference: official Notion for Startups terms.
