Meta has introduced a new initiative that aims to encourage startups to adopt its Llama artificial intelligence models. The programme, known as Llama for Startups, offers early-stage companies technical guidance and, in some cases, financial support to help them develop generative AI applications using Meta’s technology.
Startups based in the United States that are incorporated, have raised less than $10 million in funding, employ at least one developer, and are working on generative AI projects are eligible to apply before the May 30 deadline. Successful applicants may receive up to $6,000 per month for six months to help cover the costs of building and improving their AI solutions.
“Members may receive up to $6,000 per month for up to six months to help them offset the costs of building and enhancing their generative AI solutions,” Meta stated in a blog post. “Our experts will work closely with them to get started and explore advanced use cases of Llama that could benefit their startups.”
The Llama series has been downloaded over a billion times, yet rivals such as Google, Alibaba, and emerging companies like DeepSeek continue to develop their own AI models, challenging Meta’s efforts to build a widespread ecosystem around Llama.
Despite these achievements, Meta has encountered several setbacks with Llama. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Meta postponed the launch of its flagship Llama 4 Behemoth model due to concerns about its performance on key benchmarks. Additionally, Meta faced accusations of manipulating results on the crowdsourced AI benchmark LM Arena by using a version of its Llama 4 Maverick model “optimised for conversationality” to achieve high scores, while releasing a different Maverick version publicly.
Meta has ambitious plans for Llama and its wider generative AI offerings. The company projected last year that its generative AI products could generate between $2 billion and $3 billion in revenue by 2025, with estimates rising to between $460 billion and $1.4 trillion by 2035.
To support this vision, Meta has entered into revenue-sharing agreements with companies hosting Llama models and recently launched an API that allows for customisation of Llama releases. CEO Mark Zuckerberg also mentioned during the company’s Q1 earnings call that Meta AI, the AI assistant powered by Llama, might eventually incorporate advertising and offer subscription services with additional features.
Developing these advanced AI systems has proven costly. Meta’s budget for generative AI exceeded $900 million in 2024 and is expected to surpass $1 billion this year, excluding the infrastructure expenses required to train and operate the models. Furthermore, Meta plans to invest between $60 billion and $80 billion in capital expenditures in 2025, primarily focusing on expanding data centre capacity to support AI workloads.
Through the Llama for Startups programme, Meta intends to promote innovation within the generative AI sector by empowering emerging companies with resources and expertise.