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Startup credits accounting for YC startups

YC and accelerator startups run on credits — AWS Activate, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Resend — and those credits quietly distort your numbers. If a $4,000 AWS bill is covered by credit, your cash burn and your true cost of running the product are two different things, and both matter to your runway. Economico books startup credits, draws them down against the right bills, and surfaces them before they expire — run by the AI agent you already use.

Why credits distort a startup's books

Credits make your burn look lower than your real cost structure — until the credits run out and the bills hit cash. Founders who don't track this get surprised twice: by how much runway the credits were really buying, and by the cliff when they expire. Economico treats credits as first-class: booked when granted, drawn down FIFO-by-expiry against that vendor's bills, and surfaced in your inbox before they lapse, so true cost and credit runway are always visible.

How it works

Book the credit. You're granted $5,000 of AWS Activate credit; your agent records it against the vendor.
Draw it down. A $1,200 AWS bill arrives; Economico applies the credit FIFO-by-expiry via the contra-expense, so the expense is recognized while cash is preserved.
See true burn and runway. Your agent shows real cost of running the product, remaining credit by vendor, and which credits expire soon — separating credit-funded spend from cash burn.

Where it fits

This is built for exactly the YC/accelerator situation: lots of vendor credits, no finance hire, and investors who want to understand real burn. It tracks vendor credits (cloud and API providers) — distinct from tax credits (R&D), which a service like Fondo recovers. Economico is open to every founder, and YC founders get a deal and is free on your first $100,000 of revenue.

Frequently asked questions

How do I account for AWS Activate or OpenAI credits?

Book the credit against the vendor, then draw it down against that vendor's bills. Economico applies credits FIFO-by-expiry through a contra-expense, so the expense is recognized and cash is preserved.

Will I see true burn versus credit-funded spend?

Yes — Economico separates credit-funded spend from cash burn, so your runway reflects reality, not just what's hit your bank.

Does it warn me before credits expire?

Yes — nearing-expiry credits are surfaced in your inbox, with remaining balance and expiry per vendor.

Is this the same as R&D tax credits?

No. Economico tracks vendor credits (AWS, OpenAI, Anthropic, …). R&D tax-credit recovery from the IRS is a different thing, handled by a service like Fondo or an accountant.

How do I connect Economico to my agent?

Point an MCP-capable host at economi.co/mcp or install the @economico/cli. The setup guide is at economi.co/skill.md.