Meta has launched a program called “Llama for Startups” for startups that want to use Llama AI models. The goal of the program is to connect startups directly with Meta’s Llama team and provide financial and technical support.
The program is open to generative AI startups registered in the US, that have raised less than $10 million in funding, and that have at least one developer. Selected companies can receive up to $6,000 per month for 6 months.
The initiative is part of Meta’s desire to lead the open AI model market. Llama models have now been downloaded more than 1 billion times, but competitors such as Google, DeepSeek, and Alibaba are also gaining ground.
However, the Llama project has also had some problems recently: Meta decided not to release the 4th behemoth model, and also faced controversy over the Llama 4 Maverick model.
Meta expects to generate revenue from generative AI products of $2-3 billion in 2025, and from $460 billion to $1.4 trillion in 2035. To this end, the company plans to invest about $1 billion in infrastructure and data centers in 2024 and $60-80 billion in 2025.
