Meta Platforms Launches “Llama for Startups” to Boost AI Model Adoption

On May 21, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) launched a new initiative called ‘Llama for Startups’ to encourage early-stage companies to adopt its Llama AI models.

This program offers direct support from Meta’s Llama team and, in some cases, funding. To be eligible, US-based incorporated firms must have raised less than $10 million in funding, have at least one developer on staff, and be developing GenAI applications.

Applications for the program are open until May 30. Participating startups in the program can receive up to $6,000 per month for up to 6 months to help offset the costs of building and enhancing their GenAI solutions. Meta’s experts will provide hands-on technical support, assisting startups in getting started with Llama and exploring advanced use cases.

Despite its Llama models accumulating over a billion downloads to date, Meta faces competition from rivals such as DeepSeek, Google, and Alibaba’s Qwen. Llama has also encountered recent challenges, such as a reported delay in the rollout of its flagship Llama 4 Behemoth model due to performance concerns. Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) predicted last year that its GenAI products would generate between $2 billion and $3 billion in revenue in 2025, and significantly more, between $460 billion and $1.4 trillion, by 2035.

While we acknowledge the potential of META to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than META and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.