What is 'curious' is how everyone on this doesn't recognize that these programs are extremely common.

Every large company has some kind of vc, bd or developer program for this kind of thing.

Free Google credits are similar - they are 'giving companies money to buy google services'.

What do you think that is?

It's not cash, but it's economically equivalent if not financially.

The service is consumed, companies get 'value' they have to declare, Google gets the write off.

An engine maker makes money selling engines for energy production.

Then someone invents cars.

The engine maker sees a 10x bigger market, but they have cash and the car inventor does not.

The engine maker funds the car inventor, to create a big distribution channel.

Some things are larger in proportion.

There's nothing wrong with this as long as investors are aware of the structure.