What Amazon Web Services offers startups
AWS Activate is Amazon's startup program, providing up to $100,000 in AWS credits across the entire AWS catalog — EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, Bedrock, SageMaker, and 200+ other services. Credits are valid for two years and come bundled with technical support, training, and architectural guidance from AWS solutions architects.
AWS is the default cloud for most VC-backed startups for a reason: the service breadth is unmatched, and Activate makes it economically viable at the earliest stages. For founders building anything from a simple API to a full ML pipeline, two years of $100k credits is enough runway to prove out architecture before optimizing for cost.
Everything in the program
- Up to $100,000 in AWS Promotional Credits valid for 2 years
- Access to all AWS services including Bedrock, SageMaker, and the full AI/ML stack
- $5,000 in AWS Business Support credits
- AWS technical training and certification access
- 1:1 architecture reviews with AWS solutions architects
- Networking via AWS startup events and the Activate console
Who qualifies
- Startup must be less than 10 years old
- Backed by an approved accelerator, VC, or incubator (the Activate Portfolio tier)
- Pre-seed to Series A funding stage typically
- Have not previously received the same AWS Activate tier
- Building a real software product (not an agency or consultancy)
The application path
- Confirm your accelerator, VC, or incubator is an approved AWS Activate Provider
- Request your unique Organization ID (Org ID) from your partner
- Apply at the AWS Activate console with your Org ID, AWS Account ID, and company details
- Approval is typically automatic with a valid Org ID — credits arrive within 7–10 business days
- Apply credits to your AWS account and begin building
Maximize your approval odds
- Always apply via an Activate Provider (your VC/accelerator) — the self-serve "Founders" tier offers far less ($1k vs $100k)
- Move workloads to Graviton-based instances early — they cost up to 40% less and stretch your credits further
- Set AWS Budgets alerts immediately to avoid surprise overruns once credits are exhausted
- Bedrock model usage counts against credits — useful for AI startups testing Claude or Llama before paying for the API directly
Founders ask before applying
How much in AWS credits can I get?
Up to $100,000 via the Activate Portfolio tier (requires approved partner). The self-serve Founders tier offers $1,000.
How long do AWS Activate credits last?
AWS Activate Portfolio credits are valid for 2 years from the issue date.
Can I use AWS credits for Bedrock and SageMaker?
Yes. Activate credits apply across the full AWS service catalog including Bedrock, SageMaker, and other AI/ML services.
What if my accelerator is not an AWS Activate Provider?
You can still apply via the Founders tier ($1,000 credit) or ask your accelerator to apply for partner status — it's free.