AWS
AWS Activate
Up to $200,000 Activate Credits
Manually reviewed by our team
Flagship AWS startup program with tiered Activate Credits for self-funded founders and VC/accelerator-backed portfolio companies, usable across AWS services including Bedrock.
At a glance
Eligibility, benefit timing, and terms
Eligibility
- Bootstrapped founders eligible
- Separate legal entities may apply independently where terms allow
Benefit and tiers
- Activate Founders$5K
- Activate Portfolio$200K
- AWS Credits for AI Startups$200K
When you get it
AWS says applications are reviewed before credits are deposited; the current application guide says processing is usually 5–10 business days.
Duration and limits
12 months
Expiration is package-specific and should be confirmed in the AWS Billing console after approval.
- • One credit redemption per company
- • Credits apply only to eligible AWS services
Last terms check: 2026-08-10
Official termsSelf-funded founders can apply directly; provider-backed startups need an Activate Provider organization ID. The AI package is invite-only.
Program tiers
| Tier | Value | Access | When / duration | Notes and limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activate Founders | $5K | self serve | Starts at $1K on approval; selected participants may qualify for up to $5K 12 months | Self-funded; typically $1K–$5K |
| Activate Portfolio | $200K | vc or accelerator | Awarded after provider-backed application review 12 months | Requires Activate Provider Org ID |
| AWS Credits for AI Startups | $200K | invite only | Available by invitation after Portfolio-scale usage | Invite-only post-Portfolio scale-up |
Eligibility
- Bootstrapped founders eligible
- Separate legal entities may apply independently where terms allow
How to apply
- 1Create an AWS Builder ID
- 2Choose Founders or Portfolio tier
- 3Submit startup details and link AWS account
- 4Wait for approval email
Important notes
- Apply at startups.aws.com/join (not credits-lp). Requires AWS Builder ID, paid-tier AWS account, pre-Series B, founded within 10 years. Founders tier up to $5K; Portfolio tier up to $200K with Activate Provider Org ID.