$ StartupFreebies

AWS Activate

Cloud & Infrastructure up to $300K Bootstrapped OK Last verified 2026-10

Quick answer

Three credit tiers: Founders at $1,000 (self-serve application); Portfolio up to $100,000 (requires an Activate Provider referral); the Generative AI initiative up to $300,000.

  • Value: up to $300K
  • Valid: Portfolio credits last 24 months; Founders credits last 12 months.
  • Regions: Global

What you get

  • Up to $100,000 in AWS credits (valid for 24 months), covering 200+ services and third-party models on Bedrock
  • Plus up to $10,000 in Business Support credits (24/7 technical support)
  • Architecture reviews, solutions architect support, and startup community events
  • New accounts also get the Free Tier (up to $200 plus always-free allowances on 30+ services)

How the value is counted: Founders $1,000; Portfolio $25,000-$100,000; GenAI initiative up to $300,000; GenAI Accelerator up to $1,000,000 (cohort-based).

Do you qualify?

Founders: early-stage companies without institutional funding can self-apply; Portfolio: requires an Organization ID from a VC/accelerator/incubator, pre-Series B, founded within the past 10 years, with an active product.

Likely yes, if…

  • Bootstrapped teams (no VC required)
  • Companies without a VC or partner referral
  • Companies founded within ~10 years

Likely no, if…

  • No hard blockers listed. Check the official page.

How to apply

  1. Open the official program page Amazon Web Services startup program .
  2. Requires a company-domain email and a working website; personal emails and 'coming soon' pages are often rejected.
  3. Submit the application. Review typically takes Typically a few business days..
  4. Once approved, credits or seats are granted to your account per the terms below.
Apply at Amazon Web Services →

Catches worth knowing

Credits are non-transferable and cannot be cashed out
Some services and third-party Marketplace products are not covered

FAQ

How much can you get from AWS Activate?

Founders $1,000; Portfolio $25,000-$100,000; GenAI initiative up to $300,000; GenAI Accelerator up to $1,000,000 (cohort-based).

Who qualifies for AWS Activate?

Founders: early-stage companies without institutional funding can self-apply; Portfolio: requires an Organization ID from a VC/accelerator/incubator, pre-Series B, founded within the past 10 years, with an active product.

How long do the credits or perks last?

Portfolio credits last 24 months; Founders credits last 12 months.

How long does the application review take?

Typically a few business days.

What do you need to apply?

Requires a company-domain email and a working website; personal emails and 'coming soon' pages are often rejected.

Stacks well with

Other programs founders combine with AWS Activate:

Google Cloud up to $350K

Google for Startups Cloud Program

Start tier at $2,000 (unfunded startups qualify); Scale tier up to $200,000 over two years; AI-first companies up to $350,000; plus 12 months of Google Workspace Business Plus.

Bootstrapped OK
Microsoft up to $150K

Microsoft for Startups

Self-serve path without an investor: $1,000 (90 days) plus another $4,000 after business verification; investor-referred path: starting at $100,000 and up to $150,000 in Azure credits (up to $200,000 via the Investor Network).

Bootstrapped OK
Cloudflare up to $350K

Cloudflare for Startups

Three credit tiers: Tier 3 self-funded at $10,000; Tier 2 (partner-backed, under $5,000,000 raised) at $100,000; Tier 1 ($5,000,000+ raised) at $350,000.

Bootstrapped OK
DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean Hatch

Customized infrastructure credits (commonly starting at $1,000, higher through partner channels) plus Hatch startup community resources; AI/ML projects get priority.

Bootstrapped OK