About this programme
AWS Activate is Amazon Web Services' credit program for startups, built to cover the cloud infrastructure and AI development costs of moving from prototype to production. It is not a cash grant paid to a bank account — it is a promotional credit applied to an AWS account, offsetting new usage charges on eligible AWS services.
The program runs two main tiers. Activate Founders is for self-funded, pre-Series B startups that apply directly with no provider backing required. Activate Portfolio is for startups backed by an AWS-recognised accelerator, incubator, angel investor, or venture capital firm, and carries a higher credit ceiling — but only reachable via an Organization ID (Org ID) issued by that backing provider. A further invite-only tier, AWS Credits for AI Startups, is offered to Portfolio-tier companies scaling AI workloads and is arranged directly with an AWS account manager rather than through the self-serve application.
AWS positions the program as founder-support for companies building on AWS infrastructure, particularly generative AI development using services like Amazon Bedrock. It is a partner-credit relationship, not a government or state-run scheme: eligibility, credit amounts, and renewal are entirely at AWS's discretion and can change without notice.
How it works
Two self-serve entry points: Activate Founders (no provider required, self-funded/pre-Series B) and Activate Portfolio (requires an Org ID from a qualifying accelerator, angel investor, or VC firm the startup is backed by).
A further AI-focused credit tier exists for Portfolio-tier startups scaling AI workloads, but it is invite-only and arranged through an AWS account manager rather than the public application form.
Approved credits are applied automatically to the linked AWS account and offset new usage charges on eligible services going forward — they do not retroactively cover charges already billed before approval.
Credits have an expiration window (AWS states this typically runs 1-2 years depending on the package). Per the programme's published notification schedule, AWS emails the account as credits approach expiry (60 and 30 days out, and at expiry) and as usage approaches exhaustion (75% and 100% of the credit balance used).
The exact credit balance, the services it applies to, and its expiration date are visible in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console under Credits.
Who can apply
Open to startups that are pre-Series B in funding stage and founded within roughly the last 10 years.
Applicant must hold (or create) an AWS account on a Paid Tier plan, and must be either new to Activate Credits or applying for an increase over credits previously received.
Activate Founders has no provider-backing requirement — any eligible self-funded/pre-Series B startup can apply directly.
Activate Portfolio requires the applicant to be backed by, and hold a valid Organization ID from, an AWS-recognised accelerator, incubator, angel investor, or venture capital firm. The Org ID is confidential to that provider and must be obtained from them directly, not from AWS.
AWS's application asks for a business email that matches the startup's own domain (not a generic/personal address) and a live, functioning company website — mismatches are a common reason applications stall.
How to apply
- Create a personal AWS Builder ID using a personal email address, and verify it via the confirmation email.
- Complete the AWS Activate startup profile using a business email address that matches the startup's own domain.
- Select a credit package: Activate Founders (self-funded/pre-Series B, no Org ID needed) or Activate Portfolio (requires an Org ID from the backing accelerator/investor/VC).
- Provide startup details: product/business description, target market, funding stage, and the date of the most recent funding round.
- Link an AWS account to the Builder ID (a new account can be created, or an existing one linked) — only one AWS account can be linked to a Builder ID at a time.
- Verify the AWS account by confirming the link from within the AWS Management Console.
- Submit the application and watch for a confirmation email; AWS states processing typically takes about 7-10 business days, trackable on the Credit Application Status page.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Personal email address (for the AWS Builder ID)
- Business email address matching the startup's own domain
- Company website (must be live and functioning)
- Description of the product, target market, and funding stage
- Date of the most recent funding round
- AWS account with root or administrator access, for linking and verification
- Organization ID from the accelerator/angel/VC provider (Activate Portfolio applicants only)
Frequently asked
Do I need a venture-backed startup to get AWS Activate credits?
No. Activate Founders is open to self-funded, pre-Series B startups directly, with no accelerator or investor backing required. The larger Activate Portfolio tier is the one that requires an Organization ID from a backing accelerator, angel investor, or VC firm.
What is an Organization ID and where do I get one?
An Org ID is a unique, case-sensitive code that an AWS-recognised accelerator, incubator, angel investor, or VC firm issues to the startups it backs, and it unlocks the higher Activate Portfolio credit tier. AWS does not issue it directly — a startup has to request it from its own backing provider.
How long do AWS Activate credits take to process, and when do they land?
AWS states application processing typically takes about 7-10 business days, checkable on the Credit Application Status page. Once approved, credits are applied automatically to the linked AWS account and begin offsetting new eligible usage charges going forward.
Do AWS Activate credits expire?
Yes — AWS states credits typically expire within 1-2 years depending on the package. Per the programme's published notification schedule, AWS emails the account as credits approach expiry (60 days out, 30 days out, and at expiry) and separately as usage approaches exhaustion (at 75% and 100% of the credit balance used). The exact expiration date for a given credit grant is shown in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console.
Can AWS Activate credits cover bills I already have?
No. Credits apply monthly to new AWS usage charges going forward from approval — they do not retroactively cover charges already billed before the credits were granted.
Can I edit my application after submitting it?
AWS's application process does not support editing a submitted application. If details need correcting, the standard approach is to cancel the application and reapply rather than amend it in place.
What can AWS Activate credits actually be spent on?
Credits offset usage charges on eligible AWS services, which AWS highlights as including compute, storage, and AI/ML tooling such as Amazon Bedrock foundation models for startups building generative AI products. The specific set of eligible services and any exclusions are listed against the credit grant in the AWS Billing Console once approved.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.