Routes open in Brazil
| Route | Max credits | Who qualifies | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate Founders | $1,000 | Self-funded, no institutional funding, live website | Apply online in the Activate console |
| Activate via a Provider | Up to $100,000 | Backed by an accelerator, VC or incubator in the Activate network | Get an organization ID from your provider |
| AWS with Rio de Janeiro City Hall | Up to $5,000 per startup | R$25M in total. Announced August 2026; details being finalised. Lead. | Through AWS's local team |
| AWS with Rio Grande do Sul state | Up to $5,000 per startup | $10M in total for 2,000 startups. Signed May 2026. Lead. | Through AWS's local team |
| AWS Generative AI Accelerator | Up to $1,000,000 | Early-stage generative AI startups, 10-week program. 2025 round closed; 2026 round not checked. Lead. | Through AWS's local team |
| Local accelerator or VC | Varies | Accepted into a local program | Apply to the program; credits follow |
| Our partner match | Same as AWS | Any stage; we suggest the best route | Use the credit check on this page |
Amounts are the maximums AWS advertises; approval is never guaranteed. Source: AWS Activate terms
Who qualifies from Brazil
- Your company is usually under 10 years old and hasn't had Activate credits before.
- You have a live company website, and you sign up with an email on that domain.
- For the $100,000 tier, you're backed by an Activate Provider and haven't raised a Series B yet.
- Company in Brazil: apply with it directly. Company abroad (for example a US Delaware company): apply with whichever entity owns the AWS account. No company yet: start with Founders once your website is live.
Region, latency and data rules
- Data protection law
- LGPD
- Must data stay in-country?
- No general rule; transfers abroad need a legal basis
- Regulator
- ANPD
What your credits buy here
A typical early-stage stack (a few small servers, a managed database, storage and traffic) costs about $600/month in sa-east-1.
$1,000
1.7
months
$5,000
8.3
months
$25,000
42
months
$100,000
99
months
Estimates. Credits usually expire after 12 to 24 months, so large amounts rarely last their full length.
Startups like you
Startups from Brazil named in AWS program cohorts:
AWS Generative AI Accelerator 2024 · up to $1M
Amadeus AI, Avra, Base39, Lastro, Lexter AI, Winnin, MAGIE, Pupila AI, Rocketmat, Talisman AI
AWS Generative AI Accelerator 2025 · up to $1M
AI Cube, Dharma-AI, Forlex
Amounts are the program's maximum, not what each company received.
Local accelerators
Accelerators, incubators and startup programs in Brazil worth asking about AWS credits.
Cubo Itaú
São Paulo · Innovation hub
Ask the provider
ACE Startups
São Paulo · Accelerator
Ask the provider
InovAtiva Brasil
Brasília · Government program
Ask the provider
Startup hubs: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis
Check with each program that it's a current Activate Provider before you rely on it.
Notable local investors and funds
Investors, accelerators and government funds active in Brazil. If one backs you, ask whether they can give you an Activate Provider code.
Grants, non-dilutive funding and R&D tax credits
Money you can stack on top of AWS credits in Brazil.
- Tax incentive
Lei do Bem (Law 11.196/2005, run by MCTI)
An extra 60–80% deduction of R&D spend from IRPJ/CSLL, plus 20% for patents. Only for companies on Lucro Real, so most early startups on Simples or Lucro Presumido can't use it [1].
- Grant
FINEP (Centelha, Tecnova, subvenção) and state foundations such as FAPESP PIPE (São Paulo) give nonrepayable R&D grants [2] [3].
- Program
Marco Legal das Startups (LC 182/2021) and Inova Simples (simplified startup registration) [4].
Setting up a local company
- Common startup entity
- Ltda. (sociedade limitada) or S.A.
- Minimum share capital
- Paid-in minimum capital: 0% of income per capita (World Bank Doing Business 2020; data as of May 2019)
- Time and cost to register
- 16.62 days, 10.61 procedures, cost 4.2% of income per capita (Doing Business 2020; data as of May 2019, series discontinued)
Capital and registration figures are from the World Bank (Doing Business 2020 / B-READY 2025). Check the registry for current rules.
What's different in Brazil
- Billing entity
- Amazon AWS Serviços Brasil Ltda. (needs CPF/CNPJ)
- Currency
- BRL, USD
- Tax AWS adds
- PIS/COFINS 9.25% + ISS 2.9% (NFS-e). Not covered by credits.
- Payments and verification
- Brazilian cards work for accounts billed by the local entity. Expect local taxes on top of usage.
Credits don't cover taxes. Source: AWS Promotional Credit terms
Paying the AWS bill from Brazil
- Billing via AWS Serviços Brasil in BRL, with local taxes added.
- International cards attract IOF tax; a local entity and CNPJ make billing simpler.
Startup scene
20
unicorns
QuintoAndar ($5.1B), C6 Bank ($5.05B), Creditas ($3.3B), Nuvemshop ($3.1B), Wildlife Studios ($3B)
Startup sectors
Main economic sectors
Unicorn data: CB Insights, as of 2 October 2026. Sectors: CIA World Factbook.
Startup visa
VITEM IX / residence for investment (innovation track)
Key requirements: R$150,000 for qualifying innovation/tech projects (R$500,000 standard investment route)
AWS events and community in Brazil
Sources for Brazil (15)
- 1. https://www.gov.br/mcti/pt-br/acompanhe-o-mcti/lei-do-bem/paginas/o-que-e-a-lei-do-bem
- 2. https://www.finep.gov.br/
- 3. https://fapesp.br/pipe/
- 4. https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/lcp/lcp182.htm
- 5. https://docs.aws.amazon.com/global-infrastructure/latest/regions/aws-regions.html
- 6. https://aws.amazon.com/legal/aws-contracting-party/
- 7. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/accepted-payment-methods
- 8. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/supported-aws-currencies
- 9. https://aws.amazon.com/tax-help/Brazil/
- 10. https://aws.amazon.com/awscredits/
- 11. https://www.gov.br/anpd/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/resolucao-normatiza-transferencia-internacional-de-dados
- 12. https://www.gov.br/anpd/
- 13. https://aws.amazon.com/events/summits/sao-paulo/
- 14. https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/in-the-works-aws-builder-lofts-in-berlin-hyderabad-and-sao-paulo/
- 15. https://aws.amazon.com/events/community-day/
Research current as of 2 October 2026. Not legal or tax advice.
Questions
Is AWS Activate available in Brazil?
Yes. AWS takes sign-ups from Brazil, and the AWS Activate terms don't exclude it.
How much in AWS credits can a startup in Brazil get?
Self-funded teams usually start with $1,000 from Activate Founders. Teams backed by an Activate Provider can get up to $200,000.
Do I need a company registered in Brazil?
No. You can apply with a Brazil company, a company registered abroad (for example a US Delaware company), or as an early team with a live website. Use the entity that owns the AWS account.
Do AWS credits cover Local taxes (ISS, PIS/COFINS) in Brazil?
No. Credits don't cover taxes, so any Local taxes (ISS, PIS/COFINS) is charged to your card.
What's the closest AWS region to Brazil?
sa-east-1 in São Paulo, inside the country. Typical latency is under 20 ms from the main cities.
Can I apply without an accelerator or VC?
Yes. Activate Founders is open to self-funded startups. A partner can also point you to other routes.
Will using a partner change how much I get?
No. The credits come from AWS on the same terms. A partner just helps you find the right route and prepare the application.
Find your best route from Brazil
Answer four questions and we'll match you with a partner who knows Brazil. Free, and the credits are the same as going direct.
Cloud Credits is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Amazon Web Services. AWS and AWS Activate are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Data last checked 2 October 2026; check AWS for current terms.