Routes open in India
| 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 Lift | Up to US$83,500 | For small and medium businesses in India (launched 2023). | Through AWS's local team |
| AWS Startup Ramp with MeitY Startup Hub | Credits and training | Announced 2021. Lead. | Through AWS's local team |
| AWS Startup Ramp | Credits (amount not stated) | Startups under $10M revenue serving public-sector customers. Expanded 2021; current status unknown. | 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 India
- 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 India: 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
- DPDP Act 2023 + Rules 2025
- Must data stay in-country?
- No general rule, but some sectors (payments, for example) must store data in India
- Regulator
- Data Protection Board of India
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 ap-south-1, or about $708 with 18% GST paid in cash.
$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 India named in AWS program cohorts:
AWS Generative AI Accelerator 2024 · up to $1M
Convrse, House of Models, Neural Garage, Orbo.ai, Phot.ai, Unscript AI, Zocket
AWS Generative AI Accelerator 2025 · up to $1M
Hyperbots, Stimuler, Smallest AI
AWS Space Accelerator India · up to $100K
Advick Agventure, AERO2ASTRO, Aeroin SpaceTech, Agnihotri Aerospace, AkashaLabdhi, Brahmaandco Spacetech, Blurgs AI, CoralComp, Cosmicport, Cosmo Crawler, Expanse Cosmos, GISKernel Technologies, Inbound Aerospace, Insight360.ai, KosmosOne, Omspace Rocket and Exploration, Onnes Cryogenics, Pramatra Space, Satlabs Space Systems, Sisir Radar, Space Aura, SpanTrik, Taramandal, Thrustworks Dynetics
Amounts are the program's maximum, not what each company received.
Local accelerators
Accelerators, incubators and startup programs in India worth asking about AWS credits.
NASSCOM 10,000 Startups
Bengaluru · Industry program
Ask the provider
Surge (Peak XV)
Bengaluru · VC / accelerator
Ask the provider
Antler India
Bengaluru · Pre-seed investor
Up to $25,000
T-Hub
Hyderabad · Incubator
Ask the provider
Startup India
New Delhi · Government program
Ask the provider
Startup hubs: Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad
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 India. 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 India.
- Program
Startup India (DPIIT recognition) unlocks s.80-IAC
A 100% profit tax holiday for 3 of your first 10 years, for startups incorporated before 1 Apr 2030 (needs IMB approval) [1].
- Grant
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
Up to ₹20 lakh grant for proof of concept and up to ₹50 lakh as convertible debt, through incubators [2].
- Equity
Angel tax (s.56(2)(viib)) was abolished for all investor classes by the Finance (No. 2) Act 2024 [3]. State startup policies (Karnataka, Telangana and others) add their own grants.
Setting up a local company
- Common startup entity
- Private Limited Company (DPIIT-recognised startup)
- 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
- 17.47 days, 10 procedures, cost 7.2% 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 India
- Billing entity
- Amazon Web Services India Pvt Ltd
- Currency
- INR
- Tax AWS adds
- 18% GST (IGST or CGST+SGST). Not covered by credits.
- Payments and verification
- Indian cards need e-mandates for recurring charges, and some get declined. Ask AWS about invoice billing if your card fails.
Credits don't cover taxes. Source: AWS Promotional Credit terms
Paying the AWS bill from India
- Accounts are billed by Amazon Web Services India Pvt Ltd (AISPL) in INR with 18% GST.
- RBI e-mandate rules can block recurring card charges; many founders pay by invoice or net banking.
- Add your GSTIN to claim input tax credit.
Startup scene
63
unicorns
OYO Rooms ($9B), Dream11 ($8B), Razorpay ($7.5B), Zepto ($7B), CtrlS ($5.2B)
Startup sectors
Main economic sectors
Unicorn data: CB Insights, as of 2 October 2026. Sectors: CIA World Factbook.
Startup visa
India has no dedicated startup visa. Founders usually use a general work or business residence permit.
AWS events and community in India
Sources for India (16)
- 1. https://www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/startupgov/startup_recognition_page.html
- 2. https://seedfund.startupindia.gov.in/
- 3. https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/
- 4. https://docs.aws.amazon.com/global-infrastructure/latest/regions/aws-regions.html
- 5. https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/localzones/locations/
- 6. https://aws.amazon.com/legal/aws-contracting-party/
- 7. https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awsaccountbilling/latest/aboutv2/edit-aispl-payment-method.html
- 8. https://aws.amazon.com/tax-help/india/
- 9. https://www.scribd.com/document/920121961/TaxInvoice-AIN2526001193931
- 10. https://aws.amazon.com/awscredits/
- 11. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2190014
- 12. https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11244
- 13. https://aws.amazon.com/events/summits/
- 14. https://aws.amazon.com/events/summits/mumbai/
- 15. https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/in-the-works-aws-builder-lofts-in-berlin-hyderabad-and-sao-paulo/
- 16. 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 India?
Yes. AWS takes sign-ups from India, and the AWS Activate terms don't exclude it.
How much in AWS credits can a startup in India 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 India?
No. You can apply with a India 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 GST in India?
No. Credits don't cover taxes, so any GST (18%) is charged to your card.
What's the closest AWS region to India?
ap-south-1 in Mumbai, 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 India
Answer four questions and we'll match you with a partner who knows India. 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.