Routes open in Spain
| 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 Startup Loft Accelerator (EMEA, virtual) | Up to $25,000 + $5,000 Business Support | Early-stage startups, no equity. Launched 2021; likely closed. | 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 Spain
- 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 Spain: 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
- EU GDPR + LOPDGDD
- Must data stay in-country?
- No general rule; transfers outside the EU need safeguards
- Regulator
- AEPD, one of the EU's most frequent fining authorities
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 eu-south-2, or about $726 with 21% VAT 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 Spain named in AWS program cohorts:
AWS accelerator cohorts · program maximum
Multiverse Computing
Amounts are the program's maximum, not what each company received.
Local accelerators
Accelerators, incubators and startup programs in Spain worth asking about AWS credits.
Lanzadera
Valencia · Accelerator
Ask the provider
Wayra Spain
Madrid · Corporate accelerator
Ask the provider
BStartup (Banco Sabadell)
Barcelona · Bank program
Ask the provider
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 Spain. 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 Spain.
- Grant
CDTI NEOTEC 2026
Grant of up to €250k, or €325k if you hire a PhD, covering 70–85% of a €175k–750k budget. For innovative companies up to 3 years old [1] [2].
- Tax incentive
R&D&i tax deduction (IS art. 35)
25% of R&D, 42% on the excess over the 2-year average, plus 17% for researcher salaries. You can also cash it out with a 20% haircut ('monetización') [3].
- Visa
Ley de Startups (Law 28/2022)
15% corporate tax for 4 years, a better tax treatment of stock options, and a digital-nomad and startup visa [4].
- Loan
ENISA
Participative loans with no equity and no guarantees (Jóvenes Emprendedores, Emprendedores, Crecimiento) [5].
Setting up a local company
- Common startup entity
- S.L. (min capital EUR 1 since 2022)
- Minimum share capital
- Paid-in minimum capital required for a domestic LLC: Yes; for a foreign-owned LLC: Yes (World Bank B-READY 2025)
- Time and cost to register
- Domestic LLC: 16 days, EUR 1,650; foreign-owned LLC: 30 days, EUR 1,825 (B-READY 2025, expert median)
- Online registration
- Fully electronic registration: Yes (B-READY 2025)
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 Spain
- Billing entity
- AWS EMEA SARL (ES branch)
- Currency
- EUR, USD
- Tax AWS adds
- 21% VAT, charged to everyone. Not covered by credits.
- Payments and verification
- Most international Visa and Mastercard cards work. Make sure foreign and online payments are switched on before you sign up.
Credits don't cover taxes. Source: AWS Promotional Credit terms
Paying the AWS bill from Spain
- Use a card that allows international recurring payments, or a multi-currency business card.
- Enter your VAT or tax number in the AWS console so tax is handled correctly.
- Credits don't cover tax, so a small cash charge can appear even while credits last.
Startup scene
6
unicorns
TravelPerk ($2.7B), Factorial ($2.5B), Multiverse Computing ($2.27B), Job&Talent ($1.46B), Cabify ($1.4B)
Startup sectors
Main economic sectors
Unicorn data: CB Insights, as of 2 October 2026. Sectors: CIA World Factbook.
Startup visa
Entrepreneur visa / residence (Startups Law 28/2022)
Key requirements: Favourable ENISA report that the project is innovative; no fixed capital minimum
AWS events and community in Spain
Sources for Spain (17)
- 1. https://www.cdti.es/ayudas/ayudas-neotec-2026
- 2. https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-B-2026-10827
- 3. https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2014-12328
- 4. https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2022-21739
- 5. https://www.enisa.es/
- 6. https://docs.aws.amazon.com/global-infrastructure/latest/regions/aws-regions.html
- 7. https://aws.amazon.com/legal/aws-contracting-party/
- 8. https://aws.amazon.com/tax-help/european-union/
- 9. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/accepted-payment-methods
- 10. https://aws.amazon.com/tax-help/emea-vat-tables/
- 11. https://aws.amazon.com/awscredits/
- 12. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj
- 13. https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/
- 14. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/data-act
- 15. https://www.aepd.es/
- 16. https://aws.amazon.com/events/summits/madrid/
- 17. 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 Spain?
Yes. AWS takes sign-ups from Spain, and the AWS Activate terms don't exclude it.
How much in AWS credits can a startup in Spain 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 Spain?
No. You can apply with a Spain 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 VAT in Spain?
No. Credits don't cover taxes, so any VAT (21%) is charged to your card.
What's the closest AWS region to Spain?
eu-south-2 in Aragón, 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 Spain
Answer four questions and we'll match you with a partner who knows Spain. 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.