Program
AWS Sustainability and Climate Tech Accelerator
AWS runs climate-focused cohorts in several regions, with credits, technical help and investor access for clean-tech startups.
AWS Sustainability and Climate Tech Accelerator is for climate and sustainability startups. Credits plus mentoring, varies.
- Credits
- Varies by edition
- Sector
- Climate, energy, circular economy
- Format
- Cohort, equity-free
- Application
- Open calls
At a glance
- Credits
- Up to $10,000
- Decision time
- Rolling review, interviews and due diligence Jun 3 - Jul 10. Cohort announced the week of Aug 3, 2026 (about 3.5 weeks after close).
- Credits last
- AWS Activate rules apply. Not separately published.
- Access
- Open application
01 · Overview
A good fit if you are
- Energy, carbon and circular-economy startups
- Data-heavy climate models
Not for
- Startups without a climate angle
Timeline and terms
- Application window
- 2026: Jun 3 to Jul 10, 2026, reviewed on a rolling basis. Register interest for future rounds at asa-climatetech@amazon.com.
- Decision time
- Rolling review, interviews and due diligence Jun 3 - Jul 10. Cohort announced the week of Aug 3, 2026 (about 3.5 weeks after close).
- Program length
- 8 weeks (2026: virtual onboarding Aug 10 - Sep 1; Barcelona site visits Sep 2-4; virtual deep dives Sep 5 - Oct 5; London pitch days Oct 6-8; pilot planning from Oct 12)
- Credit validity
- AWS Activate rules apply. Not separately published.
- Cash
- GBP 1,500 per startup for travel and accommodation for in-person events. Selected companies can get fully funded pilots (up to USD 2M potential pilot investment; USD 3M+ funded across 16 pilot projects since 2024). This is pilot spending, not a grant.
- Where
- Europe (pilots in Amazon's European fulfilment network). The 2026 cohort came from France, Hungary, Germany, Spain, UK, Luxembourg, Estonia and Denmark.
USD 10K in AWS Activate credits for eligible startups (flat). The main benefit is a possible fully funded, equity-free pilot in Amazon's European operations ('potential pilot investment of up to USD 2M').
What changed recently
2026-08 to 2026-09-14
2026 cohort announced. The aboutamazon.eu article (Sep 14, 2026) lists 11 companies; the sustainability.aboutamazon.com story lists 12 (adds SolarCleano). Source
2026-06-03
2026 round opened with new tracks: building decarbonisation, water and, for the first time, biodiversity. Perks stated as USD 10K in Activate credits plus GBP 1,500 travel support. Source
2024
Relaunched as 'ASA Climate Tech', focused on piloting climate tech in Amazon's European operations, run with Founders Intelligence. It replaced the 2022-2023 Amazon Sustainability Accelerator for sustainable consumer products and recycling technologies (with EIT Climate-KIC and WRAP; 12 weeks; grant, AWS credits and office space). Source
02 · Eligibility
Hard eligibility rules
You must
- Technology Readiness Level 8 or higher (past prototype, proven in real-world conditions)
- Solution in market, with existing or planned European operations
- Fit with the year's verticals (2026: carbon in buildings and energy, water positive, biodiversity)
- Startups must meet AWS Activate eligibility for the credits
Excluded
- Pre-TRL-8 or prototype-stage technology
- Companies without existing or planned European operations
Have this ready before you apply
- Online application form
- Evidence of TRL 8+ and real-world deployments
- Details of European operations
- Founder interviews and due diligence
- Data sharing with Amazon teams during onboarding (if selected)
03 · How to apply
How to apply
- 1
Find the current edition.
- 2
Apply with your impact metrics.
- 3
Join the cohort if selected.
What catches founders out
- Editions differ by region and partner.
- Be ready to quantify climate impact.
What founders report Show
Summarised from public founder posts. Anecdotal, not official AWS policy.
Gotchas
- (Amazon story, participant quote) Shayp's CEO said the value was pitching to the right decision-makers and co-designing a pilot with clear steps, not mentorship
- Cohort-size wording differs between Amazon pages (11 vs 12 for 2026)
04 · Credits & stacking
What the credits cover
Covered
- AWS services under AWS Activate Terms
Not covered
- Amazon Mechanical Turk
- AWS Managed Services
- Ineligible AWS Support (Enterprise, Unified Operations, Enterprise On-Ramp, resold support, Partner-Led Support)
- AWS Marketplace
- AWS Professional Services
- AWS Training
- AWS Certification
- Amazon Route 53 domain name registration or transfer
- Services used for cryptocurrency mining
- Upfront fees for Savings Plans and Reserved Instances
- Any other services designated by your AWS contracting entity
Stacking with other credits
Can combine with
- AWS Activate (credits delivered as Activate credits)
Lifetime cap: Counts toward the AWS Activate lifetime maximum.
05 · Alternatives
If this isn't the right program
- AWS Activate Portfolio
Up to $200,000 through an accelerator, angel or VC.
- AWS Cloud Credit for Research
Credits for academic research teams.
Sources
Checked October 2026. AWS can change amounts and rules at any time.
Facts on this page checked against official sources on 2026-10-04.
Questions
Is there a fixed amount?
No, credits vary by edition.
Prices and credit amounts are estimates and may change. Check AWS for current terms.