AWS credit programs, explained

For whom

self-funded and bootstrapped startups with no Activate Provider

Verdict

The easiest AWS credits to get: apply yourself, no investor needed. Expect $1,000 to start; some startups are offered up to $5,000.

For whom

pre-Series B startups backed by an Activate Provider (accelerator, angel or VC)

Verdict

The big Activate tier. If your accelerator, angel group or VC is an Activate Provider, their Org ID unlocks up to $200,000.

For whom

AI startups that have outgrown Activate Portfolio

Verdict

Invite-only credits of $200,000 or more for AI startups ready to scale. You don't apply on a form. It goes through your AWS account manager.

For whom

startups building foundational generative and agentic AI technology

Verdict

AWS's largest startup credit award, up to $1 million. It's very competitive: the 2025 group was 40 startups chosen from thousands.

For whom

pre-seed startups led by Black, Latino, LGBTQIA+ and women founders

Verdict

One of the few AWS programs with cash: $125,000 plus up to $100,000 in credits, in an 8-week program. Cohorts open at different times for different founder groups.

For whom

space and satellite startups, early stage to pre-Series B

Verdict

A themed program for space startups, run in different countries each year. The Korea 2026 edition offers up to $100,000 in credits.

For whom

registered nonprofits in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand

Verdict

A yearly grant for nonprofit tech projects, with two rounds. The 2026 Round One closed on June 5, 2026.

For whom

faculty, research staff and graduate students at accredited institutions

Verdict

Credits for finite research projects. Students can ask for up to $5,000. Faculty and staff have no cap. Applications are open all year.

For whom

open source projects under an OSI-approved license

Verdict

Credits for open source projects, not companies. They're typically used for testing, CI/CD and storing build artifacts.

For whom

established companies moving workloads to AWS, usually with an AWS partner

Verdict

Funding and credits for moving to AWS, in three phases: Assess, Mobilize, then Migrate & Modernize. It's usually run with an AWS Migration Competency Partner.

For whom

anyone opening a new AWS account

Verdict

Every new AWS account can earn up to $200 in credits: $100 at sign-up and up to $100 more for trying core services. Small, but instant.

For whom

attendees of AWS events, workshops and hackathons

Verdict

AWS hands out promo codes at Summits, workshops, hackathons and webinars. Useful top-ups, but they expire fast and can't be planned on.

For whom

companies running a proof of concept with an AWS Partner

Verdict

If you're testing a new workload with an AWS consulting partner, AWS can fund part of the proof of concept through credits or partner fees.

For whom

software companies selling on AWS

Verdict

A co-sell programme for software vendors built on AWS. The main value is AWS sellers helping close deals, plus access to partner funding.

For whom

registered nonprofits, via TechSoup

Verdict

Eligible nonprofits can get $1,000 in AWS credits a year through TechSoup, for a small admin fee.

For whom

organisations improving health outcomes for underserved communities

Verdict

AWS funds health equity projects with credits and expert help. Startups and nonprofits can both apply when calls are open.

For whom

nonprofits and organisations working on disaster response

Verdict

AWS supports disaster preparedness and response groups with credits, logistics and technical staff. Not a startup programme, but relevant for crisis-tech.

For whom

early-stage fintech startups in Africa

Verdict

A cohort for African fintechs with AWS credits, technical help and investor access. Cohorts have included Bunce, KoinWa and Chumz.

For whom

health tech startups (regional editions, such as the UK)

Verdict

Regional cohorts for health startups, with AWS credits, clinical and technical mentoring, and introductions to health systems like the NHS.

For whom

defence and national-security tech startups (UK edition)

Verdict

A UK cohort for defence and security startups, with AWS credits and access to defence buyers. Alumni include Adarga and PQShield.

For whom

climate and sustainability startups

Verdict

AWS runs climate-focused cohorts in several regions, with credits, technical help and investor access for clean-tech startups.

For whom

funded B2B startups selling to enterprises

Verdict

Invite-only help for funded B2B startups: a partner manager, co-selling with AWS and Marketplace support. Credits can come with it, but it's mainly about sales.

For whom

teams building or moving to a SaaS model on AWS

Verdict

Free architecture guidance and reference designs for SaaS teams. No credits, but it helps you avoid costly multi-tenant mistakes.

For whom

founders who want free help from AWS experts

Verdict

Free office hours and events with AWS solutions architects, in person at Lofts and online. Good for cutting costs before credits run out.

For whom

startups in accelerators, incubators or VC portfolios

Verdict

Most large Activate awards come through an Activate Provider: an accelerator, incubator or VC that gives you an Org ID. Here's how to find one.

For whom

market-ready clean energy and climate startups with paying customers

Verdict

An 8-month, equity-free cohort that pairs climate startups with energy companies for paid trials, plus up to $100,000 in Activate credits. The last edition (4.0) ended in March 2025; no 5.0 has been announced.

For whom

companies whose technology can cut the carbon of Amazon devices

Verdict

An annual Amazon programme for climate tech that reduces the carbon footprint of devices like Echo and Kindle, with up to $100,000 in Activate credits. The 2026 round is closed; there's an interest list for the next one.

For whom

US defence agencies and the contractors and startups working with them

Verdict

A $50 million pool of AWS credits (2026 to 2028) for US Department of War projects that migrate or modernise on AWS. It's not a startup programme: credits go to projects run through a federal agency with an AWS contract.