Building an AI startup in 2025? You’re probably already aware of how fast things move in this space and how expensive infrastructure can get. Training models, running inference, storing data, deploying applications… it all adds up quickly.
That’s where AWS credits come in and the good news is: AI startups can qualify for up to $300,000 in free AWS credits through AWS Activate and other partner programs.
Let’s get into it.
What are AWS credits (and why AI startups need them)?
AWS credits are free credits you can use on Amazon Web Services to run cloud infrastructure without paying out of pocket. It’s a core benefit of the AWS Activate program for early-stage startups.
For AI startups, AWS credits are more than helpful, they’re often essential.
You can use them to:
- Train large models on GPU-based EC2 or SageMaker
- Store large datasets in S3
- Set up scalable ML pipelines with Lambda, Step Functions, and more
- Monitor model performance and manage logs via CloudWatch
- Test and deploy applications in production environments
In short: credits give you time to build and scale without burning through your funding on infrastructure.
What AWS programs are available for AI startups?
AI startups apply through the same general AWS Activate programs:
- AWS Activate Founders – For bootstrapped startups (up to $1,000 in AWS credits)
- AWS Activate Portfolio – For startups backed by VCs, accelerators, or AWS partners (up to $100,000 in AWS credits)
But here’s the good news:
AWS is now giving priority and enhanced support to AI/ML startups due to the industry’s rapid growth.
Some startups also receive:
- Additional AI/ML-specific credit packages
- Access to AWS Startup Loft and AI-focused support teams
- Invitations to participate in early-stage AI infrastructure pilots
These aren’t always publicly advertised, but AWS partners (like Cloudvisor) often get direct access.
Book a Free Consultation with one of our certified AWS experts!
How much can AI startups get in AWS credits in 2025?
Most AI startups can get:
- $5,000–$100,000 in AWS Activate credits
- Additional $5,000–$300,000+ in service-specific or AI-focused credits, depending on the stage, product, and affiliation
This depends on your eligibility, partner network, and timing.
Eligibility: Can your AI startup apply?
To qualify, you usually need:
- A registered company that’s building an AI/ML product or service
- An MVP or working prototype
- No previous Activate credit usage (or very minimal)
- Ideally backed by an investor, accelerator, or AWS partner (like Cloudvisor)
Even if you don’t have funding yet, we may still be able to help through AWS Activate Founders.
How to apply for AWS credits as an AI startup
You can apply directly through AWS Activate, but if you want to maximize your chances and get the highest possible credit amount, it’s better to go through an AWS partner.
Here’s how the process looks with Cloudvisor:
- We evaluate your startup and match you to the right program
- We guide you through the application step-by-step
- We help with positioning your AI use case in the best light
- You get faster approval and better results
👉 Book a meeting and apply for AWS Credits with Cloudvisor
It only takes a few minutes, and we handle the rest.
Final Takeaways
In 2025, cloud spend is one of the biggest expenses for AI startups. AWS credits offer a real chance to build, scale, and experiment without worrying about infrastructure costs upfront.
If you’re working on something big in AI, don’t miss the opportunity to secure up to $100K+ in credits and technical support.
