Did you know startups can get up to $300,000 in credits throughout the startup lifecycle? It’s true!
AWS startup credits are a unique opportunity to start using AWS technology without having to pay a lot of money upfront. This can mean that the first invoice from AWS arrives months or even years after you start using the service!
Some startups may find the process of getting AWS credits complicated and hard. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be! We have helped startups secure more than $7 million in AWS credits, and in this article, we’ll tell you exactly how you can secure credits for your startup.
What Are AWS Credits?
Credits function as coupons that can be applied to cover your Amazon Web Services (AWS) usage bills. The credits are free and are valid for one or two years from the date of issue. The credits are applied to your account until they are exhausted or expire.
To apply for AWS credits, you must have an existing AWS account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one for free.
Why Does Amazon Give Free AWS Credits for Startups?
Amazon offers free credits to new users of AWS as a way to introduce them to the platform’s capabilities and functionalities. Think of it as a ‘try-before-you-buy’ approach, where startups get a taste of AWS’s cloud infrastructure, hopefully leading to long-term partnerships.
From scalable infrastructure to a wide range of services, AWS provides a solid foundation for startups to build upon. Besides free credits, you can get access to other AWS benefits for startups, like discounts, consulting, and more.
Scale Your Startup with Free AWS Credits!
How Do AWS Credits Work?
Your AWS credits can only be used to offset current bills, meaning that you can only use your AWS credits for the same billing period that you obtained your credits. You cannot use the credits to cover any bills from previous months, i.e., you can’t use AWS credits received in December to cover any bills from September or October.
It’s also important to know that credits are provided in tiers, and the sum you are eligible to receive can only be higher than the previous tier received. In other words, if you get $25,000 in credits from a venture capital firm, you cannot apply for $1,000 in credits afterward. The only way is up until you reach the maximum amount of $100,000.
How to Receive AWS Credits?
Finding your route to securing free AWS credits requires a touch of strategic exploration. AWS Activate is perhaps the most widely known way for startups to get AWS credits. The program has 2 tiers:
Activate Founders: Your First Step Towards AWS Credits
AWS Activate Founders – is designed for early-stage startups not backed by a VC or accelerator. It provides up to $1,000 in AWS credits, plus technical support and training. To qualify, your startup must meet the following criteria:
- An AWS Activate Founders newbie – with no previous history of receiving credits;
- Have an active AWS account and a company website;
- Your startup must be less than ten years of age.
AWS Activate Portfolio: Empowering Startups on the Rise
AWS Activate Portfolio – provides startups associated with a venture capital firm, accelerator, incubator, or other startup-enabling organizations with up to $100,000 in AWS credits. To qualify, your startups must comply with the following:
- Be funded or unfunded (up to and including Pre-Seed, Angel, Seed, Debt Financing, and Series A);
- Not have exceeded $100,000 in awarded or redeemed AWS credits from AWS Activate;
- Have an active AWS account, company website, and LinkedIn page;
- The startup must be less than ten years of age.
Want to kickstart your cloud project but need a small amount of funding? You can claim $300 USD in Amazon Web Services (AWS) credits through the AWS Connected Community.
2025 AWS Startup Credits Updates
In 2024, AWS introduced a new high-tier credit package specifically for startups working on foundation AI models. Eligible startups in this space may qualify for up to $300,000 in AWS credits to support compute-heavy workloads.
Who qualifies?
These higher-tier AWS credits are targeted at startups specializing in AI model training, deep learning, and related high-performance workloads. However, eligibility is determined directly by AWS, and acceptance into this program is more selective than standard AWS Activate tiers.
How to apply?
Startups should apply through the AWS Activate program page.
If you need assistance navigating the application process or maximizing your AWS benefits, Cloudvisor, as an AWS Partner can help optimize your credit strategy and ensure you’re applying for the best available programs.
Secure Free AWS Credits for Your Startup!
Navigating the intricacies of AWS Activate can be quite overwhelming; that’s why it’s always beneficial to cooperate with an AWS partner like Cloudvisor.
As an official AWS partner, we will guide you through the AWS Activate journey, explain the program’s ins and outs, and make sure you get the maximum amount of credits.
We have already helped startups secure more than $7 million in AWS Activate credits. Now it’s your time to grow your startup the way you always dreamed of!
