AWS Activate credits: Founders vs Portfolio tier, eligibility and how to apply

AWS Activate is Amazon's startup program, and it is really two programs with the same name: a small self-serve tier anyone can apply for, and a much larger tier that goes through an investor or accelerator. Knowing which one you are applying for decides how long it takes and how much you can get.

The tiers at a glance

AWS lists three levels on its credits page:

• Activate Founders is for bootstrapped or self-funded startups. AWS lists "up to $5,000" in credits, starting at $1,000, and it is self-serve.
• Activate Portfolio is for startups backed by an Activate Provider (an accelerator, angel investor or VC). AWS lists "up to $200,000" and asks for the provider's Organization ID when you apply.
• AWS Credits for AI Startups is invite-only, for startups ready to scale after Portfolio. AWS lists $200,000 or more and sends you to your account manager.

• AWS ActivateUp to $5,000 self-serve (Founders); up to $200,000 with an Activate Provider (Portfolio)Credits · Amazon Web Services · Global

Who qualifies

For Portfolio, and as general conditions across the program, AWS lists these:

1. Pre-Series B. Activate is for startups before a Series B round.
2. Founded in the last 10 years.
3. An AWS account on the Paid Tier Plan. The free plan alone is not enough.
4. New to Activate credits, or asking for more than you were given before.
5. An Organization ID from an Activate Provider, for the Portfolio tier only.

AWS's page asks you to sign up with a professional email address. It does not publish a rule about website or domain requirements, so describe your product clearly and keep your company details consistent everywhere you apply.

How to apply

1. Create an AWS Builder ID with your professional email and complete your profile.
2. Choose your tier. Pick Founders if you are self-funded, or enter your Activate Provider's Organization ID for Portfolio.
3. Describe your startup: product, funding stage and company details, so AWS can confirm eligibility.
4. Link or create an AWS account to your Builder ID and submit.

AWS says to expect a response within 5 to 10 business days.

Getting a Portfolio Organization ID

The Organization ID is not a public coupon: it comes from the provider that backs you. If you are in an accelerator or have an investor, ask them whether they are an Activate Provider and for the ID. If you have neither, apply for Founders first. AWS lets you ask for more credits later, as your company grows or you join a provider's portfolio.

Using the credits well

• Check the expiry on your own grant. Guides online disagree on how long Activate credits last, and AWS's credits page does not state it. Open Billing and look at Credits in your AWS console to see the exact date for your grant.
• Credits are in US dollars and covered by the AWS Promotional Credit Terms and Conditions, which you can read from the Activate page. Read them for what the credits cannot be spent on.
• Do not wait. Credits that expire unused are the most common waste. Plan your first year of infrastructure spend against the expiry date.

If AWS is not the right fit

Compare the other big clouds before you commit your stack: Google for Startups Cloud Program and Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub. All three can be held at once, though some programs ask that you are new to the provider. A side-by-side view is in startup credit programs compared.

• Google for Startups Cloud ProgramUp to $200,000 (up to $350,000 for AI-first startups)Credits · Google Cloud · Global
• Microsoft for Startups Founders HubUp to $150,000 in Azure creditsCredits · Microsoft · Global
• AWS Free Tier creditsUp to $200 in creditsCredits · Amazon Web Services · Global

Sources

• AWS Activate credits
• AWS Activate overview

Values are “up to” amounts and terms change: confirm on the provider’s page before you rely on them. CreditBase is independent and not affiliated with the providers named here. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.