AWS Activate
Can you win this grant?
Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.
Takes about 20 seconds. We use this program’s real eligibility rules.
Want your full match picture across 650+ programs? Take the 2-minute quiz →
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Offers AWS Activate credits to pre-Series B startups founded within the last 10 years, with tiered awards from $1,000 for the Founders tier up to $200,000 for Portfolio tier startups and additional credits for AI startups.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be pre-Series B
- Must have been founded in the last 10 years
- Must have an AWS account on a paid tier plan
- Must be new to Activate Credits, or requesting more credits than previously received
- Activate Founders tier (self-funded/bootstrapped): apply directly
- Activate Portfolio tier: requires an Organization ID from an AWS Activate Provider such as an accelerator, angel investor, or venture capital firm
- AWS Credits for AI Startups is invite-only for startups scaling past Activate Portfolio
- Credits are in-kind AWS consumption, not cash
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $200,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits (Activate Founders: start with $1,000, select participants up to $5,000; Activate Portfolio: up to $200,000; AWS Credits for AI Startups: $200,000+, invite only)
- Type
- Program
- Level
- Private
- Deadline
- Ongoing / no fixed deadline
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win AWS Activate
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 4-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipUse a company-domain email address, not a personal one, and track your credit expiry since credits typically expire 12–24 months after issuance; AI startups should ask their AWS Activate Provider about additional credit options.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application steps not yet documented.
Required Documents 4
Deadline Notes
Ongoing / no fixed deadline
Applying for AWS Activate? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Unknown RiskHow AWS Activate Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate | Up to $200,000 | Easy | Varies | Ongoing / no fixed... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Digital Technology Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Open — Call for... |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for