Last updated: April 2026
AWS Activate is the official AWS program that hands out $1,000 to $100,000+ in cloud credits to early-stage startups. It splits into two tiers — Founders (open, $1K, no VC needed) and Portfolio (referral-gated, $1K to $100K+) — and the difference between them is which application path you take, not which form you fill. This is the deep-dive: every eligibility rule, exactly how to apply, what counts as "previously received," the common reasons applications fail, and how Activate fits next to YC Startup School, Stripe Atlas, and the broader free AWS credits stack.
For a full route comparison across all five legitimate paths to free AWS credits (Activate + YC + Atlas + Portfolio + top-tier partner), see Free AWS Credits — Every Route from $1K to $300K. This article is the AWS Activate program itself.
Activate Founders vs Portfolio at a glance
| Aspect | Activate Founders | Activate Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| Credit amount | $1,000 | $1,000 - $100,000+ |
| Application path | Direct via Activate console | Through partner referral link |
| Partner required | No | Yes (accelerator, VC, or AWS partner) |
| Eligibility | <10 employees, <$1M rev, <10y, pre-Series B, no VC | Affiliated with participating partner |
| Credit validity | 1 year, no extensions | Typically 1 year (2 years for some larger tiers) |
| Decision time | Often instant; 1-3 business days | 1-2 weeks |
| Includes | Credits + $350 Developer Support credits + training | Credits + Developer Support + sometimes architectural review |
Both tiers are part of the same AWS Activate program. Same form, different referral source.
AWS Activate Founders — eligibility (the real list)
The official eligibility for AWS Activate Founders ($1,000):
- Company age: Under 10 years old
- Employees: Fewer than 10
- Revenue or funding: Less than $1M annually
- Stage: Pre-Series B
- VC affiliation: None (if you have VC backing, apply via Portfolio instead)
- Accelerator affiliation: None
- Prior credits: No previous AWS Activate Founders activation on this company
- AWS account: Paid tier plan required (not just the free tier; meaning a billing method on file)
- Website: Live company website with product description
- Email: Corporate email tied to your domain (not gmail / yahoo)
The "no VC affiliation" line is the one that catches founders. If you have raised any institutional money, even a small angel round through an investor with a fund, you typically should apply via Portfolio (which gives you more anyway).
AWS Activate Portfolio — eligibility
Portfolio is the partner-gated tier. You qualify if you are affiliated with one of:
- Accelerator partner: YC, Techstars, 500 Global, Antler, Entrepreneur First, Plug and Play, etc.
- VC partner: Most major US and EU VCs are AWS partners (a16z, Bessemer, Founders Fund, Index, Sequoia, etc.)
- AWS official partner: AWS Partner Network members can grant Portfolio credits
- Hyperscaler-aligned program: Stripe Atlas, Brex, Ramp also have referral paths
The credit amount within Portfolio depends on the partner tier:
- Accelerator partners (most): $5,000 - $10,000
- VC partners (smaller funds): $10,000 - $25,000
- VC partners (large funds): $25,000 - $100,000
- Top-tier partnerships (very specific): up to $300,000 (rare; specific funds and high-traction Series A+)
How to apply (Founders path, step by step)
- Sign in at aws.amazon.com/activate → click "Sign up for AWS Activate Founders"
- Sign in to your AWS account (or create one if needed; must be on a paid tier plan)
- Fill the company profile: legal name, website, founding date, country, team size, focus area
- Describe your product in 2-3 sentences (what you build, who you sell to, technical stack hints)
- Confirm eligibility checklist (revenue, employees, age, no prior credits)
- Submit
- Wait — most decisions arrive within 1-3 business days; AWS sends an email with the credit code on approval
After approval, the credit is added to your AWS billing account. Activation is automatic — you do not need to manually apply a code in most cases.
How to apply (Portfolio path, step by step)
- Get the partner referral link from your accelerator, VC, or AWS partner
- Click the partner-specific Activate URL (each partner has a unique URL with their code embedded)
- Sign in to AWS, fill the same Activate form
- The partner code is automatically applied to your application
- Decision time: 1-2 weeks (longer than Founders because the partner tier requires verification on AWS's side)
If your VC or accelerator does not give you a referral link automatically, ask explicitly: "Do you have an AWS Activate Portfolio partner code?" Most do, and the difference is $10K-$100K vs $1K.
Common reasons applications fail
- Personal email — Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. AWS automatically deprioritizes or rejects these. Set up a corporate email on your domain before applying. ($12/year for a domain pays for itself many times over.)
- Reapplying with the same EIN / company name — AWS de-duplicates by company entity. If you previously activated Founders, you cannot reactivate. Same for Portfolio (one Portfolio activation per company).
- AWS account on free tier only — Founders requires a "paid tier" plan, meaning a valid billing method on file. Add a credit card before applying.
- No live website — AWS verifies the URL you provide. A landing page works, but it must exist and load.
- Restricted industries — Crypto exchanges, gambling, regulated financial services, adult content. These are blocked outright.
- Vague product description — "We're building an AI platform" is too generic. Be specific about what you build, for whom, and what AWS services you'll use.
- Mismatched fields — corporate email domain must match the website domain. If your email is
[email protected], your website should beexample.com(not a different domain).
Most rejections are recoverable. Fix the underlying issue (corporate email, billing method, restricted industry) and re-submit with a clean second application. AWS does not blacklist after a rejection.
Stacking Activate with other AWS routes
AWS Activate is one of five legitimate routes to free AWS credits. The full bootstrap stack:
- AWS Activate Founders ($1,000) — apply now, instant
- YC Startup School ($2,500) — complete one course, credits auto-issued
- Stripe Atlas ($5,000) — automatic if incorporating through Atlas
- AWS Activate Portfolio ($1K-$100K) — if you have a VC or accelerator referral
- VC partner direct credit — varies by fund
These are stackable on the same AWS account in succession. Activate one credit at a time, exhaust it, then activate the next. Track expiry dates carefully.
For the full route comparison, see Free AWS Credits — Every Route from $1K to $300K.
Activate vs other major cloud startup programs
| Program | Bootstrap entry | Top tier | VC required for top |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate (Founders + Portfolio) | $1,000 | $100K+ | Yes |
| Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub | $1K - $5K | $150K | Effectively yes for Scale |
| Google for Startups Cloud Program | $2K | $350K (AI-first) | Effectively yes |
For a fully bootstrap-friendly cloud stack, apply to all three on day one.
Frequently asked questions
What is AWS Activate? AWS Activate is Amazon's official program for free AWS credits to early-stage startups. It runs in two tiers: Founders ($1,000 in credits, open to bootstrapped startups under 10 employees and $1M revenue) and Portfolio ($1,000 to $100,000+ in credits, gated to startups affiliated with an accelerator, VC, or AWS partner). Both include AWS Developer Support credits ($350) and access to technical training resources.
Who is eligible for AWS Activate Founders ($1,000)? AWS Activate Founders is for self-funded / bootstrapped startups under 10 years old, with fewer than 10 employees, less than $1M in annual revenue or funding, pre-Series B, with no VC or accelerator affiliation, and no prior AWS Activate Founders credits on the company. You also need an AWS account on a paid tier plan (not just the free tier).
How do I apply for AWS Activate Portfolio ($1K-$100K)? AWS Activate Portfolio applications go through your accelerator, VC, or AWS partner. There is no direct public application form — you need a referral link from the partner organization. Common partners include YC, Techstars, 500 Global, and most major US/EU venture firms. Once you have the referral link, you fill the same Activate form with the partner code attached.
How long do AWS Activate credits last? AWS Activate Founders credits expire 1 year after issuance, with no extensions. Portfolio credits typically have a similar 1-year window, occasionally extended to 2 years for larger ($50K+) tier grants. AWS does not extend expired credits. Plan your migration timing around this — credits used after expiry are simply forfeited.
Why was my AWS Activate application rejected? Most common reasons: (1) personal email instead of corporate domain, (2) gmail / yahoo blocked outright, (3) reapplying with the same EIN / company name (AWS de-duplicates), (4) AWS account on free tier only — Founders requires a paid tier plan, (5) restricted industry (crypto, gambling), (6) missing live website or website without product description. Most rejections are recoverable — fix the issue and resubmit with a clean second application.
Related guides
- Free AWS Credits — Every Route from $1K to $300K — full multi-route guide
- Free Cloud Credits for Developers — all 15 cloud programs compared
- Microsoft for Startups — comparable umbrella program
- Google for Startups — Cloud Program + Accelerator + Founders Funds
- Free Startup Credits 2026: Complete Guide
Got accepted into AWS Activate? Tell me which tier and decision time — I update this guide with friction signals and program changes.
