Question 1

How much are AWS Activate Founders credits?

Accepted Answer

Activate Founders starts a self-funded startup with $1,000 in Activate Credits. AWS says "Select participants may qualify for additional credits up to $5,000", and these pages do not say how a startup becomes one. AWS says all Activate Credits are in US dollars and apply to AWS services. Founders is the first of three tiers on AWS's credits page, and the only one open to startups with no investor or Activate Provider. AWS's three credit tiers, per its credits page: Activate Founders: self-funded startups, starting at $1,000 and up to $5,000; Activate Portfolio: up to $200,000 with an Organization ID from an Activate Provider; AWS Credits for AI Startups: $200,000+ by invitation only after Activate Portfolio, arranged with your Account Manager.

Question 2

Who qualifies for AWS Activate Founders?

Accepted Answer

Self-funded startups with no Activate Provider. AWS lists four conditions: new to Activate Credits, self-funded, a fully functioning company website, and founded in the past 10 years. The AWS account must be on a paid plan. No Organization ID is needed. AWS's FAQ says that if you are not associated with an Activate Provider, "you may be eligible to apply for AWS Activate Founders". If an accelerator, angel investor or VC backs you and is a provider, AWS sends you to Activate Portfolio instead: "Self-funded? Apply for Activate Founders." AWS's wider rule is that applications are open to "bootstrapped, self-funded, and funded startups up to and including Series A", and a startup "must have been founded within last 10 years and have a functioning website or public profile". Startups building on AWS China Regions are not eligible and are pointed to a separate Activate China program. AWS also says free account plans are not eligible, so the AWS account must be on a paid plan.

Question 3

How do I apply for AWS Activate Founders and where do I sign in?

Accepted Answer

Use Apply now on AWS's credits page: create an AWS Builder ID, complete your Activate profile, choose Founders, link an AWS account to the Builder ID and submit. You sign in with that Builder ID on the AWS Startups site. AWS says the decision takes a while: its credits page says you will hear back within 5 to 10 business days, while its step-by-step guide says "Application processing usually takes 7-10 business days". The Credit Application Status page shows pending and past applications. Two rules from the FAQ: "applications cannot be edited once submitted", and "you need an AWS account linked with your BuilderID" to apply, so create or link one before you start. AWS's application steps: Create your AWS Builder ID with a professional email and verify it; Complete the one-time AWS Activate profile, using a business email matching your startup's domain; Choose your credit tier: Founders if you are self-funded; Tell AWS about your product, funding stage and company profile; Create or link an AWS account to your Builder ID and submit.

Question 4

Do AWS Activate credits expire, and for how long are they valid?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AWS says "Credits usually expire within 1-2 years depending on the package", and the exact expiry date shows with your balance in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console. AWS's pages do not say which of the two applies to Founders. AWS cannot extend them: its FAQ says the Activate team is "unable to extend the expiration date of AWS Activate Credits", even with credits left unused. AWS emails startups 60 days and 30 days before credits expire, and again when they have expired. AWS's credit terms add that "No refunds will be granted for any expired or cancelled Promotional Credit". Credits offset new charges each month and do not cover past bills.

Question 5

Can AWS Activate credits pay for Amazon Bedrock models?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for third-party models. AWS says Activate Credits "can also be used for third-party models available on Amazon Bedrock", from makers including OpenAI, Mistral AI, Anthropic and Meta. AWS's Activate terms are precise: credits may offset AWS Marketplace charges "incurred for the use of third-party foundation models available on Amazon Bedrock", and AWS Marketplace counts as an Eligible Service "solely when incurring Bedrock 3P Model Spend". Other AWS Marketplace purchases are not covered. AWS announced the change in a 2024 blog post, which describes Bedrock as offering models from AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta, Mistral AI, Stability AI and Amazon through a single API. AWS's current guide adds OpenAI to the makers it names.

Question 6

Why was my AWS Activate application rejected?

Accepted Answer

AWS says the most common reason is that the application did not meet its criteria, and its FAQ lists ten examples, from a lifetime credit cap already reached to no working website. AWS also says it may accept or reject any application "in our sole discretion". AWS says the list "includes, but are not limited to" those reasons, and points you to your application status email for the specific one. Two more rules from the FAQ: a startup that submits two applications at once has "the application with the smaller credit amount" automatically rejected, and a second startup that applies from the same AWS account as the first is rejected too, so each startup needs its own account. Reasons AWS's FAQ gives that apply to Founders (examples, not a complete list): You reached the AWS Activate lifetime credit award; You applied with a different email address than the one used to set up your AWS account; No fully functioning website or public profile; A duplicate application; Founded date more than 10 years ago; Inconsistent business information; The new credit offer is the same as or less than your previous one; Funding round is private equity or beyond Series A.

AWS Activate Founders

Also useful for cloud and hosting

Inside AWS Activate Founders

Who it's for

How to apply for AWS Activate Founders

Where else a founder can get cloud credits