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Skill 29 · Knowledge Base For Startups
Subchapter 29.5
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Welcome to the new AWS Startups website. Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the new website, AWS Activate program, credits and Showcase.
Navigate to the top of the AWS Startups website to sign in or create an account. Create an AWS Builder ID, then complete the sign up form to become an AWS Activate member.
AWS Builder ID is a new personal profile for every individual that builds on AWS. It provides access to tools and builder services on AWS, and your Builder ID stays with you as you move between jobs, schools, or other organizations. To learn more, visit Sign in with AWS Builder ID (opens in a new tab).
Your AWS Builder ID is separate from any AWS account or sign in credential. You can use the same email for your AWS Builder ID and for the root user email of an AWS account.
An AWS account is a resource container with contact and payment information. It establishes a security boundary in which to operate billed and metered AWS services, like S3, EC2, or Lambda. Account owners can sign in to an AWS account in the AWS Management Console. To understand different AWS credentials, visit the AWS sign-in user guide (opens in a new tab).
AWS Activate is the flagship startup program from AWS, the world’s most broadly adopted cloud. From the earliest stages, Activate provides founders and their teams with cloud credits, technical support, and business mentorship. Free to join, whether a founder is just starting to ideate an MVP or is on track to IPO, AWS Activate is a startup’s first step to prove that their world-changing ideas are possible.
Joining Activate is easier than ever. First, you’ll enter basic profile information to create an AWS Builder ID (opens in a new tab). Once your Builder ID is created, you’ll complete a one-time membership form to help us better understand the needs of you and your startup.
A membership is not required for you to browse the AWS Startups website, tools, and resources. If you would like to access exclusive content, apply for credits, or engage with member features, a membership is required.
As an AWS Activate member, you can apply for AWS Activate Credits, apply for accelerator programs offered by AWS, and browse Startup Showcase to explore the many startups that have built and launched a product on AWS as way to find inspiration, connect and collaborate with the AWS startup community. You can also find curated events and explore training resources tailored to your use cases
Joining Activate is easier than ever. First, you’ll enter basic profile information to create an AWS Builder ID (opens in a new tab). Once your Builder ID is created, you’ll complete a one-time membership form to help us better understand the needs of you and your startup.
AWS Activate Credits applications are open to bootstrapped, self-funded, and funded startups up to and including Series A. Startups must have been founded within last 10 years and have a functioning website or public profile. Unfortunately, Startups building on AWS China Regions are not eligible for AWS Activate. If you are building on AWS China Regions, please apply for the AWS Activate China program here (opens in a new tab).
You can apply for AWS Activate Credits on the AWS Activate credits page. To apply for credits, you must first become an AWS Activate member. There are four total steps to complete your application: 1) create an AWS Builder ID, 2) complete your AWS Activate profile, and 3) link your AWS Activate profile to your AWS Account, and 4) submit your credit application. Review the steps below or use our step-by-step guide for extra support.
Step 1: Click “Apply Now” button on the credits page. You will be redirected to create your AWS Builder ID. All AWS Activate members first start with an AWS Builder ID. AWS Builder ID is a personal profile for every individual that builds on AWS. It provides access to tools and builder services on AWS, plus it stays with you as you move between jobs, schools, or other organizations.
**Step 2:**Once you verify your AWS Builder ID via email, you’ll be directed to complete your one-time AWS Activate membership profile. This help us better understand the needs of you and your startup, allows you to save your progress through the application steps, and it helps us personalize your experience.
Step 3: Once you save your profile information, continue the steps to complete the credits application. During this step you’ll select the appropriate credit package, reference your Org ID (if applicable for Portfolio), and link your AWS Account ID to your AWS Activate membership. Linking your AWS Account ID helps to validate the account and route the credits appropriately if accepted.
Note: Only one Builder ID can be linked to your AWS Account at once. If other members of your team have already linked to their Builder ID, make sure they unlink their Builder ID from the AWS Account first. If you run into issues, contact the AWS Activate support team.
Step 4: Review your application carefully to make sure everything is accurate. If you need to verify any information with your colleagues, your application progress is saved to your AWS Activate profile. Once you’re ready, click submit. You’ll receive a confirmation email to confirm your submission.
Step 5: After submitting your application, you’ll receive email notifications about your credit application status throughout the process. You can also check your application status on the Credit Application Status page (opens in a new tab). This page provides detailed information on all of your pending and previously reviewed applications from the last 18 months.
Within 7-10 business days, you’ll receive a final decision email. If approved, this email will inform you of the value of your credit offer, and the AWS Activate Credits will be automatically applied to your AWS account. No further action is required on your part
For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for Activate Credits, see our AWS Activate Credits Application Guide (opens in a new tab).
Yes, you need an AWS account linked with your BuilderID to apply for AWS Activate Credits. To link your BuilderID, you’ll need to take the following steps: 1) create an AWS Builder ID using your personal email address. 2) complete your AWS Activate profile, and 3) either create a new AWS account or link your existing AWS account to your AWS Builder ID in AWS Management Console (opens in a new tab). Validate your account to confirm your account is correct and properly linked to your AWS Builder ID. You can learn more in the Profile and Membership FAQs. (opens in a new tab)
Here are a few tips for linking your BuilderID and AWS account:
Administrator permissions are required for linking accounts. Root account users have admin access. Non-root users can gain administrator-level permission by creating your first IAM Admin User and Group (opens in a new tab).
Only one Builder ID can be linked per AWS account, so you may need to override existing links.
If your account is inactive, contact AWS Customer Support (opens in a new tab).
Unfortunately, applications cannot be edited once submitted. Contact us (opens in a new tab) to cancel your application. You must return to the AWS Startups website > profile section to unlink this Account ID from your Builder ID before you submit a new application. After that, you can complete a new application with the correct information on the AWS Activate credits page (opens in a new tab).
AWS Activate Credit applications are processed in the order they are received. It usually takes 7-10 business days. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite application processing. For the most up-to-date status of your credit application, visit the Credit Application Status page (opens in a new tab).
You can check your application status on the Credit Application Status page (opens in a new tab). This page provides information on all of your pending and previously reviewed applications from the last 18 months.
You’ll receive email updates on your credit application status. Each email will include a link to the Credit Application Status page (opens in a new tab), where you can view detailed information about your application’s progress.****
Signing in with your AWS Activate account allows you to start and stop your application as needed. Simply save a draft of your application, and your membership will save your place at the last step you completed.
Activate Providers can invite their portfolio companies to apply for AWS Activate Credits via email. The link is personalized and speeds up the application process by pre-validating your relationship with the provider.****
Important: You must apply using the same email address that received the invitation from your Provider. For example, if the invite was sent to john@example.com (opens in a new tab), you must submit your application using john@example.com (opens in a new tab) for the pre-validation to work correctly.
Email invitations expire after 30 days. If your invitation has expired, contact your provider directly and ask them to resend it. Providers can send a new invitation through Provider Central in just a few clicks.
Email invitations are recommended. They streamline the approval process by pre-validating your relationship with the provider and typically result in faster approvals. Applications submitted through email invites are approved within 3-5 days compared to 7-10 days for applications using Org ID. For the fastest path to receiving AWS Activate Credits, request an email invitation from your provider.
Each AWS Activate Provider (venture capital firm, accelerator, incubator, or other startup-enabling organization) has a unique identifier called an Org ID. An Org ID is confidential and should not be shared - it is not a promotional code. To apply for Activate Portfolio, you must enter the Org ID given to you by your AWS Activate Provider during the application process. If you are associated with an AWS Activate Provider, but you do not have their Org ID, please reach out to your AWS Activate Provider to request it. If you are not associated with an AWS Activate Provider, you may be eligible to apply for AWS Activate Founders.
No, an Org ID can only be used one time. If you would like to apply for additional AWS Activate Credits, you need to get a different Org ID from an Activate Provider.
Yes. You can apply for AWS Activate Portfolio Credits more than once as long as 1) each application is for a greater amount of AWS Activate Credits than your previously approved application and 2) you haven’t received the maximum lifetime value in AWS Activate Credits (not including AWS Support plan credits).
You can only benefit from an AWS Activate Provider’s specific offer once. If your Activate Provider has two offers, you may apply for the second offer as long as 1) it’s for a greater amount of AWS Activate Credits than your previously approved application and 2) you haven’t received the maximum lifetime value in AWS Activate Credits (not including AWS Support plan credits).
You can apply for AWS Activate Credits again as long as 1) your application is for a greater amount of AWS Activate Credits than your previously approved application; 2) you haven’t received the maximum lifetime value in AWS Activate Credits not including AWS Support plan credits; 3) you have a valid Org ID; and 4) you still meet the criteria of the Activate Credits program.
No. You can only submit one application at a time. If you submit two AWS Activate Credit applications at the same time for different credit offers, the application with the smaller credit amount will be automatically rejected.
Yes. Please note: each startup must have its own AWS account. If you apply from the same AWS account, even though the second startup is a separate entity, your application will be rejected.
If your startup has previously received AWS Activate Credits from AWS Activate, and you are applying for additional credits which is a larger amount than what you have received thus far, you will receive the difference between the two AWS Activate Credit awards. For example, if you received $10,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits, and you subsequently applied for $100,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits, you will receive $90,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits. If you are applying for a smaller amount of AWS Activate Credits than what you have already received, or if you have already reached the maximum lifetime value of AWS Activate Credits, your application will be declined.
You can apply for AWS Activate Portfolio more than once as long as 1) each application is for a greater amount of AWS Activate Credits than your previous approved application, 2) you haven’t received the maximum lifetime value in AWS Activate Credits, 3) you still meet the program criteria, and 4) have a valid Org ID. For example, if you apply for and receive $10,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits, you can apply for $100,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits as long as you are still affiliated with the Activate Provider at time of application. If approved you will receive $90,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits, bringing you up to $100,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits.
Yes, you are still eligible for AWS Activate Credits. AWS Activate Credits issued by Activate are not impacted by previous AWS Activate Credits you may have received through other programs, including AWS EdStart.
Benefits of AWS Activate Credits include:
AWS is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud, offering over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. You can use your AWS Activate Credits for AWS “Eligible Services,” from infrastructure technologies, such as compute, storage, and databases, to emerging technologies, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, data lakes, analytics, and Internet of Things. AWS Activate Credits are also redeemable for third-party models on Amazon Bedrock (opens in a new tab), our fully-managed service that offers a choice of high-performing foundation models (FMs) from leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies, like AI21 Labs (opens in a new tab), Anthropic (opens in a new tab), Cohere (opens in a new tab), Meta (opens in a new tab), Mistral AI (opens in a new tab), Stability AI (opens in a new tab), and Amazon via a single API.
For information regarding Eligible and Ineligible Services, please visit the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions (opens in a new tab) and the AWS Activate Terms & Conditions (opens in a new tab). Any service not listed in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console (opens in a new tab) is not covered by AWS Activate Credits.
AWS Activate Credits cannot be applied to any fees or charges for Amazon Mechanical Turk, AWS Managed Services, Ineligible AWS Support, AWS Marketplace (with the exception of charges incurred through the use of third-party foundation models available on Amazon Bedrock), AWS Professional Services, AWS Training, AWS Certification, Amazon Route 53 domain name registration or transfer, any Services for mining for cryptocurrency, or any upfront fee for any Services such as Savings Plans and Reserved Instances. For information regarding Eligible and Ineligible Services, please visit the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions (opens in a new tab) and the AWS Activate Terms & Conditions (opens in a new tab). Any other service not listed in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console (opens in a new tab) is not covered by AWS Activate Credits.
No action is required from you to activate your AWS Activate Credits. AWS Activate Credits offset charges for AWS EligibleServices incurred during or following the billing cycle in which you receive the credits. You can view, track, and monitor your AWS Activate Credits in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console (opens in a new tab).
Yes, AWS Activate Credits have expiration dates. To view your AWS Activate Credits’ expiration date, please visit the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console (opens in a new tab).
Free account plans are not eligible for Activate promotional credits. Find instructions on how to upgrade your account plan in the AWS Billing free tier plans documentation (opens in a new tab).
You can find details about your AWS Activate Credits, including the exact credit amount, their expiration date, remaining balance, and the applicable AWS services, on the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console (opens in a new tab). AWS Activate also informs startups when their credits are going to expire or exhaust via email: 1) credits are expiring (60 days prior expiration, 30 days prior expiration, expired) and 2) Account credits are exhausting (75% credits exhausted, 100% exhausted).
AWS Activate Credits in your AWS account are applied only to offset AWS Eligible Services fees and charges incurred during or following the billing cycle in which you receive the credits. AWS Activate Credits cannot be used to offset or cover historical AWS bills. For example, if your AWS Activate Credits are issued in your AWS account in the month of May, your AWS Activate Credits will not count against your AWS bills from April or previous months.
To ensure your Activate Credits are applied correctly through consolidated billing through a reseller:
If you notice any issues with your credits, contact your reseller first, and then reach out to AWS support (opens in a new tab) if needed.
AWS Activate Credits are applied to Reserved Instances and Saving Plans the same way as other AWS Eligible Services. Upfront fees for Reserved Instances and Savings Plans are not covered by AWS Activate Credits.
The AWS Activate team is unable to extend the expiration date of AWS Activate Credits, even if there are remaining credits left unused.
AWS Activate Credits cannot be refunded or re-issued into your AWS Account, even if your AWS Activate Credits were incorrectly used or accidentally consumed.
Unfortunately, the AWS Activate team is unable to apply more AWS Activate Credits to your account.
No. AWS Activate Credits cannot be transferred into another AWS account. You may not sell, license, rent, or transfer AWS Activate Credits. If you violate this policy, your AWS Activate Credits will be revoked. For more information, please refer to the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions (opens in a new tab) and the AWS Activate Terms & Conditions (opens in a new tab). If you are looking for information on how to share credits within your AWS accounts, please refer to Applying AWS Credits (opens in a new tab). For customers in India, please see Consolidated Billing in India (opens in a new tab).
If you have enabled credit sharing in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console (opens in a new tab), your AWS Activate Credits may be used by the parent account as well as any associated child accounts. If you wish to turn on/off Credit sharing across your accounts, please follow the instructions here (opens in a new tab). Please note: The credit will apply to the account effective immediately when the credit sharing is enabled in the same month.
For billing or account inquiries, please click here to sign in (opens in a new tab) to your AWS account and submit your billing or account request, or contact AWS Customer Support (opens in a new tab).
An AWS Activate Provider (opens in a new tab) is a venture capital firm, angel investor, accelerator, incubator, or other startup-enabling organization that has partnered with AWS Activate to provide Activate benefits to their affiliated startups.
AWS Activate is the flagship startup program from AWS, the world’s most broadly adopted cloud. From the earliest stages, Activate provides founders and their teams with promotional credits, technical support, and business mentorship. Becoming an AWS Activate Provider allows your institution to provide AWS Activate Credits and specialized resources to your portfolio of startup companies. This helps attract and support innovative startups by giving them access to AWS cloud resources.
AWS Activate Providers receive credit packages to distribute to eligible startups, access to AWS technical and business resources, and support from the Activate team. These benefits enable Activate Providers to offer enhanced value to their portfolio companies, supporting their growth and success on AWS.
AWS Activate accepts applications from venture capital firms and accelerator programs that are actively investing in startups. Note that Activate is not currently accepting applications from non-investing organizations such as co-working spaces.
AWS Activate is accepting applications from venture capital firms, seed investors, and accelerator programs that are actively investing. By becoming an Activate Provider, you can offer Activate Credits and specialized resources to your portfolio companies, helping them build and scale on AWS. To apply, first create your Builder ID and fill out your AWS Activate profile. Next, you will be prompted to complete the application and provide information about your institution and investment portfolio. Get started on the AWS Activate Provider page (opens in a new tab). Once the application has been submitted, it will be reviewed within 7-10 business days.
AWS evaluates Activate Providers annually to determine credit package eligibility and is not currently accepting requests for changes to these packages.
After receiving initial AWS Activate Credits, startups can seek additional credits by either connecting with their AWS account team or applying through Org IDs from other eligible providers in their network.
In addition to being part of your approved portfolio, startups must qualify for AWS Activate Credits based on specific eligibility criteria. Criteria includes factors like startup age, funding status, and previous credit usage.
If a startup’s application is rejected, review the reasons provided and verify that the startup meets all eligibility criteria. If you need additional assistance, please reach out to AWS Activate support on the Contact Us (opens in a new tab) page.
Please request an update through Contact Us (opens in a new tab).
AWS Activate Provider Central is where venture capitalists, accelerators, and other startup enabling organizations who are Activate Providers can manage their portfolio companies. It enables you to view and share your Organization ID, invite startups through one-time, pre-validated referral links for faster applications processing and approvals, track portfolio companies’ credit applications for the past 24 months, and access resources to help share the Activate program with startups. It can be accessed on the AWS Activate Providers page (opens in a new tab).
Existing Activate Providers will receive an email invitation from the AWS Activate team with an invite link to join Provider Central. Click the link in your invitation email and follow the setup instructions to open your account. Your existing organization ID and portfolio data will be automatically populated in the centralized hub. If you are interested in becoming an Activate Provider, please apply on the AWS Activate Providers page (opens in a new tab). Newly approved providers will receive a unique invitation link to access Provider Central in their acceptance email.
No, your Organization ID will remain the same. Startups in your portfolio can continue using your existing Org ID to apply for AWS Activate Credits without any changes. All existing processes and links will continue to work. Additionally, Provider Central now enables you to refer your startups with just 3 clicks: login, enter startup email, and send invite making the referral process even easier while maintaining all your current capabilities.
As a provider, you can now refer your startups with just 3 clicks: login, enter the startup’s email, and send the invite. The pre-validated referral link cuts approval time from 8 days to 3 days, streamlining the process for you and your portfolio companies.
If you have trouble joining Provider Central using your invitation link, first verify you are using the same email address that received the invitation. Next, check the date of your invitation email, as links expire after 30 days. If these initial checks don’t resolve the issue, try these troubleshooting steps: 1) use an incognito or private browser window to eliminate browser extension interference, 2) clear your browser cache and cookies, and 3) copy and paste the complete invitation URL into your browser address bar. If you continue experiencing issues after trying these solutions, contact AWS Activate support through the Contact Us [https://aws.amazon.com/startups/contact-us/contact-support (opens in a new tab)] and include the specific error message you are seeing.
Your personalized journey is a custom set of tools, resources, and trainings on the AWS Startups website designed to help startups launch and scale on AWS. This guided plan is available to all startups who have applied for AWS Activate Credits. The journey is tailored specifically to your needs based on your profile and AWS Activate Credits application, providing you with guides and tools to help you get started, build your product, and grow your business on AWS. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand, this personalized plan offers valuable resources to support your startup’s journey on AWS.
To access your personalized journey, start by creating an AWS Builder ID account and completing your Activate profile. Then, apply for AWS Activate Credits. Your custom plan will be automatically created once you submit your credit application. You can view a snapshot of your plan on the AWS startups homepage widget or access the full plan directly at aws.amazon.com/startups/your-journey (opens in a new tab). To stay informed about your journey, you can opt in for monthly digest emails. You can easily opt out at any time on your plan page.
Your personalized plan is designed to help you leverage Activate benefits and build your startup using AWS services. The plan is organized into four key milestones: 1) Getting started with AWS, 2) Defining your MVP, 3) Building your MVP, and 4) Launching your product. Within these milestones, you’ll find key resources and comprehensive guides to help you successfully launch your startup on AWS.
Your plan updates both automatically and manually to ensure it remains relevant to your needs. Automatic updates occur when new resources become available that match your startup’s requirements. These additions are marked as “Bonus” on your plan page. For manual updates, you can either submit a new credit application or modify your AWS Startup profile details. When you make these changes, you’ll see a banner asking whether you’d like to update your plan or keep your existing one. Keep in mind that choosing to update your plan will reset any previous progress, ensuring your plan reflects your current needs while giving you control over major changes.
For billing or account inquiries, please click here to sign in (opens in a new tab) and submit your billing or account request.
If you received an email notifying you that you were approved for credits, your AWS Activate Credits can be found in the your AWS Billing and Cost Management Console (opens in a new tab). If you have not heard from AWS Activate following your credit application, your application is still being processed. Please check your emails including your junk folder for emails from the AWS Activate team. Please note - your credits will disappear from the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console (opens in a new tab) once consumed or expired.
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Please contact your AWS Activate Provider and ask them to verify your association by responding to the Activate verification email. If your AWS Activate Provider is unable to find the email, please ask them reach out to their AWS representative.
We recommended going through the steps below which will help resolve most issues. If you continue to experience technical issues, please allow 24 hours before applying again or contact Activate (opens in a new tab) to submit a screenshot of the error message if the error persists.
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AWS Activate Credit applications are processed in the order they are received. It usually takes 7-10 business days. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite application processing. After submitting your application, you’ll receive email notifications about your credit application status throughout the process. You can also check your application status on the Credit Application Status page (opens in a new tab). This page provides detailed information on all of your pending and previously reviewed applications from the last 18 months.
Unfortunately, we are unable to apply AWS Activate Credits to your account. AWS startup customers in AWS China Regions should apply for the AWS Activate China program here (opens in a new tab).
An active AWS account is required before applying for AWS Activate Credits. To reactivate your suspended account, please follow the instructions listed here (opens in a new tab). For further assistance, please reach out to AWS Customer Support (opens in a new tab).
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No. The amount of AWS Activate Credits you receive cannot be split or extended.
We are here to help and answer any questions you might have. Contact Activate (opens in a new tab) and submit your question along with your contact details. If your inquiry is unrelated to AWS Activate or if you need general AWS support, please reach out to AWS Customer Support (opens in a new tab).
This message indicates your AWS Account is already linked to an existing AWS Builder ID. You can only link one AWS Builder ID to a company’s AWS Account, and the person completing the AWS Activate credit application on behalf of your company must be the person whose AWS Builder ID is linked with the company’s AWS Account that you want to apply the AWS Activate credits to. If you wish to proceed, follow the instructions in in this guide (opens in a new tab).
Ask AWS Startups is our 24/7 assistant designed to answer your questions about AWS Startup programs and benefits. Built on Amazon Bedrock with Haiku 3.5 and 3.5 Sonnet V2 models, it provides support on AWS Activate Credits, application status, events, and more. Get answers to your questions anytime at https://aws.amazon.com/startups/contact-us (opens in a new tab)
Navigate to the Contact Us (opens in a new tab) page and click on “Get Help” in the lower right hand corner.
AWS Startup Advisor is an AI-powered build assistant that helps startups optimize architecture, costs, security, and scalability on AWS. It delivers Solution Architect-curated expertise through your IDE or on the web, using your startup’s context so you’re never starting from scratch.
AWS Startup Advisor picks up where your AWS Activate Credit application leaves off. It uses your application data and your startup’s website to understand your technology stack and stage on startups.aws. From there, you can download an IDE extension or plugin that will deliver guidance through a skills-based experience: scaffold an architecture, optimize costs, set up your environment, or deploy an AI agent, each step shaped by what you’re actually building.
There is no charge to use AWS Startup Advisor itself. Generating recommendations, invoking skills, and getting guidance are all included as part of the AWS Activate experience. If you choose to deploy the resources AWS Startup Advisor recommends, standard AWS service pricing applies.
On the web at startups.aws, as an IDE extension for Kiro, VS Code, and Cursor, and as the aws-startup-advisor plugin in the Agent Toolkit for AWS (opens in a new tab). In Claude Code, add that repository as a marketplace with /plugin marketplace add aws/agent-toolkit-for-aws and then install with /plugin install aws-startup-advisor@agent-toolkit-for-aws; Codex and Cursor install it from the same repository’s plugin marketplace. All options deliver curated skills and recommendations. Use whichever fits your workflow.
You only need a Builder ID to log in to brainstorm with AWS Startup Advisor on startups.aws. If you’ve completed an AWS Activate Credit application, Advisor uses that data to tailor guidance to your stack and stage.
As you transition to the IDE, you need to log in with your AWS account to get alerts personalized to your environment.
On the web, AWS Startup Advisor uses (1) the information you provide in your AWS Activate Credit application and (2) your startup’s website. This data is used to tailor your experience. Advisor does not store your source code and does not share your data with third parties. In the IDE extension or plugin, AWS Startup Advisor will access information in your account to alert customers to cost optimization opportunities, security warnings, and scalability issues.
Yes. Cost optimization, security hardening, and architecture skills are designed for startups at any stage, whether you’re deploying your first service or running production infrastructure.
Yes. The Alerts tab in the IDE extension surfaces optimization opportunities and recommended actions. It uses your AWS profile permissions to monitor configured resources and proactively flag what to fix, so you stay ahead of issues.
A new AI-powered capability that generates a personalized migration plan from GCP, OpenAI, or Gemini to AWS, then helps you execute it. Get a plan quickly, including service mapping, cost estimates, architecture diagrams, Terraform templates, credit eligibility, and a step-by-step runbook. Then choose the execution path that fits your workload: AI-agent guided, work with an AWS expert, or connect with a certified AWS Partner.
The new migration capability supports Google Cloud Platform (GCP) infrastructure migrations - including, for example, Kubernetes to EKS/ECS/Fargate, PostgreSQL/MySQL to RDS/Aurora, and Google Cloud Storage to S3, as well as AI/LLM inference migrations from OpenAI or Gemini to Amazon Bedrock.
There is no charge for using the migration capability. There are no usage limits for generating migration plans. You only pay for the AWS resources you provision during your actual migration. If you choose the AI-Agent Guided path, you select your own inference provider (Amazon Bedrock, OpenAI, or Anthropic). LLM inference costs are billed by whichever provider you choose.
You can pick the experience that fits your workflow:
Generating a migration plan typically takes under 15 minutes, though larger or more complex codebases may require additional processing time. Actual migration timelines depend on your infrastructure complexity and readiness.
Architecture recommendations, cost estimates, infrastructure diagrams, deployment runbooks, IaC templates, and an AI migration guide (if applicable).
No. The credit amount shown is based on your estimates and the information you provided during the assessment. Final eligibility will be determined by AWS based on standard eligibility and verification checks.
Once your plan is generated, choose the execution path that fits your workload. You can always change your mind later.
AI-Agent Guided: Run the migration with the AI agent directly from your IDE (Kiro, Claude Code, or Cursor). The agent handles provisioning, data migration, configuration updates, and testing. You confirm key decisions at each step. Migrate your full workload or start with a proof of concept (POC).
Work with AWS Experts: Share your migration plan with an AWS expert. Get guidance on architecture decisions, edge cases, and execution.
Work with an AWS Partner: Get matched with a certified AWS Partner. They handle execution end-to-end.
Your migration includes intelligent service recommendations, cost comparison, Terraform deployment templates, a phased migration runbook, architecture diagrams, and guided deployment support at every step.
You download your migration plan and install the agent via your terminal (macOS Terminal or Windows PowerShell). Once you configure your AWS credentials and select a foundation model through Amazon Bedrock as your inference backend, the agent uses it to reason through and execute your migration tasks: provisioning infrastructure, setting up data transfer, migrating storage, updating configurations, and running post-migration tests.
Yes. You need Docker Desktop running on your machine and an active AWS account before you can install and use the migration agent.
The migration capability provides progress tracking and automated blocker identification throughout AI Agent guided execution. If you get stuck, you can switch to working with an AWS specialist or an AWS Partner.
Click “Request Support” from your plan to connect with an AWS specialist or an AWS Partner.
If you haven’t heard back from your selected AWS Partner, please let us know through Contact Us. In the meantime, you can reach out to another Partner from the list, or connect with an AWS expert who can also pair you with an expert to keep your migration moving.
The new migration capability uses your data only to generate your migration plan. Any code you provide is deleted after 180 days, and all data is encrypted in transit.
No. Your data is used solely to generate your migration plan and is not used for model training.
Yes. You can delete your data and individual plans, and all uploaded files are automatically removed after 180 days.
Check that it’s a .csv (billing) or .zip (code), isn’t password-protected, and is within the size limit.
AWS Support plans are designed to give you the right mix of tools and access to expertise, so that you can be successful with AWS while optimizing performance, managing risk, and keeping costs under control. All support plans provide 24/7 access to customer service, AWS documentation, technical papers, and support forums. Click here for more information on AWS Support Plans. (opens in a new tab)
Effective April 11, 2023, approved AWS Activate Credit applications receive a single Activate Credit offer that can be applied towards eligible Services or AWS Support. As of December 1, 2025, AWS Developer Support and AWS Business Support Plans are being replaced by AWS Business Support+. We are no longer accepting new account subscriptions to these legacy plans. Click here for more information on AWS Support Plans. (opens in a new tab)
AWS Activate Credits can be applied to:
Key Dates:
For customers who received AWS Support Credits prior to April 11, 2023, you will continue to have access to such credits until exhaustion or expiration (whichever comes first). If you exhaust your AWS Support credits and you don’t wish to continue with your AWS Support Plan, you must downgrade to AWS Basic Support to avoid incurring any charges. The instructions to downgrade to AWS Basic Support can be found here (opens in a new tab).
Get technical help when you need it most with AWS Support (opens in a new tab). Here are the steps to enroll in AWS Support where your AWS Activate Credits may be applied to your support plan charges:
Your AWS Activate Credits are automatically added to your AWS account. Once enrolled in an AWS Support Plan, sign into the AWS Support Center to open a case. For more information on AWS Support, click here (opens in a new tab).
AWS Support is billed once a month and is equal to a percentage of your total AWS Service charges for the corresponding month. During your first month, your AWS Service charges will be prorated based upon the date of enrollment into AWS Support Plans. Your AWS Activate Credits may offset your bill until your AWS Activate Credits expire or have been consumed (whichever comes first). AWS Business Support+ Pricing starts at $29 per month, offering enhanced AI-powered capabilities at an accessible price point. To learn more about AWS Support Plan Pricing, visit the AWS Support website (opens in a new tab).
If you are already enrolled into one of the AWS Support Plans (Developer or Business Support Plans, or Business Support+), available AWS Activate Credits may be applied to your AWS Support charges.
No. AWS Activate Credits only cover AWS Developer, AWS Business Support Plans, or AWS Business Support+ when enrolled. To learn more on AWS Support Plans, visit the AWS Support plans page (opens in a new tab).
The AWS Activate team is unable to apply more AWS Activate Credits to your account for support. See AWS Activate Credits FAQ section for more information on AWS Activate Credits.
Offers are exclusive savings available only to AWS Activate members. Take advantage of incredible discounts through our global network of relationships with dozens of software providers. These offers include free trials, discounted subscriptions, and more.
Offers are available to all AWS Activate startups, though some may be restricted based on your credit package or geographical location. To access offers, start by navigating to the top of the AWS Startups website. From there, you’ll need to either sign in to your existing account or create a new one. If you’re new to AWS, you’ll need to create an AWS Builder ID. Finally, complete the sign-up form to become an AWS Activate member. Once finished, you can explore and use the available startup offers.
To discover the full range of available offers, visit our dedicated Startup Offers page at https://aws.amazon.com/startups/offers (opens in a new tab). This comprehensive resource showcases all current promotions, discounts, and special deals tailored specifically for AWS Activate members. Check back for new and exciting offers to support your startup’s growth.
AWS partners with trusted organizations to bring Activate members exclusive benefits for your startup. Navigate to the Offers section of the website to view all available options. Click on any benefit you want to use for step-by-step redemption instructions.
Yes, you can redeem multiple offers as an AWS Activate startup. There’s no limit to how many you can use, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for each offer.
Unfortunately, Offers are not currently available to startups in China.
To register for an event, complete the following steps:
Step 1: Browse Events (opens in a new tab) on the AWS Startups website and click “Register” for your chosen event. For events that require approval, click on “Request to attend” to request a spot for the event.
Step 2: Log in to your existing account, or sign up by: 1) creating a Builder ID, and 2) setting up your Activate profile (See Profile and Membership FAQs (opens in a new tab) for support).
Step 3: Complete the event registration and watch for a confirmation email with a calendar invite. If the event is full or the event requires approval, you will be added to a waitlist and will receive an email confirmation
Step 4: Don’t forget to share the event with others!
Visit Events (opens in a new tab) on the AWS Startups website to discover events tailored for startups. Use the filters to narrow your search by region, country, language, event type (business/technical), and format (online, in-person, or hybrid).
“Register” means you can register for the event immediately. “Request to attend” means the event requires approval. You’ll be added to a waitlist and notified by email once approved.
After registering for an event, you’ll receive a confirmation email with important details sent to the email address you used to register. You’ll also receive timely email reminders as the event approaches.
Some events fill up quickly! If your desired event is at capacity, you can join the waitlist. When a spot becomes available, you’ll receive an email confirmation of your registration status.
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a calendar invite containing the event link. Click this link at the event time to join the streaming website.
Before arriving at the event, access your AWS Activate profile (opens in a new tab) to locate your unique event QR code. You can also find your QR code in the event confirmation and reminder emails. When you arrive, present this QR code at the registration desk for quick check-in.
Navigate to the “Your bookings” tab on your events list page (opens in a new tab)to manage all your registrations. From there, you can cancel registrations, add events to your calendar, or share events with colleagues and friends.
Yes! During or after the event, the event team will share the survey link. Your feedback helps us improve future AWS Startup events and ensures a top-notch experience for all participants. If you have feedback on the registration process, please submit your feedback using our feedback survey (opens in a new tab).
AWS Startup Showcase is a directory for AWS Activate members that have received credit offers to promote their startup. If you’ve built and launched a product on AWS, create a page to share your offerings with potential customers, investors and partners.
To create your Showcase profile, you should be approved for AWS Activate Credits. You will have access to create a Showcase profile within 7 days of the receipt of your credits approval email. Go to https://aws.amazon.com/startups/showcase/promote-your-startup (opens in a new tab) to follow the instructions to create your profile page. If you are still experiencing issues, please submit a query through the AWS Activate contact form (opens in a new tab).
The AWS Startup Showcase is open to startups who have applied for and received AWS Activate Credits. Once your application has been approved, you can take the following steps to create your startup profile:
Step 1: Navigate to Showcase on the upper menu navigation. Click “Promote your startup.”
Step 2: Click “Edit startup details” to create your page.
Step 3: Create your page by taking the following steps:
Upload logo image (120x44 px)
Step 4: When you’re ready to go live, click save and publish.****
Absolutely! We encourage you to share your Showcase profile on social media to get the word out about your startup.
Build on AWS templates enable you to quickly deploy proven architectures catered to your business and use cases. Every solution template is built by AWS experts from our Solution Architect and Product teams leveraging AWS best practices. With hundreds of deployments, every template is tested and ready for your production traffic. When you are ready to deploy, you can do it in just 60 minutes. To access Build on AWS, please log into the AWS Activate Console (opens in a new tab) and navigate to the Build on AWS tab.
Build on AWS works by aggregating the commonly used configurations across AWS so as to make it easy for early-stage startups to deploy their infrastructure. The templates are comprised of AWS Services and the respective application architectures.
We recommended AWS Support (opens in a new tab) and AWS IQ (opens in a new tab). AWS Support provides a mix of tools and technology, people, and programs designed to proactively help you optimize performance, lower costs, and innovate faster. With AWS IQ, you can search for experts in specific areas to hire for a project.
You can estimate the cost of deploying a template by inputting the services shown into the AWS Pricing Calculator (opens in a new tab). We highly recommend setting up a budget (opens in a new tab) in the AWS Billing Console (opens in a new tab) with corresponding alerts.
AWS Activate Credits are applied to your AWS bill to help cover costs associated with eligible AWS Services. Before deploying a template, you will be able to see which AWS services it will use. For more information about eligible services, please visit the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions (opens in a new tab) and the AWS Activate Terms & Conditions (opens in a new tab). Prior to any deployment we highly recommend setting up MFA and budget alerts (opens in a new tab).
If you’re not seeing a template you need, please let us know through the request template widget on the Build on AWS page within the AWS Activate Console (opens in a new tab). You can also provide general feedback. Please include as many details as possible and whether you would like to be contacted (and if so, the best email to reach you at).
Kiro Startup Credits provide eligible startups with promotional credits specifically for accessing Kiro Pro+. Kiro is an agentic AI development environment that turns your ideas into structured specifications, designs, and tasks before writing code. Startups can apply for Kiro Startup Credits (opens in a new tab).
(opens in a new tab) Eligibility requirements: To apply, startups must be less than 10 years old, have a working website, be pre-Series B, and cannot have active AWS Activate Credits at the time of application. AWS Activate Credits can also be used for Kiro Pro+, so if you already have active Activate Credits, you can use them towards Kiro. This promotion is available in most countries globally, except startups in Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the region of Crimea.
To use your Kiro Startup Credits: Your organization needs to conduct billing through AWS IAM Identity Center. Team members should cancel any existing paid individual Kiro accounts, sign out completely, and sign back in with their organization identity. Otherwise, they may continue to be billed individually instead of using your startup credits. We’ve created astep-by-step guide (opens in a new tab) to help you connect your Kiro Startup Credits to your organization’s billing and set up team access through AWS IAM Identity Center.
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