What are AWS Activate Credits?

While the process of being accepted for the AWS Activate system isn’t necessarily a guarantee, it is possible to have a startup with a backing of upwards of $100,000 for spending on various AWS services. Startups enrolled in AWS Activate benefit from comprehensive technical support services to enhance their experience with AWS services. Users will also have access to technical support with partnered AWS Cloud experts 24/7 to help with any aid, advice, and practice needed for working with AWS services. Additionally, startups can leverage integrated tools such as Trusted Advisor and Personal Health Dashboard, which provide best practice guides. Furthermore, AWS offers templates specifically designed by experts for startups to ensure their solutions are secure, reliable, and scalable. Through the AWS Activate Console, startups can easily monitor costs and credits expended, enabling them to manage their resources effectively.

In addition to these general benefits, AWS Activate offers startups a range of specific advantages. This includes reduced costs, access to best practice guides, streamlined infrastructure setup, personalized recommendations, and the ability to allocate resources effectively.  AWS Free Tier is designed for the first year, with standard pricing starting afterward. It is meant as an incentive for new users to explore hypothetical project designs before deciding if they want to build further on AWS.

Startups can choose between two plans offered by AWS Activate: the Activate Portfolio Plan and the Activate Founders Plan. The Portfolio Plan is designed for startups looking to grow and scale their operations. On the other hand, the Founders Plan is ideal for startups just starting out. Founders can get started on AWS free of charge, with all initiation fees waived.

AWS Activate Portfolio

The Portfolio Plan is ideal for those seeking to expand and scale their startups, providing valuable assistance from venture capital firms, accelerator organizations, incubators, and other AWS Activate Provider partners. On the other hand, the Founders Plan is designed for startups new to the program, ensuring they have not received prior financial backing from the Activate Portfolio. Startups in this category should also not be backed, unfinanced, or bootstrapped, and should have no previous associations with AWS’s financial partners.

AWS Activate credits typically remain valid for one to two years from the date of issuance. You can easily track the expiration date of your credits by checking the credits page in your AWS Billing and Cost Management Console or by logging into your AWS Activate Console. In terms of the amount of credits startups can receive, there is an opportunity to apply for credits totaling up to $100,000 over the startup’s lifespan. While acceptance into the AWS Activate program is not guaranteed, startups can potentially secure substantial funding to spend on various AWS services.

Here’s what can be expected from this program:

What is Provided

• Up to $100,000 in financing for AWS services and up to $10,000 in AWS Support funding for pre-built assets, training, and 24/7 support.
• AWS provides integrated tools like Trusted Advisor and Personal Health Dashboard to offer users best practice guides. With the AWS Activate Console, startups can efficiently monitor costs and credits expended, effectively managing AWS resources. Moreover, startups gain on-demand access to AWS Activate, providing a dedicated console for streamlined resource management.
• The program also offers templates created by AWS experts specifically for startups, ensuring security, reliability, and scalability. The program also offers valuable guidance from industry experts on both business and technical matters, aiding startups in navigating the complexities of cloud-based growth
• AWS Activate Console for monitoring costs and credits expended.

Requirements

Becoming eligible for AWS Activate credits is a relatively straightforward process that depends on a few key criteria. To qualify for the Activate Portfolio, startups must meet certain requirements, such as being unfunded or funded up to and including Pre-Seed, Angel, Seed, Debt Financing, and Series A. Additionally, startups must have an Activate Provider’s organization ID, a functional company website, and a LinkedIn profile to apply with. It is also essential to have an active AWS account in use. It’s important to note that if a user starts a new startup, they cannot receive AWS Activate credits at an equal or more excellent value from the same or different Activate Provider.

Furthermore, the total awarded or redeemed AWS credits from AWS Activate must not exceed $100,000. Lastly, startups must be less than ten years old. These criteria ensure that startups meet the qualifications to benefit from the Activate Portfolio.

Similarly, the Founders program has its own set of eligibility requirements. To be eligible for Founders, startups must be new to the program and should not have received any financial backing from the Activate Portfolio in the past. The startup must not be backed, unfinanced, or bootstrapped and should not have any previous association with one of AWS’s financial partners. Like the Activate Portfolio, a company website or profile is necessary, and the startup must also be less than ten years old. These requirements ensure that startups meet the criteria to participate in the Founders program.

The AWS Activate program offers two distinct tiers tailored to different types of startups: Activate Founders and Activate Portfolio. Activate Founders caters to self-funded or bootstrapped startups without institutional funding or affiliations with venture capital firms, accelerators, or incubators. To qualify for Activate Founders, startups must meet specific criteria, including being new to the program, possessing an AWS Account ID, having a company website and LinkedIn profile, and being less than ten years old. On the other hand, Activate Portfolio is designed for funded startups up to Series A, associated with an AWS Activate Provider, and meeting specific requirements such as having an Organization ID from the provider and not exceeding $100,000 in redeemed AWS Activate credits. These detailed criteria ensure that startups align with the respective program tiers and make the most of the benefits offered by AWS Activate.

It’s important to note that when applying for AWS Activate credits, startups should carefully consider the amount of credits they have earned over their lifetime. If a startup has already received a certain amount of credits, they cannot apply for smaller amounts, such as $1,000 of Activate Founders credits. Instead, they need to exceed their initial credits and continue accumulating until they reach the maximum of $100,000.

AWS Activate Founder

Activate is for users who are just looking to get off square one.  This plan will see users getting started on AWS free of charge with all the fees related to initiation waved.  While it may seem like this plan receives less than Portfolio, those offset initial costs easily help make up the difference.  Here is what can be expected from this plan:

What is Provided

AWS Activate is well worth the effort for a startup to pursue:

• AWS comes with integrated tools such as Trusted Advisor and Personal Health Dashboard to provide users with best practice guides.
• Templates built by AWS experts specifically for startups that are secure, reliable, and scalable.
• AWS Activate Console for monitoring costs and credits expended.
•  Startups gain on-demand access to AWS Activate, providing them with a dedicated console to manage their AWS resources effectively.
• Startups receive valuable guidance from industry experts on both business and technical matters. These insights can help them navigate the complexities of starting and growing their business in the cloud.
• AWS Activate provides startups with training materials through Learn on AWS. This resource equips them with the necessary knowledge and skills to leverage AWS services effectively.
• Startups have access to over 40 pre-built infrastructure templates. These templates are designed to streamline the process of setting up foundational AWS infrastructure, saving time and effort.
• Through AWS Activate, startups gain access to exclusive discount codes and free trials, which allow them to try out various AWS services at a reduced cost or for free. This access provides invaluable support for startups, enabling them to explore and benefit from the array of AWS offerings while minimizing their financial investment in the initial stages of their growth. By leveraging these exclusive discount codes and free trials, startups can experiment with different services, optimize their cloud infrastructure, and scale their operations efficiently, setting a solid foundation for their future success within the AWS ecosystem.
• AWS Activate offers the AWS Active Recommendations feed, which delivers customized tools and content to startups based on their individual needs and goals. This personalized approach helps them optimize their AWS usage and enhance their overall experience.
• Eligible startups can apply for up to $100,000 in AWS credits over their lifetime. These credits can be used to pay for a wide range of AWS services, allowing startups to reduce their costs and allocate resources where they are most needed.

Requirements

Eligible startups can apply for up to $100,000 in AWS credits over their lifetime through the AWS Activate program. These credits serve as a valuable resource, allowing startups to reduce costs and allocate resources where they are most needed. To ensure that your startup meets the criteria for AWS Activate credits, please carefully consider the following information:

1. Startup Stage: The AWS Activate program caters to startups in various stages of growth, including bootstrapped, self-funding, and funded startups. It encompasses startups up to and including their series A funding round. This means that regardless of your current funding status, you may be eligible for AWS Activate credits.

2. Timeframe: In order to qualify for AWS Activate credits, your startup must have been founded within the last 10 years. This timeframe ensures that the program supports new and emerging startups, providing them with the necessary resources to thrive.

3. Website or Public Profile: It is a requirement for your startup to have a functional website or a public profile. This ensures that your business has a visible online presence, which is crucial in today’s digital landscape. Having a website or public profile demonstrates your startup’s commitment to establishing an online identity.

4. Geographic Limitations: It’s important to note that if your startup is based in AWS China Regions, you cannot apply to the regular AWS Activate program. Instead, you must apply to the AWS Activate China program, which is tailored specifically for startups in that region.

To provide a more comprehensive understanding, it’s worth noting some additional details that are specific to the Founders program within AWS Activate. Similar to the Portfolio program, Founders requires startups to have an AWS account to sign up. The results of the application typically take between 7-10 business days. While the number of requirements for Founders may be fewer, they are equally important:

• The startup must be new to the Founders program and should not have received any financial backing from the Portfolio program in the past.

• The startup must be new to Founders and should not have received any financial backing from Portfolio in the past. This criterion ensures that startups that have already received support from other AWS financial partners are not double-dipping and that the resources are distributed fairly among eligible startups.

• The startup should not be backed, unfinanced, or bootstrapped. This means that startups should have a certain level of financial backing to qualify for the program. This requirement ensures that the credits are utilized by startups that have the potential to leverage AWS resources effectively.

• A company website belonging to the startup or a company profile is necessary. This ensures that the startup has a visible online presence, which is valuable for attracting customers, partners, and investors.

• The startup must be less than 10 years old. Similar to the AWS Activate program, this requirement ensures that the program caters to relatively new startups, providing them with the necessary resources and support to grow and scale their businesses.