AWS credits at Series A: what a $100K figure really means.
At Series A, the AWS credit route is Activate Portfolio: up to $200,000. You apply yourself with your lead investor's Org ID or invite, if the investor is an AWS Activate Provider. For a migration, a test or new work on AWS, a vetted partner can also file funding: $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.
- Activate Portfolio goes up to $200,000. Raised from $100,000 to up to $200,000 in June 2026. Pages that still say Series A tops out lower are out of date.
- You apply yourself with your investor's Org ID or invite. Your investor must be an Activate Provider. A consulting partner cannot file Portfolio.
- Partner-filed MAP, POC or IW funding is a separate route, tied to specific work: $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.
IWhere AWS credits come from at Series A
Series A companies are still eligible for Activate. The rules: pre-Series B, founded in the last 10 years, with an AWS account on a paid plan. You must be new to Activate credits or ask for more than you got before.
Activate Portfolio is the tier for startups backed by an Activate Provider. It goes up to $200,000. The amount depends on your provider's offer, so a $100K figure is usually one investor's offer, not an AWS tier.
The funding window. Activate Portfolio applicants must apply within 12 months of their latest funding date. If your round closed longer ago than that, Portfolio is not open to you.
Credits you already have. If you got Activate credits before, you can ask for a larger amount. AWS gives the difference, not the full amount again.
Some pages say a partner files Portfolio for Series A companies, or quote CloudRoute timing data for it. Both are wrong. Only the founder can apply for Portfolio, and CloudRoute has no part in Activate.
IIWho files each kind of AWS funding
| Funding | Who files it | Amount | When it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) | Your matched AWS partner | $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves. | You are not on AWS yet and want to migrate. |
| Proof of concept (POC) funding | Your matched AWS partner | $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves. | You want to test something, whether or not you are on AWS today. |
| Incremental workload (IW) funding | Your matched AWS partner | $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves. | You are already on AWS and are launching new work: a new AI feature, a new customer or a new contract. |
| AWS Activate Founders | Founder applies | $1,000 to start, up to $5,000 | Self-funded startups with no investor or accelerator behind them. |
| AWS Activate Portfolio | Founder applies | up to $200,000 | Startups backed by a VC firm, accelerator or angel investor that is an AWS Activate Provider. |
| AWS Credits for AI Startups | Invite only (AWS account manager) | $200,000 or more, by invitation | AI startups ready to scale after Activate Portfolio, invited by AWS. |
IIIWhere partner-filed funding fits at Series A
Series A is often when teams migrate, run a serious test or launch new work. Those are the three partner routes. For startups they are $50K to $150K. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.
- Migration Acceleration Program (MAP): You are not on AWS yet and want to migrate. Your matched partner files it when the migration qualifies and AWS approves it.
- Proof of concept (POC) funding: You want to test something, whether or not you are on AWS today. Your matched partner files it when the test qualifies and AWS approves it.
- Incremental workload (IW) funding: You are already on AWS and are launching new work: a new AI feature, a new customer or a new contract. Your matched partner files it when the new workload qualifies and AWS approves it.
Partner-filed funding and Activate are separate. You apply for Activate yourself; your matched partner files the funding for the work. AWS decides each request.
IVHow to apply for Activate Portfolio
- Ask your lead investor: Confirm it is an AWS Activate Provider and ask for its Org ID or an email invite.
- Check the window: Activate Portfolio applicants must apply within 12 months of their latest funding date.
- Apply on the AWS site: Go to aws.amazon.com/startups/credits, choose Portfolio, enter the Org ID or use the invite, and link an AWS account on a paid plan.
- Wait for the decision: AWS says Activate applicants hear back within 5 to 10 business days.
How a match works (example)
- You tell us about the work
You fill in a short form: what you run today, what you want to move, test or build, your stage and your region.
- We pick one partner
We read your answers and pick one vetted AWS consulting partner that fits the work, the stack and the region. We reply within 24 hours; your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days.
- The partner checks which funding fits
Your matched partner scopes the work with you. Then it checks which partner-filed funding fits: MAP if you are moving to AWS, POC if you want to test something, or incremental workload (IW) funding if you are already on AWS and launching new work.
- The partner files, AWS decides
If the work qualifies, the partner files the funding request with AWS. AWS reviews it and decides. The amount depends on the workload.
- You pay nothing
CloudRoute is free for startups. Partners pay CloudRoute a monthly membership plus 10% of AWS-approved funding.
AWS Activate credits are separate, and you apply for them yourself. Use Activate Founders if no investor backs you. Use Activate Portfolio with the Org ID or invite from your VC, accelerator, incubator or angel group if it is an Activate Provider. A consulting partner cannot apply for Activate on your behalf.
Common questions
Can a Series A startup get AWS credits?
Should my VC submit, or should a partner file Portfolio?
My VC is not an Activate Provider. What now?
How long does it take?
What does CloudRoute cost?
Series A and planning real work on AWS?
A vetted AWS partner checks whether your migration, test or new workload qualifies for MAP, POC or IW funding and files it if it does. $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves. We reply within 24 hours; your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days.