Up to $1M in AWS credits: the AWS Generative AI Accelerator, and what else fits AI startups.
The $1M figure comes from the AWS Generative AI Accelerator: AWS gave each of the 40 startups in its 2025 cohort up to $1 million in AWS credits. AWS selects the startups; no partner files it. For other AI startups, AWS Credits for AI Startups is $200,000 or more, by invitation, and a vetted AWS partner can file POC or incremental workload funding for specific AI work.
- The AWS Generative AI Accelerator gave its 2025 cohort of 40 startups up to $1 million each in AWS credits. AWS selects the startups; no partner files it. The 2025 program also gave mentorship and a support network over eight weeks.
- No 2026 cohort page was live when we checked on 2026-10-10. The program link now points to the 2025 cohort post.
- AWS Credits for AI Startups is $200,000 or more, by invitation. Invite only. Talk with your AWS account manager. There is no open application.
- For a specific AI test or launch, a vetted AWS partner can file POC or IW funding: $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.
IWhat is the AWS Generative AI Accelerator?
It is a cohort program AWS runs for generative AI startups. AWS picks the startups. Nobody can apply or file on your behalf.
In 2025, AWS picked 40 startups for the cohort. AWS says participants receive up to $1 million in AWS credits, personal mentorship and access to a curated support network. The 2025 program ran for eight weeks and kicked off in person in Seattle on October 14. Source: AWS, the 2025 Generative AI Accelerator cohort.
"Up to" matters. AWS has not published how credits are spread across a cohort, so do not plan around the top figure. Pages that quote an average award, an acceptance rate or a tranche schedule are not quoting AWS.
The credits are AWS promotional credits. They follow the AWS Promotional Credit Terms. For example, promotional credits do not pay Savings Plans or Reserved Instance upfront fees.
IIIs there a 2026 Generative AI Accelerator cohort?
When we checked on 2026-10-10, AWS had no 2026 cohort page live. The program URL redirected to the 2025 cohort post.
AWS may open a new cohort at any time. If you want to be ready, watch the AWS Startups site, and ask your AWS account manager if you have one.
While you wait, the other programs on this page are open now or can be filed for specific work.
IIIWho files each kind of AWS funding?
The accelerator is not in this table because AWS selects its startups and nobody files for it. Everything else splits in two: the founder applies for Activate, and a vetted AWS partner files MAP, POC or IW funding for specific work.
| 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. |
IVWhat other AWS funding is there for AI startups?
- AWS Credits for AI Startups: $200,000 or more, by invitation. Invite only. Talk with your AWS account manager. There is no open application.
- Activate Portfolio: up to $200,000. Apply yourself with the Org ID (or an invite) from your AWS Activate Provider. Apply within 12 months of your latest funding date. A consulting partner cannot file it.
- Activate Founders: $1,000 to start, up to $5,000. Apply yourself at aws.amazon.com/startups/credits. No investor, accelerator or partner needed.
- Partner-filed 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.
- Partner-filed 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.
Activate credits can pay for third-party models on Amazon Bedrock, such as Anthropic's Claude. AWS announced this in April 2024: AWS Startups blog.
VWhere does partner-filed funding fit for an AI startup?
It is tied to a specific piece of work, not to a cohort or an invitation. For startups it is $50K to $150K. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.
POC funding fits a test: a model evaluation, a retrieval (RAG) prototype or an agent on Amazon Bedrock, whether or not you run on AWS today. IW funding fits new work for a team already on AWS: a new AI feature, a new customer or a new contract.
Partner funding programs reach about $1M, but that tier is for enterprises such as banks, hospitals and municipalities, not startups. So the $1M you see in accelerator news and the partner range for startups are different things.
Partner funding is described on AWS's partner funding page. AWS reviews each request and decides.
VIHow to prepare on your own
- Apply for Activate now: Founders if no investor backs you. Portfolio with your investor's Org ID if it is an Activate Provider. Apply at aws.amazon.com/startups/credits. AWS says Activate applicants hear back within 5 to 10 business days.
- Talk to your AWS account manager: Ask about AWS Credits for AI Startups and about the next accelerator cohort. The AI tier has no open form.
- Write down the AI workload: Which models, which data, which AWS services, and what usage you expect. AWS programs and partners both ask for this, and it is what a partner needs to scope POC or IW funding.
- Watch the AWS Startups site: New cohorts and program changes are announced there.
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 POC funding
Your matched partner scopes the test with you. Then it checks whether the test qualifies for POC (proof of concept) funding. A POC can fit whether or not you run on AWS today.
- 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
Does every Generative AI Accelerator startup get $1M?
Can a partner or CloudRoute apply to the accelerator for me?
Is there a 2026 cohort?
What is AWS Credits for AI Startups?
Can Activate credits pay for Claude on Amazon Bedrock?
Can a startup get $1M through an AWS partner?
What does CloudRoute cost?
Not in a cohort? Ask a partner what AWS will fund now.
A vetted AWS partner checks whether your AI test or launch qualifies for 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.