AWS Activate Founders vs Portfolio: which tier is yours, and who applies.
Founders is for self-funded startups: $1,000 to start, up to $5,000. Portfolio is for startups backed by an AWS Activate Provider: up to $200,000, with the provider's Org ID or invite. You apply for both yourself. A third tier, AWS Credits for AI Startups, is invite-only.
- Pick by who backs you, not by how much you want. No Activate Provider behind you: Founders. A VC firm, accelerator, incubator or angel group that is a provider: Portfolio.
- Founders: $1,000 to start, up to $5,000. Portfolio: up to $200,000, set by the provider's offer. Raised from $100,000 to up to $200,000 in June 2026.
- You apply for both yourself. A consulting partner cannot. What a partner can file is MAP, POC or IW funding for specific work: $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.
IWhich Activate tier is yours
AWS decides the tier by who backs you. All three tiers share the same base rules.
Shared 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.
Founders. Self-funded startups with no investor or accelerator behind them. Apply yourself at aws.amazon.com/startups/credits. No investor, accelerator or partner needed. Founders is not for startups in a program run by an Activate Provider.
Portfolio. Startups backed by a VC firm, accelerator or angel investor that is an AWS Activate Provider. 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.
AWS Credits for AI Startups. AI startups ready to scale after Activate Portfolio, invited by AWS. Invite only. Talk with your AWS account manager. There is no open application.
AWS's current credits page lists only these three tiers. Pages that describe a separate Builders tier, or say a partner can file Founders or Portfolio for you, are out of date or wrong.
IIHow to apply for either tier
- Create your sign-in: Go to aws.amazon.com/startups/credits and click Apply. Sign in with an AWS Builder ID.
- Fill in the Activate profile: Use a business email that matches your startup's domain. State your funding stage and the date of your latest round accurately.
- Choose the tier: Founders if self-funded. Portfolio if you have a provider's Org ID or invite; enter it exactly as given.
- Link an AWS account: Link an AWS account on a paid plan. Free account plans are not eligible.
- Wait for the decision: AWS says Activate applicants hear back within 5 to 10 business days.
IIIWhere partner-filed funding fits
AWS money for startups comes in two kinds. Activate is one. The other is funding a vetted AWS partner files for specific work. For startups it is $50K to $150K. Depends on the workload; AWS approves. For most startups without a VC, it is the larger route.
- 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.
Founders, Portfolio and the AI tier side by side
From AWS's credits page and Activate FAQ, checked 2026-10-10.
| Founders | Portfolio | AWS Credits for AI Startups | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | $1,000 to start, up to $5,000 | up to $200,000 | $200,000 or more, by invitation |
| Who it is for | Self-funded startups with no investor or accelerator behind them. | Startups backed by a VC firm, accelerator or angel investor that is an AWS Activate Provider. | AI startups ready to scale after Activate Portfolio, invited by AWS. |
| Who applies | The founder | The founder | The founder, by invitation |
| What you need | An AWS account on a paid plan | Your provider's Org ID or invite | An invitation via your AWS account manager |
| Funding window | None | Activate Portfolio applicants must apply within 12 months of their latest funding date. | By invitation |
| Can a consulting partner file it? | No | No | No |
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
What is the difference between Activate Founders and Portfolio?
My accelerator is an Activate Provider. Which tier do I use?
Can I move from Founders to Portfolio later?
Is there still a Builders tier?
What does CloudRoute cost?
Activate is yours to apply for. Ask a partner about the rest.
A vetted AWS partner checks whether your work 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.