How long do AWS credits take? What AWS publishes, and what nobody can promise.
For AWS Activate, AWS says you hear back within 5 to 10 business days (its FAQ says about 7 to 10). Approved credits show up in your Billing console within about 3 to 4 hours. Partner-filed MAP, POC or IW funding has no published timeline: it depends on scoping the work and on AWS's review.
- AWS says Activate applicants hear back within 5 to 10 business days. The Activate FAQ says about 7 to 10 business days. AWS emails the decision.
- Approved credits appear in the AWS Billing console within about 3 to 4 hours and apply to eligible usage from then on.
- Partner-filed funding has no AWS-published timeline. We reply within 24 hours; your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days. After that, it depends on scoping the work and on AWS's review.
IThe Activate timeline, step by step
These are the steps and timings AWS publishes for Founders and Portfolio.
- Before you apply: Activate Portfolio applicants must apply within 12 months of their latest funding date. Founders has no funding window.
- Applying: Sign in at aws.amazon.com/startups/credits with an AWS Builder ID, fill in the Activate profile, choose the tier and link an AWS account on a paid plan. You cannot edit an application after you submit it. To fix a mistake, you cancel it, unlink the account and apply again.
- Review: AWS says Activate applicants hear back within 5 to 10 business days. The Activate FAQ says about 7 to 10 business days. AWS emails the decision either way.
- Credits in your account: Approved credits appear in the AWS Billing console within about 3 to 4 hours. They apply to eligible usage from the billing cycle they land in, not to past bills.
- Expiry: AWS says Activate credits usually expire within 1 to 2 years, depending on the package. The exact expiry date shows in your Billing console, and AWS sends reminders before it.
Sources: AWS credits page and AWS's Activate guide, checked 2026-10-10. AWS does not offer a faster paid or partner track for Activate.
IIThe partner-filed timeline
MAP, POC and IW funding follow the work, so there is no fixed clock. Here is the order of events.
- You send the form: You tell CloudRoute what you run today and what you want to move, test or build.
- We reply and match: We reply within 24 hours; your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days.
- The partner scopes the work: Your matched partner works out what the migration, test or new workload involves. This takes as long as the work needs.
- The partner files, AWS decides: If the work qualifies, the partner files the funding request. AWS reviews and decides. For startups the range is $50K to $150K. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.
Pages that quote a fixed day count for partner-filed funding, or for Activate filed by a partner, are not quoting AWS. A consulting partner cannot file Activate at all.
IIIWho 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. |
IVPrograms with no application timeline
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.
The Generative AI Accelerator runs in cohorts that AWS selects. 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.
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
How long does AWS Activate take to approve?
How soon can I use the credits after approval?
Can a partner speed up my Activate application?
Will I hear back if AWS rejects my application?
How long does partner-filed funding take?
What does CloudRoute cost?
The partner route starts with scoping. Start it now.
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.