aws ace program · apn customer engagements

The AWS ACE program: how partners share deals with AWS.

ACE (APN Customer Engagements) is the AWS program partners use to co-sell with AWS and manage a pipeline of joint opportunities. Founders do not apply to it. Partners use it when they request MAP or POC funding for real customer work.

Get matched free with a vetted AWS partner who can file it → what ACE is not

what ACE is

a partner co-sell program

who uses it

AWS Partners

founders apply to it

cost to you

TL;DR

ACE stands for APN Customer Engagements. AWS Partners use it to co-sell with AWS and to manage a pipeline of joint opportunities.
Founders never apply to ACE. You apply for AWS Activate yourself, with no partner involved.
A partner shares your opportunity with AWS and requests MAP, POC or incremental workload funding for the work: $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.

the program

IWhat ACE is

ACE is a partner program. It sits between an AWS consulting partner and AWS sales.

ACE stands for APN Customer Engagements, and APN is the AWS Partner Network. AWS describes ACE as the program that lets partners co-sell with AWS and manage a pipeline of joint opportunities. Source: the AWS ACE program page.

A partner shares sales opportunities with AWS through the ACE Pipeline Manager. AWS also says ACE gives partners access to financial incentives and funds, such as Marketing Development Funds.

ACE is a partner tool. Founders do not apply to it and do not log in to it.

common mix-ups

IIWhat ACE is not

ACE has nothing to do with the credits a founder applies for.

Not the way to get Activate credits: You apply for AWS Activate yourself. Founders is self-serve. Portfolio needs the Org ID or invite from your Activate Provider. A consulting partner cannot file Activate.
Not a credit program with its own amount: There is no ACE application for founders and no ACE credit amount for startups.
Not something you pay for: Working with a partner through CloudRoute costs a startup nothing. Partners pay CloudRoute a monthly membership plus 10% of AWS-approved funding.

where ace fits

IIIHow a partner requests MAP or POC funding

Partner funding is tied to real customer work. ACE is where the partner and AWS track that work together.

Scope: your matched partner scopes the work with you: a migration (MAP), a test (POC) or new work on AWS (incremental workload, IW).
Share the opportunity: the partner shares the opportunity with AWS. This is what ACE is for.
Request funding: the partner prepares the funding request with AWS. The AWS partner funding page says MAP funds give partners cash or AWS promotional credits to speed up customer migrations.
AWS decides: AWS reviews the request and decides. The amount depends on the workload.

For startups, partner-filed MAP, POC and IW funding is $50K to $150K. Depends on the workload; AWS approves. The full POC process is on AWS POC funding explained.

who files what

IVWho files each kind of AWS funding

A startup can get two kinds of AWS money. You apply for Activate credits yourself. Only an AWS consulting partner can request MAP, POC and incremental workload (IW) funding.

Who files it

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.

Facts checked on October 10, 2026. AWS decides every application.

do it yourself

VHow to apply for AWS Activate yourself

You do not need anyone to file Activate for you, and a consulting partner cannot.

Check the rules on the AWS credits page: pre-Series B, founded in the last 10 years, and an AWS account on a paid plan.
No investor behind you: apply for Activate Founders ($1,000 to start, up to $5,000). It is self-serve.
Backed by a VC, accelerator, incubator or angel group: ask it for its Activate Provider Org ID or an invite. Then apply for Activate Portfolio (up to $200,000). Apply within 12 months of your latest funding date.
AI startup ready to scale: AWS Credits for AI Startups ($200,000 or more, by invitation) is arranged through your AWS account manager.
AWS says you hear back within 5 to 10 business days. Credits usually expire within 1 to 2 years, so apply when you have work to run.

next step

See if MAP, POC or IW funding fits your work

Get matched free →

how a match works

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.

faq

Common questions

What does ACE stand for?

APN Customer Engagements. APN is the AWS Partner Network.

Can a founder apply to the ACE program?

No. ACE is for AWS Partners. As a founder, you apply for AWS Activate yourself. A matched partner can request MAP, POC or incremental workload funding for your work.

Does ACE decide my credits?

No. AWS reviews applications and funding requests and decides. ACE is the pipeline partners use to share opportunities with AWS.

Does ACE cost me anything?

No. ACE is between the partner and AWS. CloudRoute is free for startups too.

How much can a partner file for my startup?

$50K to $150K for startups, from MAP, POC or incremental workload funding. Depends on the workload; AWS approves. Bigger partner programs exist, but that tier is for enterprises, not startups.

Why is CloudRoute free for startups?

Partners pay CloudRoute a monthly membership plus 10% of AWS-approved funding. Startups pay nothing. CloudRoute is not part of AWS and does not issue credits.

Find out which funding a partner can file for your work.

Tell us what you run and what you plan to move, test or build. We reply within 24 hours; your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days.

Get matched free with a vetted AWS partner who can file it → AWS Activate in the credits directory

partner-filed funding, if AWS approves$50K to $150K

cost to you$0