AWS credits for AI Grant startups: the Org ID, the AI programs, and the partner route.

IHow Activate works for AI Grant companies

Activate Portfolio is not an AI Grant benefit you get automatically. It is an AWS application you submit yourself, with a code from your provider.

AWS Activate Providers are VC firms, accelerators, incubators and angel investors. A provider gives each startup a one-time Org ID or an email invite. You enter it on the AWS credits page and submit the application yourself.

Ask your AI Grant program contact whether your program includes an AWS Activate Org ID. AWS does not publish an amount per accelerator: the offer depends on the provider, up to $200,000. Apply within 12 months of your latest funding date.

If your program has no Org ID, you can still apply for Activate Founders ($1,000 to start, up to $5,000) with no code.

IIAWS programs built for AI startups

Two AWS programs target AI startups. Neither is filed by a partner.

• AWS Credits for AI Startups: Invite only, $200,000 or more, for AI startups ready to scale after Activate Portfolio. There is no open form. Talk with your AWS account manager.
• AWS Generative AI Accelerator: An 8-week AWS program. AWS gave its 2025 cohort of 40 startups up to $1 million each in AWS credits. AWS selects the startups. No 2026 cohort page was live when we checked on 10 October 2026. Source: AWS announcement.
• Activate credits on Amazon Bedrock: Activate credits can pay for third-party models on Amazon Bedrock, such as Anthropic, Meta and Mistral models, per the directory's AWS entry.

IIIWho 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.

IVWhat a vetted AWS partner can file for you

For most startups with no VC behind them, partner-filed funding is the larger route: $50K to $150K for startups, against $1,000 to start, up to $5,000 from Activate Founders. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.

• MAP (Migration Acceleration Program): You run your app or model serving on another cloud and want to move to AWS. Your matched partner files MAP funding when the migration qualifies.
• POC (proof of concept) funding: You want to test a model, an agent or a retrieval feature on Amazon Bedrock before you commit. Your matched partner files POC funding when the test qualifies.
• IW (incremental workload) funding: You are already on AWS and are launching new AI work: a new feature, a new customer or a new contract. Your matched partner files IW funding when it qualifies.

AWS reviews every request and decides. CloudRoute is free for startups. Partners pay CloudRoute a monthly membership plus 10% of AWS-approved funding. Sources: the AWS MAP page and the AWS partner funding page.

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.