AWS credits for Series A startups: Portfolio you apply for, plus funding a partner files.

IHow Activate Portfolio works at Series A

Activate is open to pre-Series B startups, so a Series A company still qualifies. Portfolio is the tier for startups backed by an Activate Provider.

• Who applies: You do. You use the Org ID or invite from your Activate Provider: a VC firm, accelerator, incubator or angel investor that works with AWS. A consulting partner cannot file Portfolio for you.
• How much: Up to $200,000. Raised from $100,000 to up to $200,000 in June 2026. The amount depends on your provider, and AWS decides.
• When: Within 12 months of your latest funding date. If your Series A closed recently, you are inside that window.
• If you already got credits at seed: AWS says you must be new to Activate credits or ask for more than you got before. So a larger Portfolio request after a Founders or smaller Portfolio award is possible. AWS decides.

Sources: the AWS credits page, the AWS Activate providers page and the AWS Activate FAQ.

If your lead investor is not an Activate Provider, ask your other investors and any accelerator you went through. If none of them is, you can still apply for Activate Founders yourself.

IIWhat a partner can file for a Series A team

Only an AWS consulting partner can request MAP, POC and incremental workload (IW) funding. It is tied to real work, separate from Activate. $50K to $150K for startups. Depends on the workload; AWS approves.

• MAP (Migration Acceleration Program): You run on Heroku, Google Cloud, Azure or your own servers and plan to move to AWS. Your matched partner scopes the migration and files MAP funding when it qualifies.
• POC (proof of concept) funding: You want to test something before you commit, such as an AI feature on Amazon Bedrock or a new data platform. A POC can fit whether or not you run on AWS today.
• IW (incremental workload) funding: You already run on AWS and are launching new work after the round: a new product line, a new region or a large new customer.

AWS says MAP funds give partners cash or AWS promotional credits to speed up customer migrations, and that partner funds help explore proofs of concept (AWS partner funding page, AWS MAP page).

Series A is often when the work behind these routes starts: a move off a platform host, a first AI feature, or enterprise customers that need their own deployment. Plan the funding question before the work begins, because the partner scopes and files it as part of the engagement.

IIIWho files each kind of AWS funding

You apply for Activate credits yourself. Only an AWS consulting partner can request MAP, POC and incremental workload (IW) funding.

IVHow to get both, step by step

• Check eligibility. The AWS credits page asks for pre-Series B, founded in the last 10 years, and an AWS account on a paid plan.
• Ask your lead investor for its Activate Org ID. If it is not an Activate Provider, ask your other investors or your accelerator.
• Apply for Portfolio yourself on the AWS credits page, within 12 months of the round.
• Wait for AWS. AWS says you hear back within 5 to 10 business days. Its FAQ says approved credits appear in the Billing console in 3 to 4 hours.
• List the work you plan for the next year: migrations, tests and launches. A matched partner checks which of them qualify for MAP, POC or IW funding, scopes the work and files the request. AWS decides.

VPlan how long the credits last

Activate credits usually expire within 1 to 2 years, depending on the package. Apply when you have work to run on them.

AWS Cost Explorer forecasts spend up to 18 months ahead (AWS docs). Use it to see when your credits will run out.

Unless AWS agrees otherwise, promotional credits do not pay upfront fees for Savings Plans or Reserved Instances, AWS Marketplace or AWS Professional Services (AWS promotional credit terms). Budget for those separately.