Building AI on AWS?A partner can file the funding for it.
Claude and other models on Amazon Bedrock, search over your own data, quality checks. We match you with a vetted AWS partner who has built this before. To test an idea, the partner can file POC funding. Already on AWS and adding an AI feature? That can be IW funding. For a startup it can be $50K to $150K. It depends on the workload, and AWS approves.
The demo works. Production is the hard part.
Three patterns we hear from AI teams. The demo was easy. Production needs more, and AWS funding can help when the work qualifies.
One model provider, no fallback.
You pay per token on one API. Pricing changes hit without notice, and there is no second model ready.
Your data is not ready for AI.
Production AI needs clean pipelines, search over your documents and checks on answer quality.
You want to switch models freely.
Claude for reasoning, a smaller model for simple tasks. On Bedrock they sit behind one AWS API and one bill.
POC funding for a test. IW funding for new work on AWS.
Both are filed by an AWS partner, not by you. POC funding covers a proof of concept, whether or not you are on AWS yet. IW (incremental workload) funding is for teams already on AWS that are launching new work, like an AI feature. AWS approves both.
Your partner scopes the work first: the model, the data and the expected usage. Then they file POC or IW funding, and AWS approves or declines it. You do not fill in AWS forms.
Why teams run Claude on Amazon Bedrock.
You keep the same Claude models and get AWS billing, AWS access control and other models behind one API.
- 01The same Claude models, through AWS access control and AWS billing
- 02Fallback to Llama, Mistral or Amazon Nova behind the same API
- 03Prompt caching to cut the cost of repeated long prompts
- 04AWS regions you choose, including EU regions
Ready when you are.
Tell us what you're building. We find the funding route that fits and a vetted AWS partner who can file it. No technical knowledge needed.
Apply in 90 seconds.Free for startups.
- 90-second formtell us what you're building. No technical questions, no AWS knowledge needed.
- 24-hour replya person reads it and replies within 24 hours. Your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days.
- Free for startupspartners pay CloudRoute a membership plus 10% of AWS-approved funding. You never get an invoice from us.
What happens after you fill in the form.
One example, step by step. It shows the process, not a result.
How a match works (example)
Example: a startup wants to move off another cloud, test an AI feature, or launch new work on AWS. These are the steps every match follows.
- The founder fills in the form.
Cloud, stage, monthly spend and what they are building. It takes about 90 seconds. No AWS knowledge needed.
- We reply within 24 hours.
A person at CloudRoute reads the inquiry and checks which route fits: MAP for a move to AWS, POC for a test, IW for new work on AWS. VC-backed founders also hear how to apply for Activate themselves.
- We pick one vetted partner and say who.
We choose an AWS partner by region, stack and funding route, and tell the founder why.
- The partner reaches out within 5 business days.
They run a discovery call and write a short scope: the work, the funding route they would file, and what AWS will ask to see.
- The partner files. AWS decides.
If the workload qualifies, the partner files MAP, POC or IW funding. AWS reviews it and approves or declines. Nothing is promised before AWS approves.
- The founder decides.
Hire the partner or not. There is no obligation. Startups pay CloudRoute nothing. Partners pay CloudRoute a monthly membership of $5K, $7.5K or $10K plus 10% of AWS-approved funding.
When you don't need us.
We would rather tell you now than waste your time. Skip CloudRoute if one of these is true.
You are still trying things out on your own.
If you just want to try Claude, use the Anthropic API or Amazon Bedrock directly. Come back when you have a test worth funding.
You only want Activate credits.
Apply yourself at aws.amazon.com/startups/credits. Founders get $1K, up to $5K. If a VC firm, accelerator or angel investor backs you, ask them for their Activate Org ID: Portfolio goes up to $200K. No partner is needed, and none can file it for you.
You already work with an AWS partner.
Ask them about MAP, POC or IW funding directly. They can file it, and you do not need a second introduction.
90 seconds. Three steps. A reply within 24 hours.
We use this to pick the right partner and the funding route that fits, before the discovery call. We reply within 24 hours; your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days.
Things founders ask.
Is CloudRoute a middleman? Why is it free?
Yes. CloudRoute is a referral service between startups and AWS partners. It is free for startups because partners pay us: a monthly membership of $5K, $7.5K or $10K, plus 10% of AWS-approved funding. We are not part of AWS and do not issue credits.
Bedrock or the model provider's own API?
A direct API is quickest to start. Bedrock gives you one AWS bill, AWS access control and several models behind one API. Many production teams use Bedrock; some use both.
How does POC or IW funding work for AI?
Your partner scopes the work: the model, the data and the expected usage. They file POC funding for a test, or IW funding for new work on an existing AWS account. AWS reviews it and approves or declines.
Do you only work with VC-backed AI startups?
No. The funding a partner files depends on the workload, not on who invested. A startup without VC backing can get more from the partner route than from Activate Founders.
What if I want SageMaker, not Bedrock?
Tell us in the form. Some partners focus on training and hosting your own models on SageMaker, and we match on that.
What about EU data?
Bedrock runs in EU regions. Tell us in the form if you need EU-only processing, and we match a partner with that experience.
Who files the funding, and who applies for Activate?
Your matched partner files MAP, POC or IW funding when the workload qualifies, and AWS approves or declines it. You apply for Activate yourself. AWS Activate Founders: apply at aws.amazon.com/startups/credits, no investor or partner needed. AWS Activate Portfolio: apply with the Org ID or invite from your Activate Provider (a VC firm, accelerator or angel investor), within 12 months of your latest funding. AWS Credits for AI Startups: invite only, through your AWS account manager. No partner, and not CloudRoute, can file Activate for you.