AWS Activate benefits you might not know about

Drawing from nearly two decades of experience with over 330,000 startups, AWS Activate provides what founders need at every stage of growth.

When startups join AWS Activate, they unlock a world of dedicated benefits. Qualifying startups can apply for up to $100,000 in AWS Activate Credits to offset costs of more than 200 eligible AWS services, including third-party models on Amazon Bedrock.

Beyond credits, AWS Activate offers networking opportunities, expert support, specialized programs, and exclusive discounts. By creating an AWS Builder ID, founders gain access to additional AWS tools that help them build and scale efficiently.

Read on to discover the full spectrum of AWS Activate benefits that can help optimize your startup's costs and accelerate your path to success.

Connect through Startup Showcase

Networking is intrinsic to getting a startup off the ground, and Activate is here to help you make the connections you need to grow and succeed. We created Startup Showcase as a directory for you to share your products, amplify your reach, connect with peers, and catch the attention of investors.

“It's solving two different needs,” says Rashmit Ritam Das, Senior Manager of Product Management within the AWS Activate team. “One is investor connections, two is awareness.”

Members can create their Showcase page with details like product images, industry, AWS technologies used, and company website. Rashmit added, “We wanted to make it easy for potential investors or customers to get in touch with these startups by adding a key contact—a primary contact—to encourage inbound requests.”

Access expert support and tools

Qualifying startups have access to their own AWS team composed of former investors, founders, and startup experts. Your dedicated account manager (AM) helps troubleshoot business and technical issues as they arise, and larger startups may be supported by multiple AMs. They can bring in business development resources and solutions architects (SAs) as needed. Business Development managers advise on pitch decks and go-to-market strategy, while Solutions Architects help optimize your AWS architecture and tech stack.

AWS Activate participants can access additional support through AWS Support Plans and Amazon Q Developer. AWS Support Plans give startups access to technical expertise at every stage, with AWS Activate Credits applicable to Developer or Business Support tiers. These plans provide direct access to AWS specialists for critical issues, security guidance, and cost optimization through tools like AWS Trusted Advisor.

For development assistance, Amazon Q Developer—with both free tier and AWS Activate Credits eligibility—helps speed up your build by automating coding tasks, debugging, security checks, and data engineering workflows, all while maintaining cost effectiveness.

Build with Pre-Built Templates

It’s not always necessary—or smart—to start from scratch. Our expert solution architects know this well; they created an array of complementary AWS implementation guides and templates for nontechnical founders and technical builders looking to get their ideas off the ground. These templates are available to you for free the moment you join Activate. 

“Previously, it would have taken you one week or two weeks to research everything and figure out what to build,” says Rashmit. “But now you can just use one given template on the site and deploy a mobile app within a few hours.”

These cloud templates and integration guides can be invaluable when building your MVP and using the AWS tech stack.

Join collaborative startup programs

As an AWS Activate member, you can explore various programs designed to support founders at any stage. Whether you prefer multi-week immersive tracks or focused short-term sessions, AWS Startups provides flexible pathways to help you refine your business strategy, enhance your technical skills, and reach your next milestone.

AWS Lofts offer physical spaces in startup hubs where developers and builders can learn, collaborate, and innovate. These locations provide hands-on experience with AWS services while facilitating connections with experts, investors, and industry leaders. By learning alongside other entrepreneurs, you gain fresh perspectives on market fit, sales enablement, and scaling on AWS.

Wherever your startup is located—and whatever its growth stage—there’s a program to match your goals. Explore AWS Startups Programs to find the right fit for you.

Participate in startup events

AWS Startups hosts events worldwide—in-person, virtual, or hybrid—to accelerate your growth and sharpen your competitive edge. Sessions range from generative AI integration to business strategy, helping you develop everything from product-market fit to go-to-market plans.

Whether you're a new founder craving foundational knowledge or an established startup ready to explore new frontiers, these events serve as a convergence point for practical instruction, meaningful mentorship, and peer-to-peer networking.

“I’m really proud of all the ways AWS creates opportunities for startups to network and learn from experts and from each other,” says Rashmit. “One of the best parts about being an AWS Activate member with a profile on startups.aws is that we’ve made it so easy for members to find and register for events. No lengthy forms, no juggling calendars. All it takes is one click.”

Learn with dedicated resources

AWS Activate provides comprehensive learning materials to help you ideate, build, grow, and scale your startup. Through Learn, you'll find technical guides and training paths tailored for startups at every stage.

Learn best practices for building your MVP, optimizing cloud costs, and architecting for scale. Explore real-world examples through customer success stories that showcase how other startups have grown with AWS.

Exclusive AWS-made content is added regularly, offering the latest startup strategies, use cases, and success stories, helping you to build efficiently and avoid common pitfalls. Whether you're just starting out or you’re ready to scale, these self-paced resources provide the knowledge you need to build and expand your startup on AWS.

Save with exclusive offers

AWS Activate Offers are exclusive savings available only to AWS Activate members. You can unlock free trials, discounted subscriptions, and more through our global network of startup-friendly partners. This means real cost savings on everyday tools like Slack, Notion, MongoDB, and other must-have software.

These discounts don’t just minimize monthly expenses; they also streamline your workflow with powerful integrations and proven resources. By taking advantage of Activate Offers, you’ll free up crucial runway and accelerate your path to market—whether you’re an early-stage venture or already scaling across multiple regions.

Grow with AWS Activate

After signing up on AWS Startups, you'll unlock the immediate foundational benefits geared toward figuring out your product, how to build it, and how to find product-market fit. 

As you explore the community and make headway on your MVP, you'll see that Activate provides you with go-to-market and growth opportunities, as well as the opportunity to find partners, VCs, and potential customers. 

“We support bootstrap startups and startups who have some funding from our partner VCs and partner fee funding,” says Rashmit. “As your startup grows, we provide more and more benefits to you.” 

Ready to get started? Create your AWS Activate account today.