Program guidelines
AWS Activate Eligibility Requirements & Program Guidelines
A clear, current breakdown of what AWS Activate looks for — and how to know if you qualify before you apply.
Eligibility checklist
- Company incorporation age — the program favours younger startups.
- Funding status — self-funded qualifies for lower tiers; funding unlocks higher tiers.
- Accelerator / VC affiliation — affiliation with an approved partner unlocks the largest credit amounts.
- Domain & website — a live, professional website on your own domain is expected.
- Business email — a business-domain email, not a generic free provider.
Tier vs. typical eligibility profile
| Tier | Company stage | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | Pre-seed / MVP | None required |
| $10,000 | Live product / early users | Helpful, not required |
| $25,000 | Traction stage | Accelerator / incubator |
| $100,000 | Funded / scale | Approved VC or top-tier program |
Documentation required
- Certificate of incorporation or equivalent registration
- Company website on a live domain
- Business email address
- Product description and technical overview
- Proof of accelerator / investor affiliation (for higher tiers)
Disqualifying red flags
- Generic email domains (gmail, outlook, yahoo)
- "Under construction" or placeholder websites
- Mismatched legal names between filings and the application
- No verifiable product or company presence
Not sure if you qualify? Get a free eligibility check →
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