AWS Activate Portfolio: up to $200,000 through your investor or accelerator
AWS Activate Portfolio is the larger tier of the AWS startup credit program. You cannot apply for it on your own. Access goes through an Activate Provider: a venture fund, accelerator or incubator that works with AWS and vouches for its startups. This page explains how that works and how to avoid the mistakes that cost founders the grant.
In short
- Portfolio gives up to $200,000 in AWS credits. AWS decides the amount for each startup.
- You need an Organization ID from an Activate Provider. AWS does not give it to startups directly.
- Your latest funding round must be within the last 12 months, and you must be pre-Series B.
- A decision takes about 7 to 10 business days.
- Credits expire in one to two years. A grant you cannot spend in time is worth less than its headline number.
What AWS Activate Portfolio gives you
Up to $200,000 in AWS credits. The amount is decided by AWS and is not guaranteed. AWS also says additional credits above $200,000 are available for AI startups ready to scale beyond the Activate tiers.
The credits work on more than 200 AWS services, including third-party AI models on Amazon Bedrock. AWS names Anthropic among the model providers covered, which is why Portfolio matters so much to teams building on Claude.
- Credits apply automatically to new charges on eligible services, before AWS charges your card. You cannot choose which service they go to.
- They do not cover past bills. Usage from before the credits arrived stays on your invoice.
- They usually expire within one to two years, depending on the package.
- A few services are excluded, among them Amazon Mechanical Turk, AWS Managed Services, AWS Professional Services and AWS Training and Certification.
- You can check what is left at any time in the AWS console under Billing, then Credits.
Who qualifies for AWS Activate Portfolio
| Requirement | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Associated with an Activate Provider | A venture fund, accelerator or incubator in the AWS network has you in its portfolio or program and gives you its Organization ID. |
| Pre-Series B | Your most recent round is before Series B, and it closed within the last 12 months. |
| Founded in the last 10 years | Counted from the company’s founding date. |
| A fully functioning website | A real site that says what the product does. |
| No equal or larger package before | You may apply if you are new to Activate, or if you are asking for more than you received. |
How the Organization ID works
The Organization ID is a case-sensitive code that a provider gives to its startups. AWS does not issue it to startups directly, and Creduna cannot issue one either.
- Ask your investor or accelerator directly. Many providers share the code only on request.
- Copy it exactly. A wrong capital letter is enough for the application to fail.
- Use only a code issued to your company. Providers must verify that a startup is really affiliated with them, and AWS can suspend an Organization ID used by unaffiliated companies.
How to apply for AWS Activate Portfolio
- Create an AWS Builder ID
It is a personal sign-in for AWS programs. Confirm your email address.
- Complete your AWS Activate profile
Company name, website, country and your role.
- Choose the tier
Founders if you are self-funded. Portfolio if you hold an Organization ID, which you enter at this step.
- Describe your startup
What the product does, and your funding stage.
- Link and verify your AWS account
The account must be on a paid plan. Credits are applied to this account.
- Review and submit
From your own account. Nobody else can submit it for you.
AWS says a decision takes about 7 to 10 business days, and approved credits appear in the Billing console 3 to 4 hours later.
Using Portfolio credits for Claude
AWS credits reduce your AWS invoice, so they pay for Claude only when your requests go through Amazon Bedrock. Requests sent straight to the Anthropic API are billed by Anthropic and are not covered.
- In code, three things change: the client, the login and the model ID. The request body stays the same.
- Some features are not available on Bedrock, including structured outputs, the Message Batches API and server-side tools such as web search.
- The global endpoint has no price premium. A regional endpoint costs 10% more, so choose it only if you need data residency.
Make a $200,000 grant last
A large grant feels like free inference for years. It is only worth what you can spend before it expires.
- Move real workloads onto the credits early. Credits sitting unused are expiring.
- Measure tokens per workload from the first day, so you know what the credits are buying.
- Fix waste while the credits last. Prompt caching is usually the first place to look. When the credits end, the full bill arrives.
Why Portfolio applications stall
- No Organization ID, or one from a provider you are not affiliated with.
- A funding round that closed more than 12 months ago.
- A funding stage of Series B or later.
- Company details that differ between the profile, the website and the application.
- A previous Activate package of the same or greater value.
Common questions
How much is AWS Activate Portfolio worth?
Up to $200,000 in AWS credits. AWS decides the amount for each startup, and it is not guaranteed.
How do I get an AWS Activate Organization ID?
From your Activate Provider: the venture fund, accelerator or incubator that backs you. AWS does not give it to startups directly. Ask your investor for it.
Can a bootstrapped startup get AWS Activate Portfolio?
Only through a provider. Some accelerators and incubators are providers and do not take equity. Without a provider, apply for Activate Founders.
How long does AWS Activate Portfolio approval take?
AWS says about 7 to 10 business days. Approved credits appear in the Billing console 3 to 4 hours after approval.
Do AWS Activate Portfolio credits cover Claude?
Yes, on Amazon Bedrock. AWS states that Activate credits can be used for third-party models on Bedrock and names Anthropic.
How long do AWS Activate credits last?
AWS says credits usually expire within one to two years, depending on the package.
I already received Founders credits. Can I still apply?
Yes. You can apply when you are asking for more than you received. AWS grants the difference.
Can Creduna give us an Organization ID?
No. Creduna is not an Activate Provider. Creduna checks your eligibility and prepares the application draft.