AWS Co-Investment for Startups
Reduce infrastructure and development costs through AWS partner funding programs that offset both professional services and cloud bills. From validation to migration, AWS provides credits and partner funding based on your startup stage and technical roadmap.
Three AWS Investment Pathways
AWS co-invests in startup growth through structured funding programs aligned with your technical milestones. Each stage of your cloud journey has dedicated programs to offset infrastructure and development costs while accelerating time-to-market.
ASSESS
Validate technical feasibility before building or migrating
Validation & Planning Funding
De-risk technical decisions before major investment
AWS provides funding for technical assessments that validate feasibility and create implementation roadmaps. Assessment funding helps startups explore AI opportunities, evaluate migration complexity, and validate technical approaches through proof-of-concepts.
What's Covered
Funding Structure
AWS covers assessment costs through partner funding programs, removing financial barriers to technical validation. Assessment investment can flow into subsequent Build or Migrate projects for qualified opportunities.
Ideal For
BUILD
Launch AI-powered products and analytics platforms
MVP & Product Development Funding
Launch faster with AWS infrastructure and development support
AWS provides significant co-investment for startups building new products with strategic services including AI/ML, analytics, containers, and modern databases. Funding covers both AWS infrastructure costs and partner development services.
What's Covered
Funding Structure
Combined partner cash and AWS promotional credits based on projected infrastructure usage and technical scope. Funding targets startups adopting strategic AWS services that drive innovation and scalability.
Eligibility Requirements
Excluded
MIGRATE
Move existing workloads to AWS and modernize architecture
Cloud Migration Funding
Move to AWS with financial support for infrastructure and services
AWS provides the highest co-investment levels for startups migrating workloads from competitive clouds or on-premises infrastructure. Funding covers migration services, infrastructure costs, and modernization efforts during transition.
What's Covered
Funding Structure
Substantial partner cash and AWS promotional credits to offset double-bubble costs during migration. Enhanced funding available for migrations from specific platforms. Assessment and migration funding structures vary based on workload type.
Eligibility Requirements
Important Notes
Migration funding structure differs from Build programs. Startups that completed migration assessments may have different funding flows depending on workload characteristics. We help navigate these nuances during consultation.
Click any pathway to see detailed information and funding structure
AWS Activate Credits
Standalone infrastructure credits for any startup stage
Beyond stage-specific programs, AWS offers infrastructure credits through the Activate program for startups at any phase from pre-seed through Series A+.
Founders
Up to $1,000 in AWS credits
Requirements:
Self-funded or pre-seed stage, less than $1M raised, building on AWS
Benefits:
- AWS credits
- Technical support
- Training resources
Validity:
2 years
Portfolio
Up to $10,000 in AWS credits
Requirements:
Backed by qualifying investor, part of accelerator program, Series A or earlier
Benefits:
- AWS credits
- Business support
- Architecture reviews
- Training credits
Validity:
2 years
Portfolio Plus
Up to $100,000 in AWS credits
Requirements:
Series A+ funding, strong AWS usage commitment, partner recommendation
Benefits:
- AWS credits
- Business support
- Technical account manager
- Architecture consulting
Validity:
2 years
How We Help with Activate Credits
We handle the entire application process and maximize your approval likelihood
Why AWS Co-Investment Matters
Strategic advantages that accelerate startup growth and extend runway
Reduced Cash Burn
Significant offset of infrastructure and development costs during critical growth phases. Funding extends runway and allows longer product development cycles without additional capital raises.
Strategic Service Adoption
Funding incentivizes use of cutting-edge AWS capabilities including AI/ML, advanced analytics, and modern architectures. Build competitive advantage through better technology without budget constraints.
Zero Equity Dilution
Unlike investor funding, AWS programs provide financial support without taking ownership stake. Maintain full control of your company while accessing significant development and infrastructure resources.
Technical Credibility
AWS partnership and funding demonstrate technical validation to investors, customers, and enterprise partners. Reduces perceived technical risk during fundraising and accelerates enterprise sales cycles.
Regional Advantage
Access AWS Middle East infrastructure and regional support resources. Deploy with data residency compliance and low latency to Saudi users while meeting local regulatory requirements.
Real Funding Scenarios
See how startups at different stages access AWS support
Scenario 1: AI Startup - Seed Stage
Saudi healthtech startup building AI diagnostic tool, exploring SageMaker and Bedrock capabilities
Pathway: Assess → Build
Support Received:
- Assessment funding for AI feasibility validation
- Significant Build program funding for MVP development
- AWS Activate Portfolio credits for infrastructure
Outcome:
Validated AI approach, launched MVP with production-ready architecture, extended runway significantly through AWS co-investment
Scenario 2: SaaS Startup - Series A
Fintech company with existing product on Google Cloud, planning AWS migration for better regional presence and cost optimization
Pathway: Assess → Migrate
Support Received:
- Migration assessment to evaluate complexity and plan phased approach
- Substantial Migrate program funding for transition and modernization
- Post-migration architecture optimization support
Outcome:
Zero-downtime migration completed, infrastructure cost reduction achieved, improved Middle East latency for Saudi customers
Scenario 3: Pre-Seed Startup - Bootstrapped
Solo founder validating e-commerce marketplace idea, uncertain about technical feasibility and architecture approach
Pathway: Assess only (potential Build later)
Support Received:
- Technical validation assessment with architecture roadmap
- AWS Activate Founders credits for initial experimentation
- Clear build plan with cost projections
Outcome:
Validated technical approach with concrete implementation plan, secured seed funding based on technical roadmap, ready for Build program when funded
Ready to explore funding for your startup?
Schedule a consultation to review your eligibility and identify the right funding pathway for your stage. We'll assess your technical roadmap and recommend the optimal program structure.