AWS Activate credits have given more than $7 billion in promotional support to startups worldwide since 2013.

Many startup founders and marketing teams don’t make the most of these resources. AWS Activate credits reduce initial costs and let your team test ideas freely in the AWS Cloud without worrying about expenses. Your core funding can focus on vital activities like market research and customer development.

The AWS Activate program offers multiple options. Early-stage startups without VC backing can get $5,000 in credits through the Founders program. Startups with accelerator or VC connections can receive up to $100,000 through the Portfolio option.

This piece will show you how to use these credits to boost your marketing strategy.

What is AWS Activate Credit?

AWS Activate Credits help startups reduce their cloud infrastructure costs. These credits let new companies use AWS technology, including infrastructure, data services, and leading AI/ML models without investing money upfront.

Types of credit packages: Founders vs Portfolio

AWS Activate program comes with two different credit packages that match different growth stages:

The Activate Founders Package gives $1,000 in AWS credits to early-stage, self-funded startups. New companies can qualify if they haven’t used AWS Activate Credits before, started their business in the last 10 years, and have a working website.

The Activate Portfolio Package offers much more support—up to $100,000 in AWS credits. This package works best for startups backed by AWS Activate Providers like venture capital firms, accelerators, or incubators. Startups need to be pre-Series B with their latest funding received in the past 12 months. They shouldn’t have gotten similar credits before. Like the Founders package, they need an active website and should be less than 10 years old.

Eligibility criteria for marketing teams

Marketing teams can use these credits with many AWS services to power their campaigns and infrastructure. All the same, some limitations apply. The credits work with most AWS services but don’t cover Route 53 domain registrations, AWS Managed Services, or Reserved Instance upfront fees.

On top of that, AWS Activate Credits work with AWS Marketplace purchases, specifically for third-party foundation models on Amazon Bedrock. This lets marketing teams try advanced AI tools to create content and optimize campaigns.

Marketing departments should plan carefully since these credits expire after 1-3 years. Government entities can’t use the program. Most startups with marketing needs can easily meet the simple requirements – they just need to be pre-Series B and have a company website.

How to Apply for AWS Activate Credits?

The AWS Activate Credits application process is straightforward and takes just a few minutes to complete. You need to be detail-oriented and follow these steps carefully.

Create your AWS Builder ID

The journey begins at the AWS Credits page where you’ll find the “Apply Now” button. Your AWS Builder ID becomes your personal gateway to AWS tools and services that stays with you as you move between organizations. Start by creating this ID with your personal email address. You’ll receive a confirmation email to verify before moving forward. Remember that your password needs 8-64 characters with lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Choose the right credit package

Your profile creation opens up two package options based on your startup’s needs:

• Founders Package: For early-stage, self-funded startups ($1,000 in AWS credits)
• Portfolio Package: For startups affiliated with an AWS Activate Provider, offering up to $100,000 in credits

The Portfolio package requires a valid Organization ID (Org ID) from your provider. This confidential code must go through the official application page.

Link and verify your AWS account

Your Builder ID needs a connection to your AWS account. You can create a new account or link an existing one through the AWS Management Console. The verification happens with a simple click on “Verify your account” in the console. A successful link shows the message “Accounts linked successfully“.

Submit your application and track status

The final step needs your careful review of all information, especially funding details and email domains. Most applications take 7-10 business days to process. You can see up-to-the-minute updates on the Credit Application Status page that shows both pending and previous applications from the last 18 months.

Also Read: Top 12 Pros and Cons of Amazon SES 2025

Using AWS Credits for Marketing Activities

Marketing teams can utilize AWS Activate credits to build sophisticated digital campaigns without straining their budget. Let’s get into the specific ways to apply these credits in different marketing initiatives.

Running product launch campaigns

AWS infrastructure creates perfect foundations for product launches. Startups can create flexible campaigns that handle traffic spikes during peak launch periods. AWS Activate credits help you deploy resources like EC2 instances to power campaign websites or CloudFront to deliver content globally with low latency.

Hosting landing pages and microsites

You can deploy custom landing pages directly on AWS infrastructure instead of paying monthly fees to third-party providers. S3 buckets combined with CloudFront distribution create economical, highly available microsites that load quickly worldwide. These work perfectly for campaign-specific pages that need rapid deployment.

Using AWS for email marketing infrastructure

Amazon SES (Simple Email Service) provides reliable, economical infrastructure for your email marketing needs. SES handles both inbound and outbound email traffic while managing large-scale promotional campaigns. The inline templating feature helps marketing teams with high email template requirements and eliminates the need for constant template management.

Making use of analytics tools for campaign tracking

AWS analytics services turn fragmented marketing data into unified insights. Kinesis Data Streams ingests live event data that helps track campaign performance. Amazon Athena lets marketers interactively query campaign data, so they can spot emerging trends and reallocate budgets quickly.

A/B testing environments for ad creatives

AWS takes A/B testing beyond traditional methods. You can assess dozens of ad creatives simultaneously instead of testing just two versions. CloudWatch tracks user engagement in real-time, while Lambda automates actions based on performance metrics. When version A outperforms version B, you can automatically increase its reach.

Maximizing Credit Value and Avoiding Pitfalls

Making the most of your AWS Activate credits requires strategic planning. Let me share ways to maximize every dollar and help you avoid common mistakes that leave startups with unused benefits.

Forecasting AWS usage for marketing

Your credit strategy depends on smart forecasting. Your AWS account team can provide tailored recommendations and optimize cost structures based on your upcoming release cycles or expansions. This strategy becomes particularly valuable as you ramp up marketing campaigns, launch product updates, or onboard new customers.

Tracking credit expiration and usage

AWS Activate credits typically expire within 1-2 years based on your package. You should mark these dates on your calendar to avoid losing unused credits. The AWS Console under Billing > Credits lets you track your balance and usage. Portfolio Program applicants must apply within 12 months of their most recent funding date to maintain eligibility.

Avoiding ineligible services

AWS Activate credits cannot cover these services:

• Alexa Web Information Services
• Amazon Registrar
• AWS Marketplace
• AWS Professional Services
• AWS Training and Certification

The AWS Billing and Cost Management Console provides a complete list of eligible services.

Reapplying or upgrading to higher tiers

In stark comparison to this common belief, AWS Activate offers multiple application opportunities. You can reapply if you meet these conditions:

• You’re requesting more credits than previously received
• You haven’t reached the $100,000 lifetime cap
• You still meet program criteria

To cite an instance, a previous $10,000 credit recipient who now qualifies for $100,000 will receive an additional $90,000 upon approval. CampaignHQ specializes in helping you plan AWS infrastructure for marketing campaigns.

Visit CampaignHQ to maximize your cloud resources effectively.

Conclusion

AWS Activate credits give startups a great chance to build strong marketing infrastructure without spending their limited funds. These credits let you try advanced marketing tactics that you couldn’t afford otherwise. The 2-year old Founders and Portfolio packages help companies get the right level of support based on their growth stage.

Marketing success comes down to having the right tools when you need them. Your team can use AWS credits to launch products, create custom landing pages, and set up email marketing. You can also run up-to-the-minute data analysis and complete A/B testing while keeping your main budget for growing the business.

Running marketing campaigns while managing cloud infrastructure isn’t easy. CampaignHQ offers special help to startups that want to make the most of their AWS marketing resources.

The AWS Activate program propels startup development worldwide and helps new companies compete with bigger players. Your credits could range from $1,000 to $100,000, and they can change your marketing game while saving money for other key business needs. Applying for these credits lets you grow faster without risking financial stability – something rare in today’s competitive startup world.

FAQ

Wondering about your AWS Activate credits? Let’s tackle some common questions about making the most of these great resources to market your business.

How to redeem AWS Activate credits?

Your AWS Activate credits show up automatically in your AWS account after approval. Here’s how you can redeem any extra promotional codes:

1. Head to the Credits page in the Billing and Cost Management console
2. Click “Redeem credit”
3. Type your promotion code exactly as shown
4. Fill out the CAPTCHA security code
5. Hit “Redeem credit”

The credits will appear in your AWS account right after validation and automatically cover your eligible service charges.

How to get AWS for 5000 credits?

You can get $5000 AWS credits through several routes:

• Sign up with Stripe Atlas and you’ll get $5000 in AWS credits right away
• Join NVIDIA Inception program first, then apply for AWS offers
• Work with AWS Activate partners or join accelerator programs

Your chances of approval will improve when you use a LinkedIn-verified business email that matches your website’s domain.

Do AWS Activate credits expire?

AWS Activate credits last between 1-2 years based on your package type. These credits help pay for new AWS usage charges each month but can’t cover bills from previous months. You can check when your credits expire through the AWS Billing Console’s Credits section.

Remember that Portfolio Program candidates should apply within 12 months of their latest funding date to stay eligible.