Knowledge Base For Startups

Startup Build Solutions

Searchable index of sample architectures and solution guides for startups building on AWS. Each detail file has an Overview, AWS services used, a metadata chip set (deployment method / estimated time / cost calculator), and a primary Get-Started link — typically an AWS Workshop or a GitHub sample repo.

Use the Keywords column to filter by category (GenAI, Container, Analytics, Security, Operation) or AWS service.

Publicly-viewable solutions

Sign-in required

These Build solutions exist on the live site but their detail pages require an AWS Activate sign-in. Tell the customer: "_There's a Build sample that might be useful — please sign in to view it._" Point them at the live URL below.

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AWS Activate Credits

Built for startups from pre-seed to scale

Apply now

How today’s startups build for tomorrow

Move from prototype to production faster. Apply for up to $200,000 in AWS Activate Credits, with additional credits available for AI startups ready to scale.

Find the right tier for you

AWS offers promotional credits based on your startup's funding stage. Apply for the tier that matches your stage. Eligibility for AWS Activate: Pre-series B, founded in the last 10 years, AWS Account on Paid Tier Plan, and either new to Activate Credits or requesting more credits than previously received

\*All AWS Activate Credits are in USD and subject to the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions.

Your investors and accelerators are already here

Thousands of venture capital firms, accelerators, and startup-enabling organizations are part of the AWS network of Activate Providers. Andreessen Horowitz, Brex, Carta, Greylock Partners, Sequoia, and Y Combinator are just a few examples.

How to apply

Here's what you need to know to apply for Activate Credits:

1. Create your AWS Builder ID

Create a Builder ID with your professional email or sign in if you already have one. Once verified, you'll complete your profile.

2. Choose your credit tier

Self-funded? Apply for Activate Founders. Backed by a VC or accelerator? Check if they're an Activate Provider and use their Org ID to apply for the Activate Portfolio.

3. Tell us about your startup

We'll ask a few details about your product, funding stage, and company profile to confirm eligibility.

4. Link your AWS account and submit

Create or link an AWS account to your Builder ID and submit. You'll hear back within 5–10 business days.

Helpful resources:

• Applying for AWS Activate Credits: A step-by-step guide
• Everything you need to know about AWS Activate Credits

Build AI, move your infrastructure, and ship faster with promotional credits

Use credits to cover the tools you need to go from idea to production.

From foundation models to production infrastructure

Whether you're building an AI-native product with Amazon Bedrock or using Kiro to accelerate development, promotional credits help you get from idea to launch. Start building on day one.

Explore AI tools for startups

Move to AWS with AI-powered tools and expert support

AI-powered assessments and end-to-end expert guidance make moving to AWS simple. Get AWS investments, in the form AWS credits or partner investments, to help customers offset one-time migration expenses. Focus on building, not logistics.

Start your assessment

Build faster with Kiro

Turn prompts into working code, structured designs, and implementation tasks with an agentic development environment built on frontier models. Start with Kiro Startup Credits, then grow into Activate Credits.

Apply for Kiro Startup Credits (Available to eligible startups without current Activate Credits)

See what founders are building with AWS Activate Credits

Explore more founder stories

Next steps

• Everything you need to know about Activate Credits
• Exclusive offers to help you build and scale faster

Events

AWS hosts events, both online and in-person, bringing the cloud computing community together to connect, collaborate, and learn from AWS experts.

AWS Startups & Activate FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Welcome to the new AWS Startups website. Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the new website, AWS Activate program, credits and Showcase.

Profile and Membership

How do I sign in?

Navigate to the top of the AWS Startups website to sign in or create an account. Create an AWS Builder ID, then complete the sign up form to become an AWS Activate member.

What is an AWS Builder ID?

AWS Builder ID is a new personal profile for every individual that builds on AWS. It provides access to tools and builder services on AWS, and your Builder ID stays with you as you move between jobs, schools, or other organizations. To learn more, visit Sign in with AWS Builder ID.

How is an AWS Builder ID different than an AWS account?

Your AWS Builder ID is separate from any AWS account or sign in credential. You can use the same email for your AWS Builder ID and for the root user email of an AWS account.

An AWS account is a resource container with contact and payment information. It establishes a security boundary in which to operate billed and metered AWS services, like S3, EC2, or Lambda. Account owners can sign in to an AWS account in the AWS Management Console. To understand different AWS credentials, visit the AWS sign-in user guide.

What is AWS Activate?

AWS Activate is the flagship startup program from AWS, the world’s most broadly adopted cloud. From the earliest stages, Activate provides founders and their teams with cloud credits, technical support, and business mentorship. Free to join, whether a founder is just starting to ideate an MVP or is on track to IPO, AWS Activate is a startup’s first step to prove that their world-changing ideas are possible.

How do I become an AWS Activate member?

Joining Activate is easier than ever. First, you’ll enter basic profile information to create an AWS Builder ID. Once your Builder ID is created, you’ll complete a one-time membership form to help us better understand the needs of you and your startup.

AWS Activate Program

Do I need to be an AWS Activate member to access the AWS Startups website?

A membership is not required for you to browse the AWS Startups website, tools, and resources. If you would like to access exclusive content, apply for credits, or engage with member features, a membership is required.

Why should I become an AWS Activate member?

As an AWS Activate member, you can apply for AWS Activate Credits, apply for accelerator programs offered by AWS, and browse Startup Showcase to explore the many startups that have built and launched a product on AWS as way to find inspiration, connect and collaborate with the AWS startup community. You can also find curated events and explore training resources tailored to your use cases

How do I sign up to join AWS Activate?

Joining Activate is easier than ever. First, you’ll enter basic profile information to create an AWS Builder ID. Once your Builder ID is created, you’ll complete a one-time membership form to help us better understand the needs of you and your startup.

AWS Activate Credit Application

Who can apply for AWS Activate Credits?

AWS Activate Credits applications are open to bootstrapped, self-funded, and funded startups up to and including Series A. Startups must have been founded within last 10 years and have a functioning website or public profile. Unfortunately, Startups building on AWS China Regions are not eligible for AWS Activate. If you are building on AWS China Regions, please apply for the AWS Activate China program here.

How do I apply for AWS Activate Credits?

You can apply for AWS Activate Credits on the AWS Activate credits page. To apply for credits, you must first become an AWS Activate member. There are four total steps to complete your application: 1) create an AWS Builder ID, 2) complete your AWS Activate profile, and 3) link your AWS Activate profile to your AWS Account, and 4) submit your credit application. Review the steps below or use our step-by-step guide for extra support.

Step 1: Click “Apply Now” button on the credits page. You will be redirected to create your AWS Builder ID. All AWS Activate members first start with an AWS Builder ID. AWS Builder ID is a personal profile for every individual that builds on AWS. It provides access to tools and builder services on AWS, plus it stays with you as you move between jobs, schools, or other organizations.

Step 2:Once you verify your AWS Builder ID via email, you’ll be directed to complete your one-time AWS Activate membership profile. This help us better understand the needs of you and your startup, allows you to save your progress through the application steps, and it helps us personalize your experience.

Step 3: Once you save your profile information, continue the steps to complete the credits application. During this step you’ll select the appropriate credit package, reference your Org ID (if applicable for Portfolio), and link your AWS Account ID to your AWS Activate membership. Linking your AWS Account ID helps to validate the account and route the credits appropriately if accepted.

Note: Only one Builder ID can be linked to your AWS Account at once. If other members of your team have already linked to their Builder ID, make sure they unlink their Builder ID from the AWS Account first. If you run into issues, contact the AWS Activate support team.

Step 4: Review your application carefully to make sure everything is accurate. If you need to verify any information with your colleagues, your application progress is saved to your AWS Activate profile. Once you’re ready, click submit. You’ll receive a confirmation email to confirm your submission.

Step 5: After submitting your application, you'll receive email notifications about your credit application status throughout the process. You can also check your application status on the Credit Application Status page. This page provides detailed information on all of your pending and previously reviewed applications from the last 18 months.

Within 7-10 business days, you'll receive a final decision email. If approved, this email will inform you of the value of your credit offer, and the AWS Activate Credits will be automatically applied to your AWS account. No further action is required on your part

For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for Activate Credits, see our AWS Activate Credits Application Guide.

Do I need an AWS account to apply for AWS Activate Credits?

Yes, you need an AWS account linked with your BuilderID to apply for AWS Activate Credits. To link your BuilderID, you’ll need to take the following steps: 1) create an AWS Builder ID using your personal email address. 2) complete your AWS Activate profile, and 3) either create a new AWS account or link your existing AWS account to your AWS Builder ID in AWS Management Console. Validate your account to confirm your account is correct and properly linked to your AWS Builder ID. You can learn more in the Profile and Membership FAQs.

Here are a few tips for linking your BuilderID and AWS account:

• Administrator permissions are

required for linking accounts. Root account users have admin access. Non-root users can gain administrator-level permission by creating your first IAM Admin User and Group.

• Only one Builder ID can be linked

per AWS account, so you may need to override existing links.

• If your account is inactive, contact

AWS Customer Support.

I chose a wrong AWS Account while submitting my Activate Credits application or entered the wrong information in my application e.g. wrong email address. Can I change my application now?

Unfortunately, applications cannot be edited once submitted. Contact us to cancel your application. You must return to the AWS Startups website > profile section to unlink this Account ID from your Builder ID before you submit a new application. After that, you can complete a new application with the correct information here.

How long does it take to process Activate Credit applications?

AWS Activate Credit applications are processed in the order they are received. It usually takes 7-10 business days. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite application processing. For the most up-to-date status of your credit application, visit the Credit Application Status page.

Where can I check my AWS Activate Credit application status?

You can check your application status on the Credit Application Status page. This page provides information on all of your pending and previously reviewed applications from the last 18 months.

How will I be notified about my credit application status?

You'll receive email updates on your credit application status. Each email will include a link to the Credit Application Status page, where you can view detailed information about your application's progress.****

I do not have all the application information right now. Can I come back later to fill and submit my application?

Signing in with your AWS Activate account allows you to start and stop your application as needed. Simply save a draft of your application, and your membership will save your place at the last step you completed.

I received an email from AWS Activate that my Activate Provider has invited me to apply for the Activate Credits. What do I do next?

Activate Providers can invite their portfolio companies to apply for AWS Activate Credits via email. The link is personalized and speeds up the application process by pre-validating your relationship with the provider.****

Important: You must apply using the same email address that received the invitation from your Provider. For example, if the invite was sent to john@appleseed.com, you must submit your application using john@appleseed.com for the pre-validation to work correctly.

What happens if I don't use my email invite?

Email invitations expire after 30 days. If your invitation has expired, contact your provider directly and ask them to resend it. Providers can send a new invitation through Provider Central in just a few clicks.

Should I ask my provider to send me their Org ID or an email invite?

Email invitations are recommended. They streamline the approval process by pre-validating your relationship with the provider and typically result in faster approvals. Applications submitted through email invites are approved within 3-5 days compared to 7-10 days for applications using Org ID. For the fastest path to receiving AWS Activate Credits, request an email invitation from your provider.

What is an Organization ID (Org ID)?

Each AWS Activate Provider (venture capital firm, accelerator, incubator, or other startup-enabling organization) has a unique identifier called an Org ID. An Org ID is confidential and should not be shared - it is not a promotional code. To apply for Activate Portfolio, you must enter the Org ID given to you by your AWS Activate Provider during the application process. If you are associated with an AWS Activate Provider, but you do not have their Org ID, please reach out to your AWS Activate Provider to request it. If you are not associated with an AWS Activate Provider, you may be eligible to apply for AWS Activate Founders.

Can I apply multiple times with the same Org ID?

No, an Org ID can only be used one time. If you would like to apply for additional AWS Activate Credits, you need to get a different Org ID from an Activate Provider.

I’m associated with more than one AWS Activate Provider. Can I apply for AWS Activate Credits more than once?

Yes. You can apply for AWS Activate Portfolio Credits more than once as long as 1) each application is for a greater amount of AWS Activate Credits than your previously approved application and 2) you haven’t received the maximum lifetime value in AWS Activate Credits (not including AWS Support plan credits).

How many times can I benefit from a specific AWS Activate Provider’s offer?

You can only benefit from an AWS Activate Provider's specific offer once. If your Activate Provider has two offers, you may apply for the second offer as long as 1) it’s for a greater amount of AWS Activate Credits than your previously approved application and 2) you haven’t received the maximum lifetime value in AWS Activate Credits (not including AWS Support plan credits).

My startup has received AWS credits previously from AWS Activate Portfolio. Am I eligible to apply again?

You can apply for AWS Activate Credits again as long as 1) your application is for a greater amount of AWS Activate Credits than your previously approved application; 2) you haven’t received the maximum lifetime value in AWS Activate Credits not including AWS Support plan credits; 3) you have a valid Org ID; and 4) you still meet the criteria of the Activate Credits program.

Can I submit more than one application at the same time?

No. You can only submit one application at a time. If you submit two AWS Activate Credit applications at the same time for different credit offers, the application with the smaller credit amount will be automatically rejected.

I am a founder of two startups. One of my startups has already received AWS Activate Credits. Can I apply again for my second startup?

Yes. Please note: each startup must have its own AWS account. If you apply from the same AWS account, even though the second startup is a separate entity, your application will be rejected.

Why did I receive a different amount of AWS Activate Credits than what I applied for?

If your startup has previously received AWS Activate Credits from AWS Activate, and you are applying for additional credits which is a larger amount than what you have received thus far, you will receive the difference between the two AWS Activate Credit awards. For example, if you received $10,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits, and you subsequently applied for $100,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits, you will receive $90,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits. If you are applying for a smaller amount of AWS Activate Credits than what you have already received, or if you have already reached the maximum lifetime value of AWS Activate Credits, your application will be declined.

I have received multiple AWS Activate Credit offers that vary in credit amounts from the same AWS Activate Provider e.g. $5,000 USD, $25,000 USD, and $100,000 USD. If I accept one, will that make me ineligible for the others?

You can apply for AWS Activate Portfolio more than once as long as 1) each application is for a greater amount of AWS Activate Credits than your previous approved application, 2) you haven’t received the maximum lifetime value in AWS Activate Credits, 3) you still meet the program criteria, and 4) have a valid Org ID. For example, if you apply for and receive $10,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits, you can apply for $100,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits as long as you are still affiliated with the Activate Provider at time of application. If approved you will receive $90,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits, bringing you up to $100,000 USD in AWS Activate Credits.

I have received AWS Credits from AWS EdStart or other AWS Credit program. Does this make me ineligible for AWS Activate?

Yes, you are still eligible for AWS Activate Credits. AWS Activate Credits issued by Activate are not impacted by previous AWS Activate Credits you may have received through other programs, including AWS EdStart.

AWS Activate Credits

What are the benefits once I am approved for AWS Activate Credits?

Benefits of AWS Activate Credits include:

• Build on AWS with AWS Activate Credits:if approved, AWS Activate Credits will be added to your AWS Account and will automatically apply towards the cost of AWS Eligible Services. You can check your credit balance in your AWS Billing and Cost Management Console. AWS Activate Credits can also be used for third-party models on Amazon Bedrock.
• Explore other startups and promote your startup at Startup Showcase: AWS Activate members that have received credit offers can promote their startup on Startup Showcase, a directory designed for AWS startup customers. If you’ve built and launched a product on AWS, create a page to promote your offerings to potential customers, investors, and partners.
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• Exclusive offers: as you start building using your AWS Activate Credits, you can get ahead with Activate Exclusive Offers from organizations such as ZenDesk, Stripe, DataDog, Brex, HubSpot, and Chargebee.
• Pre-built infrastructure templates:AWS Activate Credit approval also allows you to explore solutions with Build, a collection of cloud templates and integration guides curated by AWS experts to tackle the most common industry- and product-specific use cases.

What can I use AWS Activate Credits for?

AWS is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud, offering over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. You can use your AWS Activate Credits for AWS “Eligible Services,” from infrastructure technologies, such as compute, storage, and databases, to emerging technologies, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, data lakes, analytics, and Internet of Things. AWS Activate Credits are also redeemable for third-party models on Amazon Bedrock, our fully-managed service that offers a choice of high-performing foundation models (FMs) from leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies, like AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta, Mistral AI, Stability AI, and Amazon via a single API.

For information regarding Eligible and Ineligible Services, please visit the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions and the AWS Activate Terms & Conditions. Any service not listed in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console is not covered by AWS Activate Credits.

What’s not covered by AWS Activate Credits?

AWS Activate Credits cannot be applied to any fees or charges for Amazon Mechanical Turk, AWS Managed Services, Ineligible AWS Support, AWS Marketplace (with the exception of charges incurred through the use of third-party foundation models available on Amazon Bedrock), AWS Professional Services, AWS Training, AWS Certification, Amazon Route 53 domain name registration or transfer, any Services for mining for cryptocurrency, or any upfront fee for any Services such as Savings Plans and Reserved Instances. For information regarding Eligible and Ineligible Services, please visit the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions and the AWS Activate Terms & Conditions. Any other service not listed in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console is not covered by AWS Activate Credits.

How do I use my AWS Activate Credits?

No action is required from you to activate your AWS Activate Credits. AWS Activate Credits offset charges for AWS EligibleServices incurred during or following the billing cycle in which you receive the credits. You can view, track, and monitor your AWS Activate Credits in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console.

Do AWS Activate Credits expire?

Yes, AWS Activate Credits have expiration dates. To view your AWS Activate Credits’ expiration date, please visit the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console.

Why do I need to upgrade to a Paid Tier Plan? How do I do it?

Free account plans are not eligible for Activate promotional credits. Find instructions on how to upgrade your account plan here.

Where can I find details about my AWS Activate Credits including credit usage and their expiration date?

You can find details about your AWS Activate Credits, including the exact credit amount, their expiration date, remaining balance, and the applicable AWS services, on the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console. AWS Activate also informs startups when their credits are going to expire or exhaust via email: 1) credits are expiring (60 days prior expiration, 30 days prior expiration, expired) and 2) Account credits are exhausting (75% credits exhausted, 100% exhausted).

How are my AWS Activate Credits applied against my bill? Can I use them to cover historical AWS bills?

AWS Activate Credits in your AWS account are applied only to offset AWS Eligible Services fees and charges incurred during or following the billing cycle in which you receive the credits. AWS Activate Credits cannot be used to offset or cover historical AWS bills. For example, if your AWS Activate Credits are issued in your AWS account in the month of May, your AWS Activate Credits will not count against your AWS bills from April or previous months.

My AWS account is part of consolidated billing through a reseller. How do I make sure my Activate Credits are applied correctly?

To ensure your Activate Credits are applied correctly through consolidated billing through a reseller:

1. Check that only your company's accounts are linked in consolidated billing on the AWS Console. 2. Ask your reseller to confirm: a) your credits are isolated from other customers, and b) the main billing account prevents credit sharing. 3. Review your AWS bill regularly to verify credit usage.

If you notice any issues with your credits, contact your reseller first, and then reach out to AWS support if needed.

How are my AWS Activate Credits applied to Reserved Instances or Saving Plans?

AWS Activate Credits are applied to Reserved Instances and Saving Plans the same way as other AWS Eligible Services. Upfront fees for Reserved Instances and Savings Plans are not covered by AWS Activate Credits.

My credits are about to expire. Can you extend the expiration date of my AWS Activate Credits?

The AWS Activate team is unable to extend the expiration date of AWS Activate Credits, even if there are remaining credits left unused.

Can my AWS Activate Credits be refunded or re-issued?

AWS Activate Credits cannot be refunded or re-issued into your AWS Account, even if your AWS Activate Credits were incorrectly used or accidentally consumed.

My AWS Activate Credits were used by mistake. Can I get more credits?

Unfortunately, the AWS Activate team is unable to apply more AWS Activate Credits to your account.

Can I transfer or sell my AWS Activate Credits?

No. AWS Activate Credits cannot be transferred into another AWS account. You may not sell, license, rent, or transfer AWS Activate Credits. If you violate this policy, your AWS Activate Credits will be revoked. For more information, please refer to the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions and the AWS Activate Terms & Conditions. If you are looking for information on how to share credits within your AWS accounts, please refer to Applying AWS Credits. For customers in India, please see Consolidated Billing in India.

Can I share my AWS Activate Credits with associated accounts? How are AWS Activate Credits shared among parent and child accounts?

If you have enabled credit sharing in the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console, your AWS Activate Credits may be used by the parent account as well as any associated child accounts. If you wish to turn on/off Credit sharing across your accounts, please follow the instructions here. Please note: The credit will apply to the account effective immediately when the credit sharing is enabled in the same month.

I have a question about how AWS Activate Credits affect taxes on my bill. Who should I contact?

For billing or account inquiries, please click here to sign in to your AWS account and submit your billing or account request, or contact AWS Customer Support.

AWS Activate Providers

What is an AWS Activate Provider?

An AWS Activate Provider is a venture capital firm, angel investor, accelerator, incubator, or other startup-enabling organization that has partnered with AWS Activate to provide Activate benefits to their affiliated startups.

Why should our firm become an AWS Activate Provider?

AWS Activate is the flagship startup program from AWS, the world's most broadly adopted cloud. From the earliest stages, Activate provides founders and their teams with promotional credits, technical support, and business mentorship. Becoming an AWS Activate Provider allows your institution to provide AWS Activate Credits and specialized resources to your portfolio of startup companies. This helps attract and support innovative startups by giving them access to AWS cloud resources.

What benefits do AWS Activate Providers receive?

AWS Activate Providers receive credit packages to distribute to eligible startups, access to AWS technical and business resources, and support from the Activate team. These benefits enable Activate Providers to offer enhanced value to their portfolio companies, supporting their growth and success on AWS.

What is the eligibility criteria to become an Activate Provider?

AWS Activate accepts applications from venture capital firms and accelerator programs that are actively investing in startups. Note that Activate is not currently accepting applications from non-investing organizations such as co-working spaces.

How can my firm apply to become an AWS Activate Provider?

AWS Activate is accepting applications from venture capital firms, seed investors, and accelerator programs that are actively investing. By becoming an Activate Provider, you can offer Activate Credits and specialized resources to your portfolio companies, helping them build and scale on AWS. To apply, first create your Builder ID and fill out your AWS Activate profile. Next, you will be prompted to complete the application and provide information about your institution and investment portfolio. Get started here. Once the application has been submitted, it will be reviewed within 7-10 business days.

Can our firm request additional Activate Credits?

AWS evaluates Activate Providers annually to determine credit package eligibility and is not currently accepting requests for changes to these packages.

Can our portfolio companies apply for additional AWS Activate Credits?

After receiving initial AWS Activate Credits, startups can seek additional credits by either connecting with their AWS account team or applying through Org IDs from other eligible providers in their network.

Why are my portfolio companies getting rejected for Activate Credits even though they're approved for the portfolio?

In addition to being part of your approved portfolio, startups must qualify for AWS Activate Credits based on specific eligibility criteria. Criteria includes factors like startup age, funding status, and previous credit usage.

What steps can I take if my portfolio company's application was rejected?

If a startup's application is rejected, review the reasons provided and verify that the startup meets all eligibility criteria. If you need additional assistance, please reach out to AWS Activate support on the Contact Us page.

How can I update my firm's contact information as an existing Activate Provider?

Please request an update through Contact Us.

What is AWS Activate Provider Central?

AWS Activate Provider Central is where venture capitalists, accelerators, and other startup enabling organizations who are Activate Providers can manage their portfolio companies. It enables you to view and share your Organization ID, invite startups through one-time, pre-validated referral links for faster applications processing and approvals, track portfolio companies' credit applications for the past 24 months, and access resources to help share the Activate program with startups. It can be accessed here.

How do I join Provider Central?

Existing Activate Providers will receive an email invitation from the AWS Activate team with an invite link to join Provider Central. Click the link in your invitation email and follow the setup instructions to open your account. Your existing organization ID and portfolio data will be automatically populated in the centralized hub. If you are interested in becoming an Activate Provider, please apply here. Newly approved providers will receive a unique invitation link to access Provider Central in their acceptance email.

Will my existing Organization ID (Org ID) change?

No, your Organization ID will remain the same. Startups in your portfolio can continue using your existing Org ID to apply for AWS Activate Credits without any changes. All existing processes and links will continue to work. Additionally, Provider Central now enables you to refer your startups with just 3 clicks: login, enter startup email, and send invite making the referral process even easier while maintaining all your current capabilities.

How does Provider Central simplify inviting startups to join AWS Activate?

As a provider, you can now refer your startups with just 3 clicks: login, enter the startup’s email, and send the invite. The pre-validated referral link cuts approval time from 8 days to 3 days, streamlining the process for you and your portfolio companies.

What if I have trouble joining Provider Central using my invitation link?

If you have trouble joining Provider Central using your invitation link, first verify you are using the same email address that received the invitation. Next, check the date of your invitation email, as links expire after 30 days. If these initial checks don't resolve the issue, try these troubleshooting steps: 1) use an incognito or private browser window to eliminate browser extension interference, 2) clear your browser cache and cookies, and 3) copy and paste the complete invitation URL into your browser address bar. If you continue experiencing issues after trying these solutions, contact AWS Activate support through the Contact Us [https://aws.amazon.com/startups/contact-us/contact-support] and include the specific error message you are seeing.

Personalized Journey

What is my personalized journey?

Your personalized journey is a custom set of tools, resources, and trainings on the AWS Startups website designed to help startups launch and scale on AWS. This guided plan is available to all startups who have applied for AWS Activate Credits. The journey is tailored specifically to your needs based on your profile and AWS Activate Credits application, providing you with guides and tools to help you get started, build your product, and grow your business on AWS. Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand, this personalized plan offers valuable resources to support your startup's journey on AWS.

How do I access my personalized journey?

To access your personalized journey, start by creating an AWS Builder ID account and completing your Activate profile. Then, apply for AWS Activate Credits. Your custom plan will be automatically created once you submit your credit application. You can view a snapshot of your plan on the AWS startups homepage widget or access the full plan directly at aws.amazon.com/startups/your-journey. To stay informed about your journey, you can opt in for monthly digest emails. You can easily opt out at any time on your plan page.

What resources are included in the plan?

Your personalized plan is designed to help you leverage Activate benefits and build your startup using AWS services. The plan is organized into four key milestones: 1) Getting started with AWS, 2) Defining your MVP, 3) Building your MVP, and 4) Launching your product. Within these milestones, you'll find key resources and comprehensive guides to help you successfully launch your startup on AWS.

How often is the plan refreshed or updated?

Your plan updates both automatically and manually to ensure it remains relevant to your needs. Automatic updates occur when new resources become available that match your startup's requirements. These additions are marked as "Bonus" on your plan page. For manual updates, you can either submit a new credit application or modify your AWS Startup profile details. When you make these changes, you'll see a banner asking whether you'd like to update your plan or keep your existing one. Keep in mind that choosing to update your plan will reset any previous progress, ensuring your plan reflects your current needs while giving you control over major changes.

Troubleshooting

I have questions about my AWS billing and account. Where can I find answers?

For billing or account inquiries, please click here to sign in and submit your billing or account request.

I applied for AWS credits through AWS Activate. However, they aren't showing up in my account. What could be causing this?

If you received an email notifying you that you were approved for credits, your AWS Activate Credits can be found in the your AWS Billing and Cost Management Console. If you have not heard from AWS Activate following your credit application, your application is still being processed. Please check your emails including your junk folder for emails from the AWS Activate team. Please note - your credits will disappear from the AWS Billing and Cost Management Console once consumed or expired.

Why wasn’t my credits application approved?

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My credits application was declined because AWS Activate was unable to confirm my association with my AWS Activate Provider. What should I do?

Please contact your AWS Activate Provider and ask them to verify your association by responding to the Activate verification email. If your AWS Activate Provider is unable to find the email, please ask them reach out to their AWS representative.

I tried to apply for AWS Activate, but received a technical error. What should I do?

We recommended going through the steps below which will help resolve most issues. If you continue to experience technical issues, please allow 24 hours before applying again or contact Activate to submit a screenshot of the error message if the error persists.

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What is the status of my application for credits?

AWS Activate Credit applications are processed in the order they are received. It usually takes 7-10 business days. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite application processing. After submitting your application, you'll receive email notifications about your credit application status throughout the process. You can also check your application status on the Credit Application Status page. This page provides detailed information on all of your pending and previously reviewed applications from the last 18 months.

I have a China or Hong Kong AWS account but I am unable to apply for AWS Activate. Can you apply AWS Activate Credits into my AWS account?

Unfortunately, we are unable to apply AWS Activate Credits to your account. AWS startup customers in AWS China Regions should apply for the AWS Activate China program here.

My AWS account is suspended. How do I apply for AWS Activate Credits?

An active AWS account is required before applying for AWS Activate Credits. To reactivate your suspended account, please follow the instructions listed here. For further assistance, please reach out to AWS Customer Support.

Why are my AWS Activate Credits not covering my outstanding AWS bills?

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Can I claim a portion of my AWS Activate Credits now, and receive the rest at a later time?

No. The amount of AWS Activate Credits you receive cannot be split or extended.

I have reviewed the Activate FAQ and Activate website, but cannot find the answer to my question. Who should I contact?

We are here to help and answer any questions you might have. Contact Activate and submit your question along with your contact details. If your inquiry is unrelated to AWS Activate or if you need general AWS support, please reach out to AWS Customer Support.

While completing my AWS Activate credit application, I received an “Unable to link your account” error message. It says my AWS Account has already been linked to an AWS Builder ID. What should I do?

This message indicates your AWS Account is already linked to an existing AWS Builder ID. You can only link one AWS Builder ID to a company’s AWS Account, and the person completing the AWS Activate credit application on behalf of your company must be the person whose AWS Builder ID is linked with the company’s AWS Account that you want to apply the AWS Activate credits to. If you wish to proceed, follow the instructions in in this guide.

What is Ask AWS Startups?

Ask AWS Startups is our 24/7 assistant designed to answer your questions about AWS Startup programs and benefits. Built on Amazon Bedrock with Haiku 3.5 and 3.5 Sonnet V2 models, it provides support on AWS Activate Credits, application status, events, and more. Get answers to your questions anytime at https://aws.amazon.com/startups/contact-us

How can I access the Ask AWS Startups assistant?

Navigate to the Contact Us page and click on “Get Help” in the lower right hand corner.

AWS Startup Advisor

What is AWS Startup Advisor?

AWS Startup Advisor is an AI-powered build assistant that helps startups optimize architecture, costs, security, and scalability on AWS. It delivers Solution Architect-curated expertise through your IDE or on the web, using your startup's context so you're never starting from scratch.

How does it work?

AWS Startup Advisor picks up where your AWS Activate Credit application leaves off. It uses your application data and your startup's website to understand your technology stack and stage on startups.aws. From there, you can download an IDE extension or plugin that will deliver guidance through a skills-based experience: scaffold an architecture, optimize costs, set up your environment, or deploy an AI agent, each step shaped by what you're actually building.

How much does AWS Startup Advisor cost?

There is no charge to use AWS Startup Advisor itself. Generating recommendations, invoking skills, and getting guidance are all included as part of the AWS Activate experience. If you choose to deploy the resources AWS Startup Advisor recommends, standard AWS service pricing applies.

Where can I access AWS Startup Advisor?

On the web at startups.aws, as an IDE extension for Kiro, VS Code, and Cursor, and as a terminal plugin for Claude Code via github.com/awslabs/startups. All three options deliver curated skills and recommendations. Use whichever fits your workflow.

Do I need an AWS Account to use AWS Startup Advisor?

You only need a Builder ID to log in to brainstorm with AWS Startup Advisor on startups.aws. If you've completed an AWS Activate Credit application, Advisor uses that data to tailor guidance to your stack and stage.

As you transition to the IDE, you need to log in with your AWS account to get alerts personalized to your environment.

What data does AWS Startup Advisor access?

On the web, AWS Startup Advisor uses (1) the information you provide in your AWS Activate Credit application and (2) your startup's website. This data is used to tailor your experience. Advisor does not store your source code and does not share your data with third parties. In the IDE extension or plugin, AWS Startup Advisor will access information in your account to alert customers to cost optimization opportunities, security warnings, and scalability issues.

Can I use AWS Startup Advisor if I'm already building on AWS?

Yes. Cost optimization, security hardening, and architecture skills are designed for startups at any stage, whether you're deploying your first service or running production infrastructure.

Does AWS Startup Advisor include proactive alerts?

Yes. The Alerts tab in the IDE extension surfaces optimization opportunities and recommended actions. It uses your AWS profile permissions to monitor configured resources and proactively flag what to fix, so you stay ahead of issues.

Migration Capability

What is the new migration capability on the AWS Startups experience?

A new AI-powered capability that generates a personalized migration plan from GCP, OpenAI, or Gemini to AWS, then helps you execute it. Get a plan quickly, including service mapping, cost estimates, architecture diagrams, Terraform templates, credit eligibility, and a step-by-step runbook. Then choose the execution path that fits your workload: AI-agent guided, work with an AWS expert, or connect with a certified AWS Partner.

Which cloud providers and workloads are supported?

The new migration capability supports Google Cloud Platform (GCP) infrastructure migrations - including, for example, Kubernetes to EKS/ECS/Fargate, PostgreSQL/MySQL to RDS/Aurora, and Google Cloud Storage to S3, as well as AI/LLM inference migrations from OpenAI or Gemini to Amazon Bedrock.

How much does the migration capability on AWS Startups cost?

There is no charge for using the migration capability. There are no usage limits for generating migration plans. You only pay for the AWS resources you provision during your actual migration. If you choose the AI-Agent Guided path, you select your own inference provider (Amazon Bedrock, OpenAI, or Anthropic). LLM inference costs are billed by whichever provider you choose.

How do I generate my migration plan?

You can pick the experience that fits your workflow:

1. Web Experience — Start from your browser at aws.amazon.com/startups/migrate/wizard. Answer a few questions, upload relevant data, and get a complete migration plan. 2. IDE Plugin — Generate your migration plan without leaving your IDE. Available for Kiro, Claude Code, and Cursor. When you're ready to execute, your plan routes to the migration capability on AWS Startups web experience.

How long does it take to generate a plan?

Generating a migration plan typically takes under 15 minutes, though larger or more complex codebases may require additional processing time. Actual migration timelines depend on your infrastructure complexity and readiness.

What's included in my migration plan?

Architecture recommendations, cost estimates, infrastructure diagrams, deployment runbooks, IaC templates, and an AI migration guide (if applicable).

Am I guaranteed to receive the credit amount displayed?

No. The credit amount shown is based on your estimates and the information you provided during the assessment. Final eligibility will be determined by AWS based on standard eligibility and verification checks.

How do I execute the migration plan?

Once your plan is generated, choose the execution path that fits your workload. You can always change your mind later.

AI-Agent Guided: Run the migration with the AI agent directly from your IDE (Kiro, Claude Code, or Cursor). The agent handles provisioning, data migration, configuration updates, and testing. You confirm key decisions at each step. Migrate your full workload or start with a proof of concept (POC).

Work with AWS Experts: Share your migration plan with an AWS expert. Get guidance on architecture decisions, edge cases, and execution.

Work with an AWS Partner: Get matched with a certified AWS Partner. They handle execution end-to-end.

Your migration includes intelligent service recommendations, cost comparison, Terraform deployment templates, a phased migration runbook, architecture diagrams, and guided deployment support at every step.

How does the AI Agent guided migration agent work?

You download your migration plan and install the agent via your terminal (macOS Terminal or Windows PowerShell). Once you configure your AWS credentials and select a foundation model through Amazon Bedrock as your inference backend, the agent uses it to reason through and execute your migration tasks: provisioning infrastructure, setting up data transfer, migrating storage, updating configurations, and running post-migration tests.

Are there any prerequisites to using the AI Agent guided execution path?

Yes. You need Docker Desktop running on your machine and an active AWS account before you can install and use the migration agent.

What if I get stuck during AI Agent guided execution?

The migration capability provides progress tracking and automated blocker identification throughout AI Agent guided execution. If you get stuck, you can switch to working with an AWS specialist or an AWS Partner.

What if I need hands-on help?

Click "Request Support" from your plan to connect with an AWS specialist or an AWS Partner.

What if my AWS Partner doesn't respond?

If you haven't heard back from your selected AWS Partner, please let us know through Contact Us. In the meantime, you can reach out to another Partner from the list, or connect with an AWS expert who can also pair you with an expert to keep your migration moving.

How does AWS secure my data?

The new migration capability uses your data only to generate your migration plan. Any code you provide is deleted after 180 days, and all data is encrypted in transit.

Is my code used to train AI models?

No. Your data is used solely to generate your migration plan and is not used for model training.

Can I delete data that I upload?

Yes. You can delete your data and individual plans, and all uploaded files are automatically removed after 180 days.

Why can't I upload my file?

Check that it's a .csv (billing) or .zip (code), isn't password-protected, and is within the size limit.

AWS Support

What are AWS Support Plans?

AWS Support plans are designed to give you the right mix of tools and access to expertise, so that you can be successful with AWS while optimizing performance, managing risk, and keeping costs under control. All support plans provide 24/7 access to customer service, AWS documentation, technical papers, and support forums. Click here for more information on AWS Support Plans.

What are the AWS support plans available for me if I have been approved for AWS Activate Credits?

Effective April 11, 2023, approved AWS Activate Credit applications receive a single Activate Credit offer that can be applied towards eligible Services or AWS Support. As of December 1, 2025, AWS Developer Support and AWS Business Support Plans are being replaced by AWS Business Support+. We are no longer accepting new account subscriptions to these legacy plans. Click here for more information on AWS Support Plans.

AWS Activate Credits can be applied to:

• AWS Developer Support _(deprecated December 1, 2025)_
• AWS Business Support Plans _(deprecated December 1, 2025)_
• AWS Business Support+ _(new plan as of December 1, 2025)_

Key Dates:

• December 1, 2025: AWS Developer Support and AWS Business Support no longer available for new subscriptions
• Transition Period: Current customers have 13 months to migrate to AWS Business Support+
• January 1, 2027: Final deprecation date for existing AWS Developer Support and AWS Business Support plans

For customers who received AWS Support Credits prior to April 11, 2023, you will continue to have access to such credits until exhaustion or expiration (whichever comes first). If you exhaust your AWS Support credits and you don't wish to continue with your AWS Support Plan, you must downgrade to AWS Basic Support to avoid incurring any charges. The instructions to downgrade to AWS Basic Support can be found here.

What are the steps to redeem and use Activate Credits for AWS Support?

Get technical help when you need it most with AWS Support. Here are the steps to enroll in AWS Support where your AWS Activate Credits may be applied to your support plan charges:

1. Ensure you have a valid credit card associated with your AWS account. 2. Enroll into AWS Business Support+. Available AWS Activate Credits are automatically applied during billing, reducing the cost of your chosen Support plan. 3. Receive technical support from AWS by opening a case.

How do I open a support case using AWS Support?

Your AWS Activate Credits are automatically added to your AWS account. Once enrolled in an AWS Support Plan, sign into the AWS Support Center to open a case. For more information on AWS Support, click here.

How does billing for AWS Support plans work?

AWS Support is billed once a month and is equal to a percentage of your total AWS Service charges for the corresponding month. During your first month, your AWS Service charges will be prorated based upon the date of enrollment into AWS Support Plans. Your AWS Activate Credits may offset your bill until your AWS Activate Credits expire or have been consumed (whichever comes first). AWS Business Support+ Pricing starts at $29 per month, offering enhanced AI-powered capabilities at an accessible price point. To learn more about AWS Support Plan Pricing, visit the AWS Support website.

I have received AWS Activate Credits as part of my AWS Activate Founders or Portfolio benefits. What happens if I already have an AWS Support plan?

If you are already enrolled into one of the AWS Support Plans (Developer or Business Support Plans, or Business Support+), available AWS Activate Credits may be applied to your AWS Support charges.

Can I use my AWS Activate Credits to cover AWS Enterprise or Reseller support plans or AWS Service bills?

No. AWS Activate Credits only cover AWS Developer, AWS Business Support Plans, or AWS Business Support+ when enrolled. To learn more on AWS Support Plans, click here.

Can I get more AWS Activate Credits to use for support?

The AWS Activate team is unable to apply more AWS Activate Credits to your account for support. See AWS Activate Credits FAQ section for more information on AWS Activate Credits.

AWS Activate Offers

What are Offers?

Offers are exclusive savings available only to AWS Activate members. Take advantage of incredible discounts through our global network of relationships with dozens of software providers. These offers include free trials, discounted subscriptions, and more.

Who is eligible for Offers?

Offers are available to all AWS Activate startups, though some may be restricted based on your credit package or geographical location. To access offers, start by navigating to the top of the AWS Startups website. From there, you'll need to either sign in to your existing account or create a new one. If you're new to AWS, you'll need to create an AWS Builder ID. Finally, complete the sign-up form to become an AWS Activate member. Once finished, you can explore and use the available startup offers.

How do I access Offers?

To discover the full range of available offers, visit our dedicated Startup Offers page at https://aws.amazon.com/startups/offers. This comprehensive resource showcases all current promotions, discounts, and special deals tailored specifically for AWS Activate members. Check back for new and exciting offers to support your startup’s growth.

How do I redeem an Offer?

AWS partners with trusted organizations to bring Activate members exclusive benefits for your startup. Navigate to the Offers section of the website to view all available options. Click on any benefit you want to use for step-by-step redemption instructions.

Can I redeem multiple offers?

Yes, you can redeem multiple offers as an AWS Activate startup. There's no limit to how many you can use, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for each offer.

I'm located in China. Can I access Offers?

Unfortunately, Offers are not currently available to startups in China.

Events

How do I register for an event?

To register for an event, complete the following steps:

Step 1: Browse Events on the AWS Startups website and click "Register" for your chosen event. For events that require approval, click on “Request to attend” to request a spot for the event.

Step 2: Log in to your existing account, or sign up by: 1) creating a Builder ID, and 2) setting up your Activate profile (See Profile and Membership FAQs for support).

Step 3: Complete the event registration and watch for a confirmation email with a calendar invite. If the event is full or the event requires approval, you will be added to a waitlist and will receive an email confirmation

Step 4: Don't forget to share the event with others!

How do I find events specific to my interests?

Visit Events on the AWS Startups website to discover events tailored for startups. Use the filters to narrow your search by region, country, language, event type (business/technical), and format (online, in-person, or hybrid).

What's the difference between "Register" and "Request to attend" events?

"Register" means you can register for the event immediately. "Request to attend" means the event requires approval. You'll be added to a waitlist and notified by email once approved.

How will I be reminded of upcoming events?

After registering for an event, you'll receive a confirmation email with important details sent to the email address you used to register. You’ll also receive timely email reminders as the event approaches.

I'm on the waitlist for an event. How do I get a confirmed spot?

Some events fill up quickly! If your desired event is at capacity, you can join the waitlist. When a spot becomes available, you'll receive an email confirmation of your registration status.

I registered for an online event. How do I join?

After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email with a calendar invite containing the event link. Click this link at the event time to join the streaming website.

How do I check in for in-person events?

Before arriving at the event, access your AWS Activate profile to locate your unique event QR code. You can also find your QR code in the event confirmation and reminder emails. When you arrive, present this QR code at the registration desk for quick check-in.

How do I manage my event registrations?

Navigate to the "Your bookings" tab on your events list pageto manage all your registrations. From there, you can cancel registrations, add events to your calendar, or share events with colleagues and friends.

Can I leave feedback for the event?

Yes! During or after the event, the event team will share the survey link. Your feedback helps us improve future AWS Startup events and ensures a top-notch experience for all participants. If you have feedback on the registration process, please submit your feedback here.

Showcase

What is AWS Startup Showcase?

AWS Startup Showcase is a directory for AWS Activate members that have received credit offers to promote their startup. If you’ve built and launched a product on AWS, create a page to share your offerings with potential customers, investors and partners.

How can I create a profile?

To create your Showcase profile, you should be approved for AWS Activate Credits. You will have access to create a Showcase profile within 7 days of the receipt of your credits approval email. Go to https://aws.amazon.com/startups/showcase/promote-your-startup to follow the instructions to create your profile page. If you are still experiencing issues, please submit a query here.

The AWS Startup Showcase is open to startups who have applied for and received AWS Activate Credits. Once your application has been approved, you can take the following steps to create your startup profile:

Step 1: Navigate to Showcase on the upper menu navigation. Click “Promote your startup.”

Step 2: Click “Edit startup details” to create your page.

Step 3: Create your page by taking the following steps:

Upload logo image (120x44 px)

• Upload a cover

image (1728x960 px)

• Enter startup

name

• Enter startup

name

• Enter company

description

• Enter date

founded

• Enter country
• Select

industries

• Select

technologies used

• Enter company

website

• Add product

section

• Enter product

images (420x420 px) with titles and descriptions

Step 4: When you’re ready to go live, click save and publish.****

Can I share my Showcase profile on social media?

Absolutely! We encourage you to share your Showcase profile on social media to get the word out about your startup.

Build on AWS

What is Build on AWS, and why should I use it?

Build on AWS templates enable you to quickly deploy proven architectures catered to your business and use cases. Every solution template is built by AWS experts from our Solution Architect and Product teams leveraging AWS best practices. With hundreds of deployments, every template is tested and ready for your production traffic. When you are ready to deploy, you can do it in just 60 minutes. To access Build on AWS, please log into the AWS Activate Console and navigate to the Build on AWS tab.

How does Build on AWS work with AWS Services?

Build on AWS works by aggregating the commonly used configurations across AWS so as to make it easy for early-stage startups to deploy their infrastructure. The templates are comprised of AWS Services and the respective application architectures.

What if I need help deploying a template?

We recommended AWS Support and AWS IQ. AWS Support provides a mix of tools and technology, people, and programs designed to proactively help you optimize performance, lower costs, and innovate faster. With AWS IQ, you can search for experts in specific areas to hire for a project.

How much does it cost to deploy a Build on AWS template?

You can estimate the cost of deploying a template by inputting the services shown into the AWS Pricing Calculator. We highly recommend setting up a budget in the AWS Billing Console with corresponding alerts.

Will my AWS Activate Credits cover the bills from Services deployed through Build on AWS templates?

AWS Activate Credits are applied to your AWS bill to help cover costs associated with eligible AWS Services. Before deploying a template, you will be able to see which AWS services it will use. For more information about eligible services, please visit the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions and the AWS Activate Terms & Conditions. Prior to any deployment we highly recommend setting up MFA and budget alerts.

What if I need a template that isn’t offered? How can I provide feedback?

If you’re not seeing a template you need, please let us know through the request template widget on the Build on AWS page within the AWS Activate Console. You can also provide general feedback. Please include as many details as possible and whether you would like to be contacted (and if so, the best email to reach you at).

Kiro Startup Credits

What are Kiro Startup Credits and how do they work?

Kiro Startup Credits provide eligible startups with promotional credits specifically for accessing Kiro Pro+. Kiro is an agentic AI development environment that turns your ideas into structured specifications, designs, and tasks before writing code. Startups can apply for Kiro Startup Credits.

[](https://aws.amazon.com/startups/credits/kiro) Eligibility requirements: To apply, startups must be less than 10 years old, have a working website, be pre-Series B, and cannot have active AWS Activate Credits at the time of application. AWS Activate Credits can also be used for Kiro Pro+, so if you already have active Activate Credits, you can use them towards Kiro. This promotion is available in most countries globally, except startups in Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the region of Crimea.

To use your Kiro Startup Credits: Your organization needs to conduct billing through AWS IAM Identity Center. Team members should cancel any existing paid individual Kiro accounts, sign out completely, and sign back in with their organization identity. Otherwise, they may continue to be billed individually instead of using your startup credits. We've created astep-by-step guide to help you connect your Kiro Startup Credits to your organization's billing and set up team access through AWS IAM Identity Center.

AWS Startups

Build your startup on AWS

Join 350,000+ startups building on AWS. Get up to $100,000 in credits, expert support, and the tools that power 85% of the Forbes AI 50.

Join now

Home to over 350,000 startups globally

With nearly 20 years of experience gained from supporting hundreds of thousands of startups that have come before, AWS helps founders prove that their world-changing ideas are possible, at any stage of growth or level of funding. Whether your startup is just starting to ideate an MVP or is on track for an IPO, AWS offers a broad range of programs and resources that will support you to reach your next milestone.

From concept to cloud-ready in seconds

Go from idea to deployed app in hours, not weeks. Use AI-powered templates and automation to generate production-ready architectures. No AWS expertise required. Copy prompts, download workflows, and start building.

Build now

Innovation powered by AWS

Millions of customers, including thousands of the fastest-growing startups, use AWS to build fast, keep costs low and prove what is possible.

Expertise from the startup ecosystem

The AWS Startups team comprises experts from across the global ecosystem, including former founders and CTOs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and mentors who help today's founders navigate challenges and opportunities.

Improve your success rate

Startups across industries and around the world are looking to leverage generative artificial intelligence (AI) to innovate faster, boost employee productivity, ignite creativity, and optimize business processes. Begin realizing the business value of generative AI today with AWS.

Programs and resources to empower success

AWS offers a broad range of programs and resources that will support you to reach your next milestone. From the earliest stages, the AWS Activate program provides startups with cloud credits, technical support, business mentorship, and more.

Credits to help you test and build

Apply to receive up to $100,000 in AWS Activate Credits to offset costs on AWS services, including infrastructure, data services, and leading AI and ML models. AWS Activate Credits are redeemable on third-party models on Amazon Bedrock.

Your go-to-market support

Co-build, co-market, and co-sell with AWS to accelerate your growth. The AWS Partner Network has more than 140,000+ partners from over 200 countries, with 70% headquartered outside of the United States.

The broadest and deepest set of technology tools

With AWS, founders can leverage the latest cloud technologies to experiment and innovate faster. Accelerate your time to market with the broadest and deepest set of services on the most secure cloud.

Support at every stage

1. Turn your idea into a business

You have a big idea that solves a problem. But that's just the start. Learn the fundamentals of turning your idea into a successful startup. Explore articles, videos, and more built for early-stage startups, from new to experienced AWS users.

Learn

2. Build your minimum viable product

Once you're ready to start building, choose from dozens of battle-tested templates, sample code or extend your runway with access to credits and exclusive third-party offers.

Join now

3. Extend your reach

Amplify your product and connect with potential investors or customers by listing your company on Showcase.

Get started

4. Find product market fit

Apply for access to facilitated learning, hands-on business and technical mentorship, and connections to the broader Amazon network and our community of investors through AWS global accelerators programs.

Learn more

Achieving Operational Excellence with AWS Resources

Overview

Elevate your startup's success with AWS monitoring services. Gain actionable insights, respond to performance changes, and improve resource utilization.

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Content Type

This page contains a video resource about achieving operational excellence with AWS resources.

Category

Explore Solutions (Learning Subcategory)

Building a serverless dynamic DNS system with AWS

_This post was originally published in December 2015. It was updated July 2023 to make the solution more cost-effective and efficient. This post has been updated to replace Amazon API Gateway with AWS Lambda function URLs and Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) with Amazon DynamoDB. Using Lambda function URLs reduces the overall cost of the solution. This feature comes at no extra cost when using the Lambda service, and it provides a RESTful HTTPs endpoint that our client interacts with. Replacing Amazon S3 with DynamoDB increases the efficiency of the solution and reduces the overall latency when querying data._

Early-stage startups, small businesses, and home networks often have dynamic public IP addresses that can change without notice. Because of this changing address, you can't reliably access systems on these networks from the outside. For startups in the early stages of their life cycle, it's important to provide a reliable and highly available service in order to gain trust with your first set of customers.

Dynamic DNS systems solve this problem by running a software agent inside your network to keep a DNS record updated with the latest public IP address. As long as the DNS record is up to date, you can find your network and customers can reliably access your service.

In this post, we describe how to build your own dynamic DNS system by using serverless AWS services. Building a serverless system using nothing but Amazon Web Services (AWS) services and a few lines of code is simple, cost-effective, and scalable, and allows you to focus on the core business logic of your startup, rather than worrying about scaling and maintaining the underlying infrastructure.

AWS services we use in our dynamic DNS system

In the next sections, we show you how to use the following AWS services to build a dynamic DNS solution:

• The AWS Lambda service allows you to run code without having to manage the underlying servers. Your code is always ready to run, but you are charged only per invocation of the function, in 1 millisecond increments. The Lambda service can interact with other AWS services through AWS SDKs.
• Lambda function URLs provide a dedicated HTTPS endpoint for your Lambda function. This allows you to directly invoke the function from your client application without the need to use an AWS SDK or invoke the function via an additional proxy service. This feature comes at no additional cost to the Lambda service.
• Amazon Route 53 is a managed DNS service that allows you to register and host domains and DNS zones from a global network of DNS servers. As with all AWS services, Route 53 can be managed through APIs.
• DynamoDB is a fully managed, serverless, key-value NoSQL database designed to run high-performance applications at any scale. DynamoDB offers built-in security, continuous backups, automated multi-Region replication, in-memory caching, and data import and export tools.

Logical flow of the dynamic DNS system

Figure 1 shows how a client finds its own IP address by making an API request to a service built using a Lambda function and its attached function URL.

As shown in Figure 2, now that the client knows its public IP, it makes another request to our service to set a DNS record. The Lambda function first consults the record stored in our DynamoDB table to validate the request. If the check passes, the Lambda function then sets the DNS entry in Route 53 via an API call. Now the network's current IP is in public DNS and can be found by a standard DNS query.

Benefits of dynamic DNS with Lambda and Route 53

Here's some advantages you will gain by running a serverless dynamic DNS system:

• Easier to set up. There is a sample client along with all the code, configuration, and instructions to set this up in your own AWS account.
• Thin to no client. It takes three commands to update the API. You can write your own client in most languages and run it on platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, Raspberry Pi, Chrome OS, and DD-WRT/Tomato USB router firmware.
• Support for arbitrary number of clients, hostnames, and domains. Route 53 service limits and quotas can be found in the "Quotas" section of the Route 53 Developer Guide.
• Cost-effective–$1 to $2 per month. Route 53 zones each cost $0.50 per month, 1,000,000 DNS queries cost $0.40, and 10,000 Lambda function requests to update DNS cost under $0.01.
• Serverless architecture. Serverless technologies feature automatic scaling, built-in high availability, and a pay-for-use billing model to increase agility and optimize costs.
• Granular permissions allow only authorized clients to update their own hostname. Clients can update the system only from the address that is being added to DNS.
• Minor changes required for your current DNS setup. You can leave your primary .com zone with your current DNS provider and use a secondary dynamic.example.com zone in AWS. Refer to "Creating a public hosted zone" in the Route 53 Developer Guide for more information on creating hosted zones in Route 53.

Prerequisites

You'll need two things to build this solution:

1. [An AWS account](https://portal.aws.amazon.com/billing/signup?nc2=h_ct&src=header_signup&redirect_url=https%3A%2F%2Faws.amazon.com%2Fregistration-confirmation#/start/email). New accounts are eligible for the AWS Free Tier. 2. A domain you own, hosted on Route 53 or another provider. You can register domains through Route 53 if needed from as little as $3.00. Refer to Amazon Route 53 Pricing for Domain Registration for a full range of prices.

How to build a dynamic DNS system in your account

At this point, you have enough information to start building your own copy of the system. If you want to learn more about how it works, read on.

If you want to start building, Route 53 dynamic DNS with Lambda is available on GitHub. It provides illustrated instructions and all the necessary code and configuration.

How the new system works

First, the client needs to find the public IP assigned to its network. If you make a request from your network to a service on the internet, that service sees the request coming from your external IP address.

Then, the client makes an HTTP POST request to the Lambda function URL with a request body of {"execution_mode":"get"}, and gets a response containing the current public IP address:

HTTP POST
> https://.....lambda-url.eu-west-1.on.aws

{ "return_message": "176.32.100.36", "return_status": "success" }

During this process, the Lambda function URL converts the HTTP request to JSON, including all request parameters, and passes the requestor's source IP address to a Python Lambda function. The Lambda function then sends a JSON response with the IP back to the client.

The client now builds a request token by linking the public IP address returned from the HTTP POST request, the DNS hostname, and a shared secret. For example, if your IP address is 176.32.100.36, your hostname is host1.dyn.example.com, and your shared secret is shared_secret_1, the linked string will be the following:

176.32.100.36host1.dyn.example.comshared_secret_1

Next, the client generates a SHA-256 hash function from the string:

echo -n 176.32.100.36host1.dyn.example.comshared_secret_1 | shasum -a 256

Hash: 96772404892f24ada64bbc4b92a0949b25ccc703270b1f6a51602a1059815535

The client then requests the DNS update by making a second HTTP POST request. It passes the plain text hostname as a key and the hash function as the authentication token within the request body:

HTTP POST > https://....lambda-url.eu-west-1.on.aws

{
  "execution_mode": "set",
  "ddns_hostname": "host1.dyn.example.com",
  "validation_hash": "96772404892f24ada64bbc4b92a0949b25ccc703270b1f6a51602a1059815535"
}

The Lambda function URL then passes the request parameters back to the Lambda function.

After that, the Lambda function queries its JSON configuration record from DynamoDB using the AWS SDK for Python (Boto3). In this system, interactions between the Lambda service, DynamoDB, and Route 53 use Boto3, which is pre-built into the Lambda service runtime environment.

Once our Lambda function queries the configuration record from DynamoDB, it uses the hostname as a key to find the shared secret, and other configuration associated with that record, similar to the following example record:

{
  "host1.dyn.example.com.": {
    "aws_region": "us-west-2",
    "route_53_zone_id": "MY_ZONE_ID",
    "route_53_record_ttl": 60,
    "route_53_record_type": "A",
    "shared_secret": "SHARED_SECRET_1"
  },
  "host2.dyn.example.com.": {...}
}

The client passed host1.dyn.example.com as the key, so the Lambda function reads SHARED_SECRET_1 from the configuration, and rebuilds the hash function token using the hostname, the requestor's IP address, and the shared secret. If the hash function calculated by the Lambda function and the hash function received from the client match, then the request is considered valid.

Once the request is validated, the Lambda function uses the information from the configuration to make an API call to Route 53 to see if the DNS hostname is already set with the client IP. If no change is necessary, the Lambda function responds to the client and exits:

{
  "return_message": "Your IP address matches the current Route53 DNS record.",
  "return_status": "success"
}

If there is no record, or if the current record and the client IP do not match, the Lambda function makes an API call to Route 53 to set the record, responds to the client, and exits:

{
  "return_message": "Your hostname record host1.dyn.example.com. has been set to 176.32.100.36",
  "return_status": "success"
}

How is this system secured?

• All communications using Lambda function URLs are encrypted.
• The shared secret is never transmitted across the internet.
• Client request rate can be throttled using the reserved concurrency feature of the Lambda service.
• The authentication mechanism is multi-factor because the client presents the shared secret ("something it has") and its own public IP address ("something it is").
• The configuration file can be encrypted at rest via DynamoDB server-side encryption.
• Your AWS credentials are not used, so they cannot be leaked.

Conclusion

The dynamic DNS system we describe in this post shows how to create your own serverless solution on AWS to solve a real-world problem—DNS is susceptible to change and you might not be aware!

Use this solution to run your own dynamic DNS on AWS. Or, use it as an example to learn how you can use AWS services to create your own serverless solutions at any scale.

Visit the Route 53 dynamic DNS with Lambda repository on GitHub for a complete set of code, configuration, and instructions on how to deploy.

Building serverless on AWS to scale Ramp's fast-growing finance automation platform

For startups, coming full circle is a milestone defined by partnering with the programs used during early stage growth, or providing resources that help other startups succeed as well.

Ramp, a B2B fintech startup founded in 2019 by veteran founders Eric Glyman and Karim Atiyeh, does both. Ramp is a tech-first finance automation platform whose serverless modern application–in conjunction with its corporate card–allows businesses to more efficiently manage their finances.

In the startup's early days, founders Eric and Karim prioritized talking to customers to learn their pain points, priorities, and what aspects of a corporate card really mattered. Informed by customer needs, they tailored their product to offer:

• Physical and virtual corporate cards with unlimited 1.5% cash back
• Zero touch expenses to help control, analyze, and optimize organization-wide spending
• Fast bill payments for businesses to pay invoices how and when they want, around the globe
• Intelligent insights, reporting, and perks to maximize saving and cut spend

Within one year of launching publicly, Ramp reached unicorn status and became America's fastest-growing corporate card. The company has since significantly scaled its business operations and AWS architecture to reach 12,000+ customers. To date, Ramp has saved businesses over $300 million and 3.5 million hours.

_"The problem we solve is, 'How can we save businesses time and money, while empowering their employees to spend, but ensuring that it's done in a controlled and efficient way?'"_ — Alexis Gordon, leader of Ramp's product partnerships team

Building a modern architecture on AWS

To support the startup's need for a scalable modern architecture, high developer productivity, multi-region availability, and optimized cloud costs, Ramp built its platform's core infrastructure on AWS.

A scalable modern architecture

"This is the modern decade of thinking about cloud infrastructure, instead of the bare bones approach to cloud computing," explains Lewis Drummond, head of infrastructure at Ramp.

_"I'm very proud of how few legacy-type virtual machines we have and that we leverage more advanced, completely serverless, technologies from AWS. It serves us very well."_ — Lewis

Ramp uses an Amazon Aurora database cluster, as well as Amazon ElastiCache for Redis to provide sub-millisecond latency for Ramp's caching needs and to accelerate application and database performance. Jun Isaji, director of cloud infrastructure at Ramp, explains, "AWS solutions allow us to be flexible to meet demand and add components to increase system robustness. They also help us reduce complexity throughout the system by utilizing the features built into AWS solutions."

Improved developer productivity

Ramp's architecture uses Elastic Load Balancing (ELB), specifically Application Load Balancer, to distribute incoming application traffic. Behind that, their web servers run on Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS) on AWS Fargate, which allows Ramp engineers to focus on building their application instead of managing their servers.

_"AWS really helps by abstracting away the details of running all of our components. Our developer velocity across the organization has significantly increased from using AWS."_ — Jun

Ramp also increases developer velocity by using the flexibility of AWS' managed services to quickly and easily spin up stacks that allow them to experiment, and then spin down the stacks when they're no longer needed.

"AWS' managed services allow us to do proof of concepts quite easily and quickly," explains Lewis.

"About a year ago we were looking to test Airflow, which can be a pain to set up by yourself." To make the testing easier, Ramp leveraged Amazon Managed Workflows for Apache Airflow.

_"AWS helps a long way to getting us up off the ground more quickly. Being able to go from zero to one in a matter of days instead of weeks, as well as the lower effort there, helps us to iterate quickly."_ — Lewis

Availability across multiple regions

In addition to using AWS for its high scalability and benefits to developer productivity, Ramp uses AWS' multi-region availability. For startups, multiple regions can improve the user experience by providing low latencies across the globe and by creating more resilient cloud architecture.

Lewis explains, "These managed services within AWS work very strongly with our multi-region requirement. Having all of these managed services, which also support cross-region, has been very useful to us." Ramp uses Amazon Aurora Global Database for cross-region with Aurora, Global Data Store in ElastiCache for cross-region with ElastiCache, AWS Secrets Manager cross-region, and Amazon S3 cross-region.

One of the most essential components of Ramp's architecture is called the authorizer, which approves or denies credit card transactions. "Because the authorizer is so critical for us, we have a warm standby multi-region configuration," says Jun. "We can spin up the authorizer compute within our disaster recovery region, then route requests to that compute if our primary region were to go down"

Optimizing the costs of cloud computing

Saving money on cloud spend is a priority for many startups. With the help of AWS tools and their AWS account team, Ramp has been able to decrease their cloud spend.

_"Our account manager Xavier was very proactive about reaching out to us about how to reduce costs. I'm definitely happy with AWS proactively reaching out and saying, 'Here are some ways to reduce costs.' That's great."_ — Jun

One cost-optimization success that grew from a meeting between Ramp and their account team was implementing AWS Graviton processors for Ramp's databases. "Graviton was a big success for us in increasing performance relative to cost," says Jun. "We're also in the process of working with our account team to review our reserved capacity for compute."

Tools such as AWS Cost Explorer, "make it pretty easy to understand the costs and where you might be wasting money," Jun says. "We use AWS Cost Explorer often. It allows us to understand and trace back any big jumps or spikes in spend to a certain component or a certain change in the system."

Using AWS Savings Plans, which offer a flexible pricing model, "is definitely a big cost reduction as well," Jun says.

Integrating AWS Activate into Ramp's go to market strategy

As Ramp continues to succeed at building the next generation of finance tools, they've engaged with AWS Activate for each stage of their startup journey. AWS Activate is a free program specifically designed for startups that offers resources for getting started on AWS.

"Activate has helped Ramp succeed from the product perspective," says Lewis. "The overall program has been instrumental in both Ramp's success and also that of some of our customers."

As Ramp grew, they joined AWS Activate Providers, a program for startup-enabling organizations to provide AWS Activate benefits to their affiliated startups. As an AWS Activate Partner, Ramp offers AWS Activate benefits to their customers, as well as a $500 sign-up offer for their product.

Alexis explains, "Through Activate Providers, we're able to offer up to $100k of AWS credits for Ramp clients. There's a strong overlap in our target customer base and it's a great lever for us to deliver more time and money savings to our customers, in line with our core mission."

Tips for developing on AWS

For developers who want to build on AWS, Lewis and Jun share some insight and best practices that serve them well at Ramp:

• To gain speed, keep it simple. "Following the established patterns on AWS allows you to innovate really quickly; there's a well-trodden path for developers wanting to start companies on AWS," advises Jun. "In particular, I've had good experiences working with the solutions architects. When we have questions, they give us a lot of good insight into what's the simplest way and how they've seen it work in the past."

• Harness the appropriate permissions and resource sizing from the beginning. "Six months later, when your startup is off the ground, that sets you up for success in the long run," advises Lewis. "It helps you to pass security audits and ensure your company's finances—and your $100k in Activate credits–last you longer."

The future of fintech and Ramp

Ramp expects the list of fintech innovations to continue to grow: Buy-now-pay-later, embedded finance options, flexible payment terms, and revenue-based financing (to name a few) are simply the beginning.

_"The emergence of fintech as an industry sparked change in a financial services sector that had been dominated by large banks for hundreds of years. Agile, nimble, customer-focused startups like Ramp came into play to create great customer experiences and products."_ — Alexis

Ramp's upcoming plans include increasing automation, streamlining processes, and providing enhanced insights into spending data. "The innovation in fintech has been unbelievable and continues to be that way," says Alexis. "There's more to come."

---

Authors

Megan Crowley

Megan Crowley is a Senior Technical Writer on the Startup Content Team at AWS. With an earlier career as a high school English teacher, she is driven by a relentless enthusiasm for contributing to content that is equal parts educational and inspirational. Sharing startups' stories with the world is the most rewarding part of her role at AWS. In her spare time, Megan can be found woodworking, in the garden, and at antique markets.

Alexis Gordon

Alexis leads Product Partnerships at Ramp. She oversees some of Ramp's most critical, inter-company relationships and is focused on accelerating Ramp's roadmap by creating delightful experiences through strategic alliances, product partnerships, and integrations. Prior to Ramp, she was at Deloitte Consulting driving post-merger integration efforts at leading financial services companies. She holds a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She lives in New York City.

Jun Isaji

Jun Isaji is Director of Cloud Infrastructure at Ramp, responsible for managing the AWS infrastructure and for helping other software engineers utilize the platform. He was previously at Affirm, working on the checkout funnel, payment processing, and AWS infrastructure. Jun started his career at AWS, working on the Storage Gateway team in Boston. He lives in Miami.

Lewis Drummond

Lewis is Head of Infrastructure at Ramp and oversees several teams. He has over twenty years of experience in architecting and deploying scalable, secure, and resilient cloud infrastructure, most often within AWS. Alongside financial services, Lewis has previously run large environments in a variety of industries, including education, fashion, healthcare, media, and technology. He lives in New York City.

Choosing the Right Architecture

Breadcrumb: Learn > Choosing the right architecture

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Overview

Discover the advantages of AWS compute models and serverless architecture for your startup to accelerate time to market and ensure high availability.

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Note

This page primarily contains video content (hosted via Vidyard player) rather than text-based articles. The main educational material is delivered through the embedded video. To access the full content, please visit the original page and watch the video.

Evolutionary architectures series: Part 1

_Discover the key steps of building a successful startup in the Evolutionary Architectures series. Dive into the process of delivering the first MVP and beyond!_

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_"I've got this great idea!"_

Every startup begins as an idea. Before you start worrying about funding or staff or distribution or any of the other myriad things, you have your fresh, new idea—a product or service that you think has potential.

If your idea will rely on the cloud, you'll need a cloud architecture. This blueprint will help usher your great idea into reality and, if built well, can evolve alongside your business as it grows.

To help you build a robust blueprint for your idea, this four-part series, Evolutionary Architectures, will show you how one company, the aptly named Example Startup, puts their idea into practice. In part 1, we'll see how they built a minimum viable product (MVP) to test customer interest and market fit. Later in the series, we'll look at how their designs and decisions evolve as they move through startups lifecycle to deliver a fully-fledged, scalable, secure, highly available, and redundant solution.

Delivering your first MVP

The first few product deliveries by a startup usually follow a phased approach. They're dictated by funding, time, resources, team size, and knowledge and experience.

In this stage it's extremely important to not let perfect get in the way of the good and to deliver simple but functional solutions. To do this, you'll need to know how to identify 1-way door and 2-way door decisions, fail fast and pivot when necessary, manage cost, and speed up time to market.

Let's check in on Example Startup and see how they approach this process.

The idea

Example Startup's idea is to create a "fantasy stock market." They used fantasy sports leagues as a baseline and applied the idea of stock market investing. They envision holding four "tournaments" over the course of a year.

At the beginning of every quarter, a new cohort of investors starts with the same amount of funds. The fantasy stock market allows these investors to make their investment choices (based on companies and symbols from real stock markets) over the following 3 months. At the end of the quarter, participants are ranked and winners are announced.

The preparation

To make their idea a reality, the two founders bootstrapped their startup: they gathered their savings and borrowed money from friends and family.

One founder, an experienced developer, got 3 months leave from her job. This allows her to focus on the technical solution, which is helpful. However, it also defines the timeline for their first delivery.

Now, in just three months, she and her co-founder, who has a background in finance, must decide which features to include in the MVP and build their product. To get started, they decide on 1) what features are absolutely necessary for a usable product and 2) what features will allow them to measure market fit and customer interest.

They decide on the following:

• An import process for real-world stock market symbols/companies that investors can trade on
• Daily market prices feed
• Signup mechanism for users
• Portfolio management user interface (UI)
• Daily process for end-of-day portfolio calculations
• A daily process that calculates rankings

The build

After defining their scope, it's time to make some technical decisions about which technologies and components the fantasy stock market needs. Then, they'll create an implementation plan with milestones for the MVP launch.

Framework

As a developer, one of Example Startup's founders has experience in React, a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Considering that a big portion of the MVP deliveries involve UI development, she thinks AWS Amplify looks like a great fit. With Amplify, the team gets built-in support for building and hosting React.js applications with lots of reusable components. Amplify can help with the backend as well—it can manage different databases like Amazon DynamoDB, a great flexible option to start with, and it can use AWS AppSync to easily connect the front-end with data sources and develop the business logic.

Domain

With the framework taken care of, it's time to get a domain name. Amazon Route 53 helps Example Startup to configure a DNS (Domain Name System) service that has good integration with the services they were already using, as well as with the process of domain registration.

Experimentation and Cost Management

The team is able to meet most of their initial needs by simply picking an AWS service that aligns with their use case. The breadth of AWS services allows Example Startup to quickly experiment with multiple options and make decisions based on the experience.

Although many of the AWS services have a free tier, some of Example Startup's experimentation may be overly enthusiastic. When the first month's bill arrives, the team realizes that they need to pay more attention to cost. Like in many other cases, there is an AWS solution for that: they start using the free service AWS Budgets. It helps the team improve on their planning and cost management and define alerts that conveniently bring to their attention anything that might not align with their expectations.

Data

A month in, Example Startup already has a lot of the UI and some related features working with sample data. Next, they'll need batch processes that will do the heavy lifting with some real data.

After finding data sources to provide the information they need, the team wants to automatically ingest the data. Continuing with JavaScript as their programming language of choice, they want to run it with something that makes the operational aspect as simple as possible.

This leads them to AWS Lambda. The team doesn't want to worry about operating servers and scaling, so they take a serverless approach, using the Schedule AWS Lambda functions using EventBridge tutorial.

With that, as shown in the initial architecture diagram, they have a design in place for the data-related services they need to run.

Testing

The team is making great progress. Their architecture is growing, and they feel good about the 3-month deadline.

However, as the number of people testing the solution grows, they notice an issue. Someone on the team asked: "How many people are active users and what's the average number of transactions per user?" But they couldn't really come up with a meaningful answer. They agree on "winging it" by temporarily running queries directly on the DynamoDB console and start a "wish list" for the next iteration.

The launch

Example Startup made their deadline and launched the MVP. Before long, the team sees a huge list of registrations. They realize they are onto something, but they need help to improve their product and scale their business.

A friend of a friend mentions AWS Activate, a program that offers startups a number of benefits, including AWS credits, AWS support plan credits, and architecture guidance.

They apply to AWS Activate to get the help they need for the next phase of their journey.

Conclusion

A lot has happened with Example Startup in just a few months. During the process of delivering the first MVP, many startups face challenges that are similar to those that Example Startup overcame.

We will continue with their journey in upcoming blogs in the Evolutionary Architecture series. Learn how their needs, challenges, and goals change as the company builds and scales.

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Authors

Zoran Nakev

Zoran is a Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, working primarily with FinTech startups and helping them to build solutions on the AWS platform. He uses his experience and passion for technology to assist startups in delivering on their goals. He lives in New Jersey with his family and enjoys spending his free time watching movies, listening to music, and taking long walks with his family dog.

Aayzed Tanweer

Aayzed is a Solutions Architect at AWS, working with startup customers in the FinTech space and with a special focus on analytics services. Originally hailing from Toronto, he recently moved to New York City, where he enjoys eating his way through the city and exploring its many peculiar nooks and crannies.

Justin Plock

Justin is a Principal Solutions Architect at AWS, focused on fintech startups. He regularly meets with fintech founders to help ensure their business is secure and compliant with industry regulations. Prior to AWS, he was a Director of Cloud Enablement at a Fortune 200 insurance carrier and a Director of Engineering at a cybersecurity firm. He is passionate about helping startups develop securely and efficiently on AWS. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and two daughters.

Maximizing Cost Efficiency with AWS Containers

Overview

Don't overspend on container infrastructure! Explore proven techniques to minimize costs and maximize efficiency with AWS container services.

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About This Resource

This is a video-based learning resource from AWS Startups. The page primarily contains an embedded video player (Vidyard) with the content delivered through video format rather than text.

Content Type: Video

Category: Technical Resources / Cost Optimization

Maximizing Performance with AWS Databases

Category: Data and Analytics

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Overview

Learn how to select the perfect AWS database for your startup's needs, and leverage the power of scalability and performance.

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Content Type

This resource is a video-based learning module. The primary content is delivered through an embedded video player (Vidyard).

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_Note: This page primarily contains video content. The text content on the page is limited to the title and overview description above. To access the full learning material, visit the original page to watch the video._

Scaling smarter: The power of application monitoring for startups

Overview

Drive your startup's growth with effective application monitoring on AWS. Achieve better visibility and optimize performance effortlessly.

Content Type

This resource is primarily a video tutorial hosted on the AWS Startups platform. The video player is embedded on the page using Vidyard.

Simplify data processing to enhance innovation with serverless tools

Overview

Explore the serverless approach to data processing and fuel innovation. AWS serverless services offer scalability, flexibility, and efficiency for your apps.

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Unleashing Startup Growth Through Event-Driven Architecture

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Overview

APIs vs. events: Which one fuels startup growth? Explore the advantages of event-driven architecture and take your business to new heights.

Category

Architectural Patterns

Unlocking growth: scaling strategies for B2B startups

Category: Product Market Fit

Overview

Unlock the secrets to scaling your B2B startup with AWS. Discover proven techniques and solutions for sustainable growth.

Video Content

This page primarily features a video presentation. The video is hosted on Vidyard and covers scaling strategies for B2B startups.

• Video URL: Watch on Vidyard

AWS Cost Management Insights for Startup Growth

Overview

Get expert tips on managing AWS costs for your startup. Navigate cost transparency, set budgets, and optimize your infrastructure to maximize your success.

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Related Resources

• Learn - AWS Startups learning resources
• AWS Credits - Information about AWS credits for startups
• Technical Resources - Technical guides and learning resources
• Business Guidance - Expert strategies for startups
• Contact Us - Get in touch with AWS Startups team

Fundraising by the numbers with Carta

Category: Funding and Fundraising

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Overview

Gain a competitive edge in fundraising, and learn about trends, valuation, dilution, and more. Empower your fundraising journey now.

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Content Type

This is a video resource. The video is hosted via Vidyard and covers fundraising insights powered by data from Carta.

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Related Resources

• Learn - Browse all AWS Startups learning resources
• AWS Credits - Apply for AWS Activate Credits
• Offers - Exclusive offers for startups
• Programs - AWS Startup programs including Accelerators, Lofts, and Spotlights

How to Partner with AWS

Learn about the essentials of how to build, market and sell your solutions with the AWS Partner Network.

Course Details

This learning path consists of 7 modules covering the AWS Partner Network (APN) and how startups can effectively partner with AWS.

1. AWS Partner Network (APN) Overview

An introduction to the AWS Partner Network and its benefits for startups.

2. APN Customer Engagements

Learn how to engage with customers through the AWS Partner Network.

3. Leveraging the Foundational Technical Review

Understand how to use the Foundational Technical Review to validate and improve your solutions.

4. Get Started on AWS Marketplace

Learn how to list and sell your solutions on AWS Marketplace.

5. AWS Global Startup Program

Overview of the AWS Global Startup Program and its resources for startups.

6. AWS Global Startup Program: Best Practices for Co-Marketing with AWS

Learn best practices for marketing your solutions alongside AWS.

7. AWS Global Startup Program: Best Practices for Co-Selling with AWS

Learn best practices for selling your solutions together with AWS.