AWS increases approach to early-stage startups with new programme

AWS Build is designed to support entrepreneurs early in their cloud journey to build, refine, and launch their innovative applications, over 10 weeks..

During the course, a cohort of up to 500 startup founders from around the world will receive business and technical guidance to best leverage the flexibility and scalability of AWS's tech stack to launch their Minimum Viable Products (MVP).

Startups will also learn technical fundamentals to incorporate the most advanced cloud technologies into their applications, from analytics and serverless, to AI and machine learning.

The initiative will also help founders make strategic decisions related to product development, monetisation of their ideas, where to find and when to use beta customers, and other relevant themes to successfully launch their products.

“AWS Build was designed to support founders at the earliest stages of their startup journey, helping them turn their ideas into innovative products,” said Howard Wright, vice president and global head of Startups at AWS.

“Our goal is to help usher in a new generation of startups that are leveraging the power of the AWS cloud in new ways, and to help them get their fundamentals right, so they can be ready to scale.”

The programme will run from October 9 to December 15 and will be delivered in English. To benefit the most from AWS Build, startups need to have a working prototype and a technical leader on their team.

“Learning how to navigate the early stages of product development is at the crux of building a scalable business,” said Amanda Herson, partner at Founder Collective, the top-ranked seed fund on the Forbes Midas List.

“AWS Build will enable founders to tap into AWS’s deep technical expertise early in their journey to bring stronger MVPs to market, built with efficiency and cost-effectiveness from the ground up–key elements to attract investors like us.”

Founders selected for the initiative will receive up to $2,000 in AWS credits to help them build their products and services in the cloud. Startups from all over the world can apply to participate and founders who applied to one of the AWS accelerator programmes in the past, but were too early-stage to enrol, will automatically be invited to participate in AWS Build. After the programme concludes, founders will be invited to join the AWS Build community, a global virtual network of peers and technical experts they can leverage for continued collaboration and advice as they scale.

To apply to the AWS Build programme, all applicants will be required to join AWS Activate, AWS's startup hub, where they can have access to self-service business and technical content covering a myriad of purposeful themes, from fundraising and legal guidance to technical documentation on solutions architecture and hot topics, such as generative AI. In addition, applicants may be eligible to apply for other credit packages up to $100,000 as they continue their cloud journey, as well as benefit from partner offerings through AWS Activate.

Applications open today and will be accepted until September 22.

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