Most founders only know about AWS's $5K credits. We match you, free, with a vetted AWS partner who can get you far more when your project qualifies.
Figures for the CloudRoute team since January 2026, from partner records. Updated October 2026.
You don't need to know which AWS program fits. Tell us what you're building. We find the funding route and a partner who can file it.
We find the funding route and the partner. The partner files. AWS approves or declines. You tell us what you're building and decide whether to hire the partner.
A 90-second form: where you are, what you are building, how to reach you. No technical questions and no AWS knowledge needed. We use it to see which funding route fits before anyone gets on a call.
A person reads your inquiry and replies within 24 hours. We tell you which route fits: MAP if you are moving to AWS, POC if you want to test something, IW if you are on AWS and launching new work. If you are VC-backed, we also tell you how to apply for Activate yourself.
Your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days. When the workload qualifies, they file MAP, POC or IW funding, and AWS approves or declines it. CloudRoute is free for startups: partners pay us, not you.
Activate is the program founders apply for themselves. MAP, POC and incremental workload (IW) funding are different: only an AWS partner can file them, for real work that qualifies. For most startups without VC backing, the partner route is where the bigger amounts are.
Depends on the workload; AWS approves.
VC-backed? Apply for Activate Portfolio yourself with your investor's Org ID. No partner can file it for you. Not VC-backed? Activate Founders gives you $1K, up to $5K. The bigger money for you is the funding a partner files: MAP, POC or IW, $50K to $150K when the workload qualifies and AWS approves. We match you with a partner who can file it.
62 programs, $2.6M+ in cloud, AI and tool credits, verified October 2026. You apply for these yourself, AWS Activate included. MAP, POC and IW funding are different: only an AWS partner can file them, and we match you with one.
| Program | Category | Max value | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CloudflareCloudflare for Startups | Cloud | $350K | easy | Details → |
Google CloudGoogle for Startups Cloud Program | Cloud | $350K | moderate | Details → |
Amazon Web ServicesAWS Activate (Founders, Portfolio, AI credits) | Cloud | $200K | moderate | Details → |
DatabricksDatabricks Startup Program (Databricks for Startups) | Data | $200K | moderate | Details → |
NeonNeon Startup Program | Data | $200K | moderate | Details → |
MicrosoftMicrosoft for Startups (Azure credits) | Cloud | $150K | moderate | Details → |
IBMStartup with IBM | Cloud | $120K | moderate | Details → |
OVHcloudOVHcloud Startup Program | Cloud | $120K | moderate | Details → |
AnthropicClaude for Startups | AI models | $100K | moderate | Details → |
DatadogDatadog for Startups | Dev tools | $100K | moderate | Details → |
NVIDIANVIDIA Inception | GPU compute | $100K | moderate | Details → |
OracleOracle Startup Growth Engine | Cloud | $100K | moderate | Details → |
RenderRender for Startups | Cloud | $100K | moderate | Details → |
PostHogPostHog for Startups | Dev tools | $50K | easy | Details → |
Together AITogether AI Startup Accelerator | AI models | $50K | moderate | Details → |
ScalewayScaleway Startup Program | Cloud | $48K | moderate | Details → |
RunwareRunware Grant Program | AI models | $30K | easy | Details → |
VercelVercel for Startups | Cloud | $30K | moderate | Details → |
RedisRedis for Startups | Data | $25K | moderate | Details → |
ResendResend YC Deal and Partner Deals | Dev tools | $25K | easy | Details → |
RunpodRunpod Startup Program | GPU compute | $25K | moderate | Details → |
ConfluentConfluent for Startups | Data | $20K | easy | Details → |
Neo4jNeo4j Startup Program | Data | $16K | easy | Details → |
NotionNotion for Startups | Business | $12K | easy | Details → |
AlgoliaAlgolia Startup Program | Dev tools | $10K | easy | Details → |
GitHubGitHub for Startups | Dev tools | $10K | easy | Details → |
GroqGroq for Startups (Groq Startup Program) | AI models | $10K | hard | Details → |
TwilioTwilio Startups | Dev tools | $10K | hard | Details → |
ElevenLabsElevenLabs Grants (Startup Grants) | AI models | $6K | easy | Details → |
ClickHouseClickHouse Startup Offer (ClickHouse Cloud Startup Program) | Data | $5K | moderate | Details → |
DeelDeel for Startups | Business | $5K | easy | Details → |
MongoDBMongoDB for Startups | Data | $5K | easy | Details → |
Perplexity AIPerplexity for Startups | AI models | $5K | hard | Details → |
SentrySentry for Startups | Dev tools | $5K | easy | Details → |
LambdaLambda Cloud credits for NVIDIA Inception members | GPU compute | $1K | moderate | Details → |
VantaVanta for Startups | Security | $1K | easy | Details → |
SupabaseSupabase for Startups | Data | $300 | moderate | Details → |
AmplitudeAmplitude for Startups | Dev tools | $60K plan value | easy | Details → |
AtlassianAtlassian for Startups | Dev tools | 12 months free | easy | Details → |
Auth0Auth0 for Startups | Security | 12 months free | easy | Details → |
BrexBrex for Startups (rewards & partner perks) | Business | $350K+ in perks | moderate | Details → |
CartaCarta Launch | Business | free cap table | easy | Details → |
ClerkClerk for Startups | Security | Clerk Pro discount | easy | Details → |
CohereCohere Startup Program | AI models | program closed | hard | Details → |
DigitalOceanDigitalOcean Startups (formerly Hatch) | Cloud | 12 months of credits | easy | Details → |
Fireworks AIFireworks for Startups | AI models | API credits | moderate | Details → |
HubSpotHubSpot for Startups | Business | up to 90% off | easy | Details → |
IntercomIntercom Early Stage Program | Business | about $30K value | easy | Details → |
LinearLinear for Startups | Dev tools | 6 months free | easy | Details → |
MercuryMercury perks for startups | Business | perk bundle | easy | Details → |
MixpanelMixpanel for Startups | Dev tools | $145K plan value | easy | Details → |
ModalModal for Startups (Modal Startup Credits) | AI models | free GPU credits | moderate | Details → |
New RelicNew Relic for Startups | Dev tools | free for 5 users | moderate | Details → |
OpenAIOpenAI for Startups | AI models | VC-set credits | hard | Details → |
PineconePinecone for Startups | Data | free Standard tier | easy | Details → |
PlanetScalePlanetScale for Startups | Data | free migration | moderate | Details → |
RampRamp for Startups | Business | $350K+ in perks | moderate | Details → |
SaladCloudSaladCloud startup credits (Salad Partner Offer on Credit for Startups) | GPU compute | GPU credits | moderate | Details → |
SnowflakeSnowflake for Startups | Data | credits, amount unpublished | moderate | Details → |
StripeStripe Atlas (and Stripe Startups Program) | Business | $2.5K plus perks | easy | Details → |
WorkOSWorkOS for Startups | Security | free to 1M MAUs | easy | Details → |
ZendeskZendesk for Startups | Business | up to 24 months free | easy | Details → |
Showing 62 of 62 programs.
Every amount links to the official program page from its details page. Last verified 2026-10-09.
One example, step by step. It shows the process, not a result.
Example: a startup wants to move off another cloud, test an AI feature, or launch new work on AWS. These are the steps every match follows.
Cloud, stage, monthly spend and what they are building. It takes about 90 seconds. No AWS knowledge needed.
A person at CloudRoute reads the inquiry and checks which route fits: MAP for a move to AWS, POC for a test, IW for new work on AWS. VC-backed founders also hear how to apply for Activate themselves.
We choose an AWS partner by region, stack and funding route, and tell the founder why.
They run a discovery call and write a short scope: the work, the funding route they would file, and what AWS will ask to see.
If the workload qualifies, the partner files MAP, POC or IW funding. AWS reviews it and approves or declines. Nothing is promised before AWS approves.
Hire the partner or not. There is no obligation. Startups pay CloudRoute nothing. Partners pay CloudRoute a monthly membership of $5K, $7.5K or $10K plus 10% of AWS-approved funding.
Yes, we are a referral service between startups and AWS partners. It is free for startups because partners pay us: a monthly membership of $5K, $7.5K or $10K, plus 10% of AWS-approved funding. CloudRoute is not part of AWS and does not issue credits.
Your matched partner files MAP, POC or IW funding when the workload qualifies, and AWS approves or declines it. Activate is different: you apply for it yourself. AWS Activate Founders is at aws.amazon.com/startups/credits. For AWS Activate Portfolio, use the Org ID from your Activate Provider (a VC, accelerator, incubator or angel). No partner, and not CloudRoute, can file Activate for you.
MAP if you are not on AWS yet and want to move. POC if you want to test something, on AWS or not. IW (incremental workload) if you are already on AWS and launching new work, like an AI feature, a new customer or a new contract. For a startup, partner-filed funding can be $50K to $150K. It depends on the workload, and AWS approves.
Because only an AWS partner can request MAP, POC or IW funding, and only for real work it will deliver. Activate you can apply for directly, and you should. If Activate credits are all you need, you do not need us.
We reply within 24 hours; your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days. How long AWS takes to review partner-filed funding depends on the program and the workload. Your partner tells you what to expect before anything is filed.
No. The form has no technical questions. Tell us what you are building in plain English, and the partner works out the rest with you on the discovery call.
Everything for AWS consulting partners, including the application form, is at /partners.
90-second form. We reply within 24 hours; your matched partner reaches out within 5 business days. Free for startups.
