AWS

Why we picked it This is the actual portal you apply through, not a blog paraphrase, so the tiers here are current: up to $5,000 for self-funded founders who apply direct, and up to $200,000 on the Portfolio tier if you come in through an Activate Provider (your accelerator, angel, or VC). That gap is the whole game. An Indian bootstrapped founder who applies cold gets the small tier, but the same founder routed through T-Hub, NSRCEL, or a VC's Org ID unlocks the six-figure tier. Get the Org ID before you apply.

AWS Activate: Credits for Startups (official program page)

From AWS by Amazon Web Services 10 min read

• Self-funded founders apply direct for up to $5,000; the up-to-$200,000 Portfolio tier only unlocks with an Org ID from an accelerator or investor, so secure that referral first
• Eligibility is pre-Series B, founded within 10 years, on a paid AWS plan, so apply while you still qualify rather than after you scale
• Credits expire 12 to 24 months out, so treat them as a runway clock, not a permanent subsidy