AWS Launches Global AWS Build Program to Support Startups’ Cloud Innovations
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc., has announced the introduction of a new global program called AWS Build. The program aims to provide support to entrepreneurs in the early stages of their cloud journey, assisting them in developing, refining, and launching their innovative applications. AWS Build will offer business and technical guidance to startup founders, with a 10-week curriculum designed to help them leverage AWS’s tech stack and launch their Minimum Viable Products (MVP).
During the program, a maximum of 500 startup founders from around the world will gain insights into incorporating advanced cloud technologies such as analytics, serverless computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning into their applications. In addition to technical fundamentals, founders will receive guidance on strategic decision-making related to product development, monetization, finding beta customers, and other crucial aspects of successfully launching their products.
The application process for the AWS Build program is now open and will continue until September 22, 2023. Startups interested in enrolling can visit the AWS website to apply. Howard Wright, the vice president and global head of Startups at AWS, emphasized that AWS Build was created to support founders at the earliest stages of their startup journey. The program aims to help startups harness the power of the AWS cloud in innovative ways and ensure they have a strong foundation to facilitate future scaling.
The AWS Build curriculum will be fully online and primarily self-paced, allowing startup founders to progress at their own speed. Weekly live virtual engagements will provide opportunities for technical office hours with AWS solutions architecture experts, business-focused Ask Me Anything sessions featuring venture investors and industry leaders, and peer-to-peer networking events. The program will be conducted in English and will run from October 9 to December 15.
Startups participating in the AWS Build program will receive up to $2,000 in AWS credits to support the development of their products and services in the cloud. The program is open to startup founders from all over the world. Founders who previously applied for one of the AWS accelerator programs but were too early-stage to enroll will automatically be invited to join AWS Build. At the end of the program, founders will have the opportunity to join the AWS Build community, a global virtual network that facilitates ongoing collaboration and advice as startups continue to scale.
Amanda Herson, partner at Founder Collective, the top-ranked seed fund on the Forbes Midas List, recognized the importance of navigating the early stages of product development in building a scalable business. Herson believes that AWS Build will enable founders to tap into AWS’s technical expertise, resulting in the creation of stronger Minimum Viable Products that are efficient and cost-effective. This, in turn, will attract investors like Founder Collective.
To apply for the AWS Build program, all applicants must join AWS Activate, AWS’s startup hub. By joining, they gain access to self-service business and technical content covering a wide range of topics, including fundraising, legal guidance, solutions architecture, and emerging fields like generative AI. Applicants may also be eligible for other credit packages up to $100,000 as they progress on their cloud journey, as well as benefit from partner offerings through AWS Activate.
With the launch of AWS Build, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) is showcasing its commitment to bolstering the startup ecosystem by providing entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance necessary to harness the potential of cloud technology. Through this global program, AWS aims to nurture a new generation of startups and empower them to make a significant impact in their respective industries. By equipping founders with the skills and resources needed to succeed, AWS Build is poised to shape the future of cloud innovation.
