What does AWS’s expansion of its global GenAI accelerator mean for early-stage startups?

Beginning October 1, our 10-week global program will empower founders of chosen generative AI startups with access to up to $1 million in AWS credits. This initiative, part of AWS’s $230 million commitment to supporting generative AI startups, expands our global Generative AI Accelerator. The program targets 80 founders globally, including 20 from the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, providing tailored technical and business guidance.

Applications for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator are now open until July 19, offering selected startups the opportunity to leverage AWS’ compute, storage, and databases alongside mentorship from industry leaders.

For startups in the APJ region, we’ve introduced the AWS Generative AI Spotlight program, a four-week accelerator designed to foster generative AI applications. Participants will gain insights from industry experts, founders, and investors, and receive peer support within a community setting.

Additionally, startups selected for these programs will also benefit from AWS Activate, our flagship startup program, including up to $100,000 in AWS Credits, subject to program terms and AWS discretion.

Matt Taylor, Head of Startups Solutions Architecture, APJ at AWS, commented, “AWS has been instrumental in supporting startups globally for 18 years. Our new accelerator programs are poised to drive innovation among generative AI startups across the APJ region, leveraging our robust AWS stack.”

Amitabh Nagpal, Head of Startup Ecosystem, AWS India, highlighted, “Our programs cater to the diverse needs of early-stage generative AI startups, offering resources like AWS credits, tools, and expert guidance to accelerate their growth. We encourage eligible startups in India to apply and join us in pioneering generative AI-led transformations.”

Applications for the AWS Spotlight Program are open until June 30, 2024, with selected startups to be announced in July 2024.