AWS CloudStart FAQ
Q1: What is AWS CloudStart?
AWS CloudStart is a program tailored to serve Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) within the United States. EDOs that join AWS CloudStart can refer small businesses to benefit from innovative AWS cloud technology to accelerate their growth and stimulate their community's economy. The program offers training, technical advice and promotional credits to support their digital transformation journeys.
Q2: Who is this program for?
This program is for EDOs that seek to accelerate the growth of small businesses in their community. The small businesses that are grown through this program are generally technology-based enterprises that need to find larger scale solutions for their business, enterprises that need cloud technologies to provide products and services to their customers, or small businesses seeking a cost-efficient, high-performance, secure solution.
Q3. Who is this program not for?
- Customers currently participating in other AWS credit programs
- Mature customers already using AWS services
- Small businesses that do not support the mission and goals of the EDO
Q4. What is an Economic Development Organization (EDO)?
EDOs are organizations that are responsible for stimulating economic growth in a city, county, region, state or national level. They include government agencies, public-private partnerships, nonprofits and chambers of commerce. They drive economic development in a community by attracting businesses to expand or relocate to the community, stimulate the establishment of new businesses/startups in the community and support the growth and expansion of existing businesses in the community.
Q5. What is AWS Inside CloudStart?
Inside CloudStart is a central location for AWS CloudStart members to access curated trainings, announcements, case studies that are exclusively available to our AWS CloudStart members.
Q6. What are AWS technical advisory services?
Technical advisory services are advising services delivered by solutions architects that support end users with cloud migration issues, improve consistency, and help create a central location of knowledge, artifacts, and customer deliverables. These advisors are tenured engineers and consultants with experience creating advanced AWS architectures, automation, and documentation. To request support, please email CloudStart@amazon.com.
Q7. How do I get started as a new business organization or SME?
The referring EDO will send you a link to complete a brief application. Once your application is reviewed and approved, you can access the portal to view a catalogue of training, information on AWS Promotional Credits, Quick Start guides and more.
Q8. As an EDO, how do I get a business enrolled in a program?
After an EDO joins CloudStart, the AWS CloudStart team meets with the EDO to develop a plan to stimulate the growth of small businesses in the community. After confirming the eligibility of the small businesses identified by the EDO, the EDO sends a link for eligible businesses to apply to join AWS CloudStart.
Q9. Is there a limit on the amount of credits I can distribute?
Each EDO will provide up to $5,000 in AWS Promotional Credits to each small business. These promotional credits will enable companies to get started on the cloud by accessing AWS services and products, practice labs, user experience ports, remote consulting, and other trainings so they can learn how to use cloud. AWS Terms and Conditions will apply for each company that signs up.
Q10. What if I have a question that is not addressed here?
If you have additional questions about AWS and/or how to use our services and products, we encourage you to visit the AWS home page. EDOs with additional questions can contact CloudStart@amazon.com.
Q11. How does an EDO qualify for the program?
AWS is meeting with government leaders in the US working to increase the number and size of innovative, technology-based businesses in their communities. EDOs responsible for economic development in US states, regions, counties and cities that have business retention and expansion programs for small businesses and startups are eligible to join CloudStart.
Q12. Why do small businesses have to be referred by an EDO to join CloudStart?
CloudStart is designed to augment the programs offered by EDOs to stimulate startup/small business growth in their communities. Local economic development leaders have the best perspective on where to direct AWS resources to have the greatest impact in meeting their small business growth objectives.
Q13. Why is CloudStart intended for technology-based small businesses?
While all businesses can benefit from the cloud, moving a technology-based small business to AWS transforms the business and its growth trajectory. Investing AWS resources in these businesses has a greater impact on achieving economic growth goals and enables EDOs with limited budgets to make the biggest difference in their communities.