From Idea to Frontier
AWS for Startups
Built for founders. Backed by AWS. Right from day one.
Win Early, Win Big
In the AI era, startups don't have years — they have 6 to 12 months to win.Pick the right tech partner from day one, or get left behind.With AWS AI and cloud, we cut your MVP timeline from 3 years down to 3 months.Backed by top VCs, AWS Partners, global legal pros, and battle-tested mentors.Plus exclusive access to the global Chinese developer community.A go-global Fast Track no other cloud can replicate.
Program at a Glance
Your All-Star Mentor Squad
From fundraising to going global, from tech to legal — five mentor types have your back every step of the way.
Top-Tier VC Investors
Warm intros to investors. Strategic coaching. We'll help you land meetings and close deals.
AWS Partners
Finance · Manufacturing · Retail · Healthcare
Deep industry expertise, customer validation, and warm intros to buyers. These folks know digital transformation inside and out.
Global Legal & Compliance Pros
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Need to incorporate in Singapore, Hong Kong, or the US? We handle the paperwork so you can focus on building.
Been-There-Done-That Mentors
Serial Founders · They've Walked the Walk
Product direction. Customer acquisition. Team building. Fundraising. Real war stories AI can't teach you.
AWS Senior Solutions Architects
Program Roadmap
The 2026 Journey
By July 15 — Submit Your Application
Hit Apply Now, fill out the form, and tell us about your product and tech stack.
Aug 15 — Top 100 Revealed
Welcome to the incubator.
Aug – Oct — Bootcamp Season
Virtual and in-person sessions with VCs, legal experts, and AWS Partners.
Mid-Oct — Top 50 Announced
Live pitch + community vote + mentor scores.
Mid-Nov — The Final 5
Top 5 gear up for re:Invent.
December — re:Invent Bound
Who Can Apply
- Teams of 5 or fewer — solo founders welcome
- Founded within the last 2 years
- Live company website, public profile, or pitch deck
- Clear plan to go global with real market potential
- Haven't joined this program before
Two Types of Founders. Which One Are You?
Already building or just getting started? There's a seat for you here.
Already building a startup
Solo Founders
Running your product solo and need to find PMF — fast.
Indie Developers
Full-time technical builders who need end-to-end support to go from zero to one.
Serial Founders
You know the startup drill. Now you need speed and connections for your next thing.
Ready to Launch
Gen Z Founders
Students and recent grads with technical passion and fresh perspectives who need a launchpad.
Tech Content Creators
Built a tech following on social media. Great at spreading the word — now ready to turn it into a business.
Overseas Chinese Developers
Global perspective, strong technical skills, looking to plug into China's startup ecosystem.
Join the AWS Builder Community
FAQ
Quick answers about the From Idea to Frontier program.
About the Program
Open allFrom Idea to Frontier is AWS China's flagship 2026 accelerator. We scout, nurture, and connect the most promising Chinese founders with a world-class mentor squad — top VCs, AWS Partners, and AWS Solutions Architects. The best teams get to showcase on the global stage at AWS re:Invent.
We built this for two kinds of people: builders already in the arena — solo founders, indie devs, serial entrepreneurs — who need to move faster; and aspiring founders — Gen Z students, creator-economy builders, overseas Chinese devs — who need a jumpstart.
Nope, it's 100% free. And if you're selected, you get AWS Activate Credits plus full access to our mentor network.
Applying
Open allApplications open mid-May and close July 15. Mark your calendar.
What You Get
Open allSelected teams receive AWS Activate Credits, 1:1 time with AWS Solutions Architects, monthly deep-dives, GTM and fundraising masterclasses, and a quarterly VC Demo Day.
AWS Credits are cloud credits you can put toward your AWS bill. Selected teams get them through the AWS Activate program. Learn more at https://aws.amazon.com/startups/credits
What's re:Invent?
Open allAWS re:Invent is the biggest cloud conference on the planet. Tens of thousands of developers, engineers, and tech leaders descend on Las Vegas every year. This year: Nov 30 – Dec 4, 2026.
