AWS Equity Equivalent Investment Program
Get the support and resources you need to build your startup
About
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the South African AWS Partner Ecosystem
Amazon’s mission is to be earth’s most customer-centric company. We foster diversity and inclusion globally and look for ways to amplify underrepresented voices and empower diverse communities.
The Amazon Web Services Equity Equivalent Investment Program (AWS EEIP) is an 18-24-month enablement and acceleration program for South African Black-Owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who want to build their AWS business and grow as partners in the AWS Partner Network (APN).
We recognize the challenges that SMEs have in accessing low-cost funding, accessing markets and connecting with buyers, building networks and developing and enabling their people. Whether you are new to cloud or need help accelerating your AWS partner journey, the AWS EEIP offers a range of benefits to help you grow your business, enable your team and become a Validated partner in the APN.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
- 100% Black-Owned — You must be 100% Black-owned as defined in the ICT Sector B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice. 100% Black South African as the term “Black people” is a generic term which means Africans, Coloureds and Indians—(a) who are citizens of the Republic of South Africa by birth or descent; Or (b) who became citizens of the Republic of South Africa by Naturalisation —(i) before 27 April 1994; or(ii) on or after 27 April 1994 and who would have been entitled to acquire citizenship by naturalisation prior to that date.
- Valid Level 1 B-BBEE Certificate — You must have a valid Level 1 B-BBEE Contributor certificate or Affidavit at the date of application.
- Exempted Micro-Enterprise or Qualifying Small Enterprise — Your turnover must not exceed R50m per year at the date of application.
- Founders Experience — 100% Founder-owned equity must remain so for the Contract Term.
- Shareholding — There must be no debt attached to the shareholding of ’Black people’ for the duration of the program.
- Must be a Software Partner — For organizations that develop software that runs on or is integrated with AWS and or are Cloud software industry solutions partners (SaaS).
Program Benefits
Training and Certification
- AWS Skill Builder Subscriptions
- AWS Classroom Training
- AWS Foundational Certification Vouchers
- AWS Associate Certification Exam Vouchers
- AWS Professional Certification Exam Vouchers
- AWS Specialty Certification Exam Vouchers
- Scrum Certification Training and Exam Voucher
- FinOps Certificate Practitioner Course and Exam Voucher
Enablement
- 1:1 Consultant Led Product Workshop
- 1:1 Consultant Led Business Transformation Workshop
- 1:1 Weekly Technical Support Office Hours
- Many Technical Enablement Workshops
Operations
- Headcount funding to subsidize your compensation costs as you grow your team
- Office Subsidy
- Hardware Benefit
- Administration Subsidy
Acceleration
- Fully Funded APN Program fee upon meeting APN Software Path Validation Requirements
- Market Development Funds
- AWS Credits to help cover your AWS service usage
Partner Quotes
“The reason [for joining the EEIP] was to get us back to first principles, and learn the basics of how we run the business–how we initialize it the right way and build the skills and relationships using AWS.”
- Hemansu Keeka, Co-Founder and Director of Strategy and Operations, Disraptor
For Cinga, the EEIP came at the right time on BATSAMAYI’s journey. The AWS EEIP has enabled BATSAMAYI to scale its delivery capacity and introduce new offerings that contribute to the long-term sustainability of the company.
“My responsibility is securing our future and making sure we reach our targets. I used to manage a lot of things. For example, in quality assurance, if the client wanted to talk, they would do it through me. EEIP has helped us to accelerate, it’s a catalyst and having someone to hold us accountable has helped.”
- Cinga Nyangintsimbi, Managing Director, BATSAMAYI
“I am so proud of the team for being able to achieve Advance Tier in such a
short space of time. This is something that would have taken us over 2 years to
attain on [our] own.”
- Jonathan Oaker, Founder and Managing Director, CloudZA
"The EEIP provided us with benefits to combine financial prosperity with social impact, allowing black businesses in South Africa to make a meaningful difference in the world.”
- Shakes Mkhonza, Founder, Umdoko Internet
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“The AWS EEIP has transformed and impacted our business in a meaningful way and in the fastest time possible. The EEIP is definitely not an easy program to participate in, but the evident business growth and transformation is all worth it. The AWS EEIP program will make you think critically about your capabilities as an entrepreneur and your overall business, but in that same light, it’ll help you realize what is truly important and help keep laser focus and help you maximize your efforts.”
- Tebogo Moleta, Founder and Manging Director, Think Tank
“The AWS EEIP has provided us with an opportunity to fast track our business through the coaching provided by the program team and consultants, the program gave the team and the business structure and has made us see what is possible.”
- Phakiso Mataitsane, CEO, Pax Divitiae
AWS Partner Network
About the AWS Partner Network
The AWS Partner Network (APN) is a global community of partners that leverages programs, expertise, and resources to build, market, and sell customer offerings.
This diverse network features 100,000 partners from more than 150 countries. As an AWS Partner, you are uniquely positioned to help customers take full advantage of all that AWS has to offer and accelerate their journey to the cloud. Together, partners and AWS can provide innovative solutions, solve technical challenges, win deals, and deliver value to our mutual customers.
Why become an AWS Partner?
Innovate, expand your customer reach, and grow your business with technical, marketing, and funding resources from AWS. Together, partners and AWS can provide innovative solutions, solve technical challenges, win deals, and deliver value to our mutual customers.
Innovation
Customer Reach
Growth
The AWS EEIP is not open to applicants who have already reached the Validated stage for any APN Partner Path.