Amazon power startups with its cloud services

• Cloud giant launches scheme to help startups get online
• Two packages on offer, for individuals and accelerators

AMAZON Web Services (AWS) has launched AWS Activate, a structured package the company claims would help startups gain access to technology resources and enable them to get started easily and scale as their business grows.
 
The Seattle, Washington-based cloud computing giant announced that AWS Activate is now globally available to any startup wishing to use its on-demand, pay-as-you-go cloud-based services.
 
Speaking at a media briefing in Malaysia on Oct 29, Rick Harshman, head of AWS Asean, said startups signing up with AWS Activate would have access to AWS Credits, AWS Training, AWS Developer Support, a special Startup Community forum, as well as other special offers from third parties, among other things.
 
“AWS Credits allow companies to use [the AWS] platform for up to a year at no cost,” he explained. “AWS Training is a programme consisting of a variety of courses to help startups begin on the AWS platform; and AWS Developer Support offers free business support for up to a year.
 
“The Startup forum is a specific forum for startups to ask other startups across the globe about their usage of AWS, best practices, and how they leverage on the AWS platform,” Harshman, said, adding the forum is managed by Amazon but responses come from entrpreneurs from across the globe.
 
Asked if there are specific criteria in order to qualify for AWS Activate, Harshman said “There aren’t any; ... anyone who believes they are startups can apply.”
 
AWS wants to make it easy for anyone to easily and quickly get started with AWS to enable them to use its platform to grow their business, he added.
 
Harshman (pic) also said that AWS has had these types of specialised programmes for startups for some time but only now has it formalised the details for the Malaysian market.
 
Acknowledging that cloud computing is borderless, he said AWS Activate has been formalised based on feedback from startups, various accelerators, as well as venture capital funds.
 
“These guys have been saying that, ‘It’s great you’re participating in the startup phase but we’d like to see a more formal programme for the startups.’ This is what led us to introduce AWS Activate.”
 
In Malaysia, social news network website Says.com is an AWS customer and claimed that its services has made its startup journey easier with low cost of development, technical help, training and support, when the web startup needed it.
 
“[Also with] a vibrant community of startups to learn and share AWS best practices, AWS Activate makes it even easier for startups to gain access to these resources and leverage the benefits of AWS,” Arzumy MD, the chief technology officer of Says.com, said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Says Sdn Bhd and select subsidiaries of Catcha Media Berhad merged into a new company, Rev Media Equity Holdings Sdn Bhd, which aims to become South-East Asia’s largest digital media group.
 
AWS Activate comes in two packages; a Self-Starter package and a Portfolio package. The Self-Starter package is targeted at individual startups; more information can be found here.

The Portfolio package is targeted at startups in select accelerator, incubator, venture capital seed funds or entrepreneur organisations. For more information, go here.

With the Self-Starter package, eligible startups will receive access to the AWS Free Usage Tier; one month of developer-level AWS Support; web-based training and one self-paced lab; AWS startup forum; and access to offers on products from select third-party companies.
 
With the Portfolio package, eligible startups receive AWS credits; business-level AWS Support for up to one year; web-based and instructor-led training, including class labs and credit for four self-paced labs; startup forum privileges; and access to offers on products from select third-party companies.
 
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