Hoping to Attract More Startups, Amazon Rolls Out AWS Activate Looking to help startups scale faster and cheaper, Amazon announced a bundle of new free tools for users of its cloud-computing platform.

By Andrea Huspeni

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Long considered a go-to resource for developers, Amazon's cloud-computing platform AWS is looking to get more startups on board with AWS Activate, a bundled package of goodies for newly minted companies.

Startups can either access AWS Activate through its Self-Starter package -- open to any business -- or the Portfolio package, which startups in accelerators, incubators and VC seed funds can gain access.

While it seems both offer free tools, the two packages vary on offerings, with the Portfolio package having extra perks.

The Self-Starter comes equipped with a free year of AWS services, allowing developers to build applications and scale current ones at no cost. Startups will also receive technical support, access to a forum, special offers from third-party businesses and web-based training, including a tutorial for people looking to develop new skills.

Related: The Downsides to Cloud Storage

The Portfolio package has all the bells and whistles of the Self-Starter but also includes a more advanced support resource, extra tutorials and credits that can be used for other Amazon services, including its database service RDS, storage platform S3 and content distribution tool CloudFront.

The move to rollout AWS Activate is to allow Amazon to go to the next level with developers and help it compete against other platforms like Rackspace. Amazon already counts Instagram, Spotify, Pinterest and Etsy as customers of its AWS services.

The CTO of mobile-first magazine Flipboard Eric Feng said AWS Activate "is great for finding technical resources, getting professional support and connecting with a broad community of developers to get the most out of our cloud computing environment," according to a statement by Amazon.

Related: 10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Cloud Provider

And Mark Cranney of heavyweight VC firm Andreessen Horowitz pointed out "The ability for startups to quickly build and scale is crucial to their success. With access to resources like AWS Activate, startups can swiftly and easily use AWS and focus on growing their businesses."

What has been your experience with Amazon's cloud services? Let us know in the comments below.

Andrea Huspeni

Founder of This Dog's Life

Andrea Huspeni is the former special projects director at Entrepreneur.com and the founder of This Dog's Life.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

'I Was Called Crazy': This 27-Year-Old's Side Hustle Hit $30,000 a Month in Under a Year — Now It's Worth Millions

Changing regulations forced Angel Rodriguez's jet ski rental company to shut down, and the young entrepreneur had to figure out his next move — fast.

Science & Technology

Want to Make Money With AI? Here Are Easy Steps to Unlock Explosive Profits in 2025

Learn to turn Google AI Studio into a profit-boosting machine with this three-step framework. Train AI to analyze data, uncover sales opportunities and maximize profits.

Business News

These Are the Most In-Demand Jobs for 2025, According to a New Report

From software developer to registered nurse, these jobs have the highest number of predicted openings.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'How Vulnerable Senior Investors Are': Morgan Stanley Was Ordered to Pay $843,000 to an Elderly Widow Who Was Scammed Out of Millions (and Not By Them)

The scheme involved multiple criminals who pretended to be technical support staffers, employees at the bank, and even government workers.

Growing a Business

4 Advanced Marketing Tactics for Small Businesses That Actually Work

Small businesses can adopt advanced marketing strategies to stand out and achieve sustainable growth. Techniques like personalization, content clusters and virtual events help build stronger customer connections and deliver real results.