How to receive $1000 AWS Active Credit for your side project or startup
Tags: aws, sideprojects, startup
Published: 2021-05-08 10:37:11

I've signed up with AWS in 2015 and all of my free-tire credits are exhausted few years ago. But that didn't stop me for using AWS with my own money.

I am running three different websites _(all hobby projects)_ in four `t3.small` **EC2** instances with one **RDS** instance in similar `t3.small` instance, one **Application Load Balancer**, **ECS** and using few other services. On average I was paying around $100_(+-$10)_ in every month.

Few months ago I learned about [AWS Active](https://aws.amazon.com/activate/) program, which actually help developers and startups to by allowing them to use AWS services and resources freely by providing free AWS Credit. I wasn't quite sure if my startup/side project [LaptopList.com](https://www.laptoplist.com) can be eligible for applying the credits as its just a website I coded myself and deployed to AWS. But I decided to apply for the fund anyway.

Here I'll explain **how you can apply for the fund and possibly save $1000** for your hobby project bills in AWS.

###Applying for Active Fund

To apply for the fund, you'll definitely need an active AWS account.
![Apply Now](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/b4soond5hilc48xptq75.png)

Use the *Apply Now* button to initiate your application. It will redirect you to sign in to AWS. After sign in, you'll see two different category and you need to pick which category you are in. I've selected *Founders package*. Bonus is, if you are the developer of the product, you'll get $300 as _Developers Credit_, which I have also received.
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/lok05o5nd7wcdngx4stw.png)

#####Step 1
After choosing your category, you'll see a page which looks similar and it will ask you to verify your account and opt for  applying the credit to currently logged-in account.
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/zbtjrcq78haybcwsjweh.png)
#####Step 2
In the step two, you'll need to provide some more information about your startup like Company name, Location, Profile, When founded, how many peoples working, if you already have any funding _(I didn't had any)_. 
Then you'll need to mention about your product, and which AWS services you are using.
#####Step 3
In step 3, it's just information about you, your contact info, role in the startup/product, your LinkedIn profile, etc and thats it.

Once you successfully complete the application, they'll say it will take around 7-10 business days to review your application and then they'll send update about your application status. But it took only 3 days for my application.

### Receiving the fund
Once I received the email about my application getting approved, I Logged into my AWS console and visited `AWS Billing Dashboard > Credit` and saw this beautiful data there.
![AWS Billing Console](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/w39i4x2km6ptjt9e38g7.png)

### Conclusion
I hope the information provided here will help you to submit your application and I wish you best of luck. Please don't forget to share in the comment if you received your AWS Credits and also comment if you have any question. I'll try my best to help you as much I can.

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