Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing arm of Amazon.com, Inc., has announced the launch of applications for the third edition of its Generative AI Accelerator, an intensive eight-week global programme aimed at supporting early-stage startups working on groundbreaking generative artificial intelligence solutions.
According to a statement released by the company on Tuesday, up to 40 startups from across the globe will be selected for the 2025 cohort. Each selected startup will be eligible to receive up to $1 million in AWS credits, along with access to expert mentorship, education sessions, and enterprise-level technical support.
The application window opened on June 10 and will run until July 10, 2025. The programme is expected to commence on October 13, 2025, at Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle, Washington, USA.
Jon Jones, Vice President and Global Head of Startups at AWS, said the 2025 edition would focus more closely on startups creating the core technologies that power generative AI innovations.
“We are now at a stage where virtually all startups will be applying generative AI to their business in one shape or form,” Jones noted. “That’s why for this year’s accelerator, we are honing our focus to support those startups developing the foundational technologies that will define what’s possible with AI.”
He added that AWS’s mission with the accelerator is to boost innovation on a global scale by providing high-potential startups with the tools and visibility required to scale effectively.
The programme will run in a hybrid format, combining virtual learning sessions with in-person engagements at key AWS events, including the company’s flagship AWS re:Invent 2025 conference.
To qualify, startups must be building technologies such as large language models (LLMs), infrastructure tools, fine-tuning platforms, or agent-based systems. Additionally, applicants must have at least a minimum viable product (MVP), demonstrable traction with customers, and a robust technical team.
Simon Kohl Courtois, CEO and Founder of Latent Labs, one of the startups from the 2024 cohort, described the accelerator as pivotal to their development. “At Latent Labs, we are building AI foundation models to make biology programmable and accelerate drug discovery,” he said. “The AWS Generative AI Accelerator offered us a unique blend of technical depth and commercial reach.”
He highlighted that the programme gave them access to a global ecosystem and provided meaningful support in aligning their innovations with practical, real-world demands.
Tracy Chan, CEO of Splash Music, echoed this sentiment. She said the accelerator helped her team enhance their model performance and strategic direction.
“The AWS accelerator was a game-changer for us,” Chan said. “It gave us early access to cutting-edge tools like SageMaker HyperPod and Trainium, plus hands-on support to migrate our models, significantly accelerating our research.”
The initiative underscores AWS’s ongoing commitment to advancing the AI space by empowering the next generation of innovators. Startups across sectors including health, biotech, finance, entertainment, logistics, and enterprise software are encouraged to apply if they meet the eligibility requirements.
