Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc., has launched applications for the third cohort of its Generative AI Accelerator Programme. The eight-week initiative is designed to equip early-stage startups with the tools and resources needed to scale transformative generative AI technologies.
Set to begin on October 13, 2025, at Amazon’s global headquarters in Seattle, the accelerator will host up to 40 startups selected from across the globe. Each participant stands to benefit from up to $1 million in AWS credits, mentorship, enterprise-level technical support, and access to strategic business networks.
Applications for the programme opened on June 10 and will close by July 10, 2025. According to AWS, the 2025 edition will sharpen its focus on startups developing foundational technologies in generative AI — such as large language models (LLMs), AI infrastructure tools, agent-based systems, and fine-tuning platforms.
Jon Jones, Vice President and Global Head of Startups at AWS, noted that generative AI has become a central force in startup innovation globally. “We are now at a stage where virtually all startups will be applying generative AI to their business in one shape or form,” Jones said. “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 emphasised that Amazon’s broader vision is to accelerate innovation by helping high-potential startups scale their solutions confidently with both technical expertise and market visibility.
The accelerator programme will follow a hybrid model — combining online learning and virtual mentorship with in-person experiences, including participation in AWS re:Invent 2025, the company’s flagship cloud computing conference.
To qualify for the programme, startups must have a functional minimum viable product (MVP), some customer traction, and a strong technical team in place. AWS aims to attract startups pushing the boundaries of AI across sectors such as biotechnology, healthcare, fintech, music, and infrastructure.
The initiative comes at a time when Big Tech firms are racing to invest in foundational AI technologies, aiming to corner the next big market in computing and data science.
Several alumni of the 2024 cohort have praised the programme’s impact on their businesses. Simon Kohl Courtois, CEO of biotech firm Latent Labs, described the accelerator as pivotal to their growth: “The AWS Generative AI Accelerator offered us a unique blend of technical depth and commercial reach. We’re building AI foundation models to make biology programmable and accelerate drug discovery, and this programme brought us closer to those goals.”
Tracy Chan, CEO of music AI startup Splash Music, also hailed the accelerator’s hands-on benefits. “It gave us early access to cutting-edge tools like SageMaker HyperPod and Trainium. The support we received allowed us to migrate models and boost performance significantly,” Chan said.
As the AI boom gains ground globally, Nigerian and African startups have a unique opportunity to plug into world-class infrastructure and capital through programmes like this. With a rising number of African AI ventures targeting sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and logistics, participation in AWS’s accelerator could be a game-changer for startups looking to go global.
Local AI firms meeting the selection criteria — particularly those involved in foundational model development or agent-based AI systems — are strongly encouraged to apply. Given Amazon’s growing interest in Africa’s startup ecosystem and recent cloud infrastructure expansion on the continent, industry watchers see this move as a strategic pipeline for identifying future unicorns.
Amazon’s continued investment in AI infrastructure and accelerator programmes reflects a broader industry pivot. As AI integration becomes mainstream across industries, platforms like AWS are positioning themselves as not just cloud providers but innovation hubs. This aligns with projections that the generative AI market could exceed $100 billion globally by 2030.
For now, Amazon’s 2025 Generative AI Accelerator provides a unique window of opportunity for ambitious startups to tap into advanced computing capabilities, funding, and a global mentorship network — positioning them to lead in the next wave of AI-powered transformation.