The AWS Impact Bootcamps builds on AWS’s $30 million commitment to Black, Women, Latino, and LGBTQIA+ founders launched in 2022, and scales its global footprint in supporting hundreds more diverse founders beyond the US.

“Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not," said Dr. Nashlie Sephus, Principal AI/ML Tech Evangelist at AWS. "The Impact Accelerator was a great first step in offering outsized opportunity to Black, Women, Latino, LGBTQIA+, founders and others committed to the cause of inclusion for all, so they could get the capital, training, mentoring, and technical guidance they needed to innovate. With the AWS Impact Bootcamps, we want to double down on this support and reach more founders in more places."

The AWS Impact Bootcamps programme is due to launch in six cities across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, which includes Atlanta, New York, Mexico City, and London in 2025, and Tokyo and Berlin in early 2026.

Each bootcamp will deliver an intensive two-day programme, equipping early-stage, underrepresented founders with deep technical training, expert business advice, tools, and access to mentors, investors, and a wider community. Additionally, founders on the bootcamp will receive $5,000 in AWS credits to begin building on the AWS Cloud. The workshops will be locally managed by Techstars.

David Cohen, Founder and CEO of Techstars, commented: “At Techstars, we strongly believe that great ideas come from anywhere and anyone, no matter their backgrounds or where they live.

“This partnership with AWS will allow us to reach founders we might not otherwise meet and give them the mentorship and guidance they need to scale.”

The first bootcamp will take place in Atlanta in early September, with further programmes launching in the subsequent months. To be eligible, founding teams must identify as a member of an underrepresented community (Black, Women, Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, and founders with disabilities) or demonstrate work, activities, or engagement that supports these communities. They must also have a clear need for Cloud technology, and be self-funded, angel-backed, or have raised up to a Series A, with plans to scale or fundraise soon.

A few participating startups will be invited to the AWS Founder Retreat, a weekend featuring investor meetings and a chance to win up to $50,000 in grant funding, as well as an additional $15,000 in AWS credits. Top participants will also be considered for Techstars’ accelerator programmes or Founder Catalyst pre-accelerator programmes.

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