Can AWS fund adding new workloads to my existing AWS account?
Summary
Being an existing AWS customer does not disqualify you from AWS funding. The Incremental Workload program funds companies that are already on AWS and adding significant new workloads. Some examples include a new product line, a new AI capability, a new data pipeline, or a major expansion of their existing footprint. It is distinct from migration funding (which applies to workloads moving from outside AWS) and POC or Build funding (which apply to net-new prototypes and production builds). Incremental Workload funding is accessed through a qualified AWS partner and requires a defined project scope with projected AWS spend that is genuinely incremental.
The Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) gets most of the attention in AWS funding conversations, but it only applies to workloads coming from outside AWS. Companies that are already on AWS and want to build something new can often use Incremental Workload (IW) funding to help offset costs.
What AWS IW funding covers
IW funding applies to new AWS workloads that represent a material expansion of an existing customer's footprint. The key word is incremental. The workloads must be new to AWS, so a redeployment of something already running or a migration of something running elsewhere does not qualify for this program.
Like other partner-facilitated programs, IW funding can include both AWS service credits and partner cash depending on the project scope and what AWS approves. Credits offset the new infrastructure costs. Partner cash can cover implementation labor.
What qualifies as IW-eligible work
The workloads must be new and material. AWS evaluates IW opportunities based on the scope of the project and the projected AWS spend the new workloads will generate. Small additions to an existing account, like adding a few Lambda functions or a new S3 bucket, do not qualify. A meaningful new workload, such as a new AI-powered product built on Bedrock, a new data processing pipeline at scale, or a significant new infrastructure component, is the general scale of work that can qualify.
Your company does not need to be new to AWS. You just need the workload to be new.
How IW funding differs from other programs
MAP is for workloads currently running outside AWS that are moving to AWS. If you are migrating from on-premises infrastructure or another cloud, MAP applies.
POC and Build funding apply to net-new development. If you are validating or building a new application from scratch, those programs are the right fit.
IW funding applies when you are an existing AWS customer adding something significant that is not a migration and not a first-time build. The lines sometimes blur on complex projects, and a single project can occasionally qualify for multiple programs covering different components.
Accessing IW funding
IW funding requires a qualified AWS partner. The partner assesses whether the new workloads qualify, scopes the project, and submits the funding request. AWS reviews and approves before work begins.
If you are an existing AWS customer planning a material expansion, particularly around AI workloads, new product capabilities, or major infrastructure additions, a funding assessment will tell you whether IW funding applies and what it could cover.
Tech 42 runs these assessments, which are typically covered by AWS. The output is a clear view of which programs your project qualifies for before you commit to an engagement.
