AWS, Meta launch a new program to accelerate AI innovation

Amazon Web Services and Meta have teamed up to launch a program to help startups build and iterate AI solutions with Llama models.

According to the two tech giants, the six-month program will provide 30 US startups access to AWS and Meta engineers, AWS solution architects and generative AI experts. The startups will also be able to reach technical support via a private Discord channel with Meta’s Llama team. Plus, they will receive up to $200,000 in AWS cloud computing credits.

“Foundation models like Llama are fuelling a new wave of AI applications that prioritize flexibility, transparency, and developer control,” said Jon Jones, AWS VP and Global Head of Startups and Venture Capital.

“This collaboration between AWS and Meta will empower founders to turn bold ideas into transformative products faster. By combining world-class technical mentorship, powerful compute, and strategic go-to-market support, we’re giving startups the tools to shape the future of AI.”

The companies said the program is open to early-stage startups – seed to series B – in the US that are building AI applications using Llama. Eligible startups must also be less than 10 years old and available for a six-month virtual program.

How to apply for AWS, Meta startup program

Applications, which are open until August 8, 2025, will be selected based on the potential impact of the proposed solutions and the technical ability of the startups’ teams, Meta stated.

“We developed Llama because we believe greater access to powerful models is essential for driving progress in AI,” said Meta AI Partnerships VP Ash Jhaveri.

“Our goal is to give developers and researchers the flexibility to experiment, adapt, and build responsibly. Startups are some of the most creative forces in tech, and we’re looking forward to seeing how they’ll use Llama to push boundaries, explore new frontiers, and shape the future of AI in bold and unexpected ways.”

The move follows Meta’s launch of its Llama Startup Program in May. The initiative was designed to also encourage startups to use Llama to build their AI applications, by giving members of the program a “competitive edge by offering direct support from the Llama team”. 

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