Rio de Janeiro and AWS partner to provide R$ 25M in startup support

The City of Rio de Janeiro and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have formalized a partnership to bolster the local technology and innovation ecosystem. Announced during Rio Innovation Week, the initiative aims to provide up to R$ 20.5 million to R$ 25 million in cloud credits through the AWS Activate program.

The program is designed to support approximately 600 active startups mapped in the city, which currently generate around 14,400 jobs. To qualify, companies must be tech-based, have less than ten years of operation, and be in a pre-Series B investment stage. Beyond financial credits—which can reach up to US$ 5,000 per startup—the partnership includes technical training, business support, and mentorship through programs like AWS Academy.

The initiative operates within the framework of Rio.IA, an innovation hub involving the municipal government, universities, and investors. The city aims to leverage this support to develop solutions in key sectors, including energy, tourism, creative economy, blue economy, govtech, and health.