Amazon Offers Free Kiro Pro+ AI Coding Assistant to VC-Funded Startups

Amazon is making a major play for the developer community. The tech giant announced a free one-year credit program for its Kiro Pro+ AI coding tool. The offer targets venture capital-backed startups. AWS CEO Matt Garman revealed the news at the re:Invent 2025 conference in Las Vegas.

This move directly challenges established rivals like GitHub Copilot and Claude Code. Amazon hopes to attract early-stage companies to its ecosystem. It is a classic customer acquisition strategy in the competitive cloud wars.

Eligibility and Strategic Restrictions Apply

The offer has clear qualifications. Only startups from pre-seed to Series B funding stages are eligible. They must have secured venture capital backing. Companies can request credits for up to 100 users.

There are also geographic limitations. The program is available to U.S.-based startups. However, it excludes many other regions. According to the announcement, France, Germany, Italy, and much of South America are not included. Sanctioned countries are also ineligible. The application deadline is December 31, 2025.

A Calculated Move in a Crowded Market

The AI coding assistant space is intensely competitive. Developers have many options, from Cursor to Replit. Amazon’s free credit strategy is a clear market entry tactic. It lowers the barrier for startups to try Kiro Pro+.

Long-term, Amazon aims to lock these companies into its AWS services. Getting developers hooked on its tools early is key. This can lead to broader cloud infrastructure adoption later. The short-term cost of free credits could drive significant long-term revenue.

Amazon’s free Kiro Pro+ offer is a strategic gambit to win over the next generation of builders. By targeting funded startups, it plants its flag in a foundational market. The success of this move will depend on whether Kiro Pro+ can truly outperform the established favorites developers already love.

Thought you’d like to know

Q1: What is Kiro Pro+?

Kiro Pro+ is Amazon’s AI-powered coding assistant. It integrates directly into development environments to help write and debug code. It is a direct competitor to tools like GitHub Copilot.

Q2: Which startups qualify for the free credits?

Startups from pre-seed to Series B funding rounds are eligible. They must have secured venture capital investment. The offer is primarily for U.S.-based companies with some international restrictions.

Q3: What is the deadline to apply?

Startups must submit their applications by December 31, 2025. The free credits are for a one-year period starting from approval. This is a limited-time promotional offer from AWS.

Q4: Why is Amazon giving this tool away for free?

Amazon is using a common customer acquisition strategy. It aims to attract startups to its developer tools and, ultimately, its AWS cloud platform. This builds loyalty early in a company’s growth cycle.

Q5: How does this affect the AI coding tool market?

It increases competition and gives developers more choices. Price becomes a significant factor, potentially pressuring other providers. The market is focused on both capability and ecosystem integration.