Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Learn how to grow your AWS business through AWS Partner Funding (PEX122)

Summary

• Eric Levitre, a senior manager for AWS Partner Investments and Incentives team, presented on leveraging AWS Partner Funding Benefits through the AWS Partner Funding Portal.
• The funding benefits are designed to help partners at various stages of business development within the APN, offering cash or credits to build sustainable business models and differentiate within the APN.
• Benefits include training and certification discounts, innovation sandbox credits, marketing development funds, proof of concept funding, and Migration Acceleration Program funding, among others.
• Partners must complete account setup in Amazon PayEcentral to unlock funding benefits and use the AWS Partner Funding Portal to submit requests.
• The AWS Partner Funding Portal (APFP) is a self-service tool for managing financial benefits, integrated with ACE and Partner Paths for a frictionless experience.
• APFP stages include Created, AWS Review, Technical Approval, Business Approval, Finance Approval, Pre-Approval, and Cash Claim, with statuses indicating the health of a fund request.
• Partners can modify fund requests, including recalling, terminating, extending, changing the owner, and deleting requests.
• AWS has enhanced the portal to improve the funding experience, including better validations, dashboard details, and pipeline visibility.
• Operational excellence is a focus, with AWS aiming to bring features faster, optimize performance, and ensure security.
• Additional resources include an updated APFP user guide, demonstration videos, and a new feedback feature in the portal.
• The call to action encourages partners to read the guides, watch how-to videos, participate by submitting feedback, and meet Eric at the Partner Network booth.

Insights

• AWS is actively investing in tools and resources to support its partners' growth, emphasizing the importance of the partner ecosystem in AWS's business strategy.
• The AWS Partner Funding Portal is a critical component of AWS's partner enablement, streamlining the process of accessing and managing funding benefits.
• AWS's commitment to operational excellence and security in the development of the APFP suggests a strong focus on user experience and trust.
• The introduction of new features and continuous improvements to the APFP indicates AWS's responsiveness to partner feedback and its dedication to simplifying the funding process.
• The integration of the APFP with other AWS systems like ACE and Partner Paths demonstrates AWS's holistic approach to partner management, aiming to reduce friction and enhance efficiency.
• The presentation underscores the importance of partners staying informed and engaged with AWS's evolving tools and resources to maximize their business opportunities.