This year I was very lucky to receive the AWS All Builders Welcome Grant (ABW) for AWS re:Invent 2025. Honestly, it has been such an amazing experience as I met so many inspiring builders from all over the world.

Since many people still don’t know about this program, I wanted to put this guide together to help anyone who might want to apply next year. If you’re thinking about giving it a go, hopefully this will be useful 💛!

✨ What is ABW?

The All Builders Welcome Grant is designed for people in the first five years of their career. In short, it helps with financial barrier so you can attend AWS re:Invent (Dec 1–5, 2025).

It’s more than just a “free ticket” — it’s a whole support package to help you focus on learning, connecting, and showing up confidently as yourself.

Here’s what it includes:

• Full re:Invent conference pass
• Return flights to Las Vegas
• Hotel accommodation from 30 Nov to 5 Dec

You will need a valid visa to enter USA. Unfortunately some people visa were rejected this year after receiving this grant.

🧩 Prerequisites

• Within the first five years of your career in cloud technology.
• At least 21 years of age.
• A genuine interest in AWS and building things (projects, community work, career development, etc.)
• A clear story about your background and journey

📅 Open & Closing Dates

• Applications Open: Late June in 2025
• Applications Close: Early Aug in 2025

The timeline might shift next year, so keep an eye on AWS announcements.

🌟 Some Thoughts for a Successful Application

1. Share your story authentically

• Write about your journey in your own voice, clear on your challenges, and what motivates you to build.

1. Highlight your activities in AWS.

• This could be through blogs, certifications, your job, tech talk, side projects, or community involvement.
• Be specific, use clear examples with what you have achieved.

1. Be clear about your goals.

• Explain why you want to attend re:Invent, what are you hoping to learn and how this will help your career path

1. Show how you will give back.

• Whether it’s sharing knowledge, mentoring, organising meetups, or contributing to your team, show how you plan to use this opportunity to help others too.

1. And it’s totally okay if you don’t get in the first time.

• I was rejected in 2024 on my first try (see below). After that, I kept learning, earned more certifications, and took ownership of automation projects using AWS. Then I applied again and got in. Keep trying and your moment will come ✨.

🕒 My Application Timeline

I first saw the announcement in a Slack channel in late June → Submitted my application in mid-July → Received the confirmation email on 28 August.

Once you receive the first “Congratulations” email, you’ll need to fill out a Confirmation Form.

The most important part of this stage is confirming whether you need a visa to enter the US.

After your visa situation is sorted, the registration emails for hotels and flights will start coming through.

If you’re from Australia or another country in the visa waiver program, you only need an approved ESTA. After that, just follow the instructions in the “Registration for Hotels & Flights” emails.

🔮 What You Can Expect If You Get Selected

1. Flight booking email with travel agent

• You will have your own attendee portal, where you can book hotel at Treasure Island (subject to change)

1. Some Vouchers

• This year I received a Uber voucher. This voucher will be sent to your email, and you can activate it before you land in the US.

Dedicated advisor

Look closely on the slack channel details in your email. Your advisor will add you to a group and share some tips, checklist and insights when the days are close.

1. Optional: Pre re:Invent Hike on 30th Nov(subject to change)

2. ABW Grant attendee Welcome night on 30th Nov

• A bus will pick everyone up in front of the hotel, there you will meet other attendees from all over the world. It’s quite fascinating when I recall as I had good conversations with two people also had career transition.

1. ABW Grant Closing Ceremony on 4th Dec

• This year it was hosted at Wynn, a hotel close to Treasure Island. Plan to leave 20min early as it is quite a walking distance.

1. During re:Invent time

• ABW also offers sessions like career path, speed networking, professional mentorship, and interviews tips. You can review these session details at specific “All Builders Welcome” section on your attendee portal.

1. Conference networking

Check out https://conferenceparties.com/reinvent2025/ page and register the networking events you are interested in.

🌱 Things I Want to Share

Carefully read all the information in each email, and have a clear checklist of what you need to prepare, but pack lightly as you will need room for swags. 1.

Have a clear goal for what you want to achieve at this event. What are the top three things you want to gain from this opportunity? Interview insights? Career navigation? Mentorship? Networking? Special sessions? 1.

Try to find a buddy if you are a first-time re:Invent attendee.

• My buddy and I helped each other navigate the venues, sessions, and even played card games together!

1. Reserve seats early

• Workshops, chalk talks and breakout sessions fill up very quickly, and they’re not recorded. If you can’t secure a spot, be prepared to line up at least 20 minutes before the session. For one session I really wanted, I queued 30 minutes early and still barely made it in.
• Back up session if you couldn’t make it

1. Plan your sessions the night before and try not to jump between venues too much.

• MGM, Wynn, and Venetian look close on the map, but the walk can take 20–30 minutes one way😅. The best strategy is to stick to one venue per day so you’re not constantly rushing.
• AWS Hero Raphael Manke also made a re:Invent planner which is quite helpful with sessions, swags etc, see https://reinvent-planner.cloud/feed

1. Attend at least one keynote

• I was very lucky to attend Werner’s last keynote. His speech was super powerful (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y1G9najGiI), and definitely worth attending for.

1. Networking intentionally

• Try your best to remember names even it’s hard, and get to know them more than just a name and country or job title. For me, the most meaningful part was hearing people’s personal stories.

1. Wear comfortable shoes 👟

• Running shoes are best, as you will walk 20,000 steps most days without trying.

1. Try to arrive one day early to unwind and familiarize with the route.

• All hotel casinos are like a maze, and it took me almost five days to stop walking in circles 😅.

🧘🏻‍♀️ Useful Links

• AWS Hero Jimmy’s YouTube
• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/first-aws-reinvent-survival-guide-how-actually-enjoy-beyond-kristine-jeiee/?trackingId=OxnQbZiZROqSi5hS%2FpuGqA%3D%3D

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If you have any questions or just want to connect, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn:

👉 Christina Chen — https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-cloud/