I got an AWS re: invent sponsorship! I am attending re: Invent as an “AWS all Builders Welcome Grantee”, which means all expenses are covered. This is how I got it!
Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosts one of the world’s most anticipated and largest tech events in Las Vegas called “AWS Re: Invent,” This year, I will be attending…YES, as an All Builders Welcome grant recipient! This means AWS sponsors everything! Exciting right? Since after sharing that I was offered a grant to attend re: invent, so many people have reached out asking how I did it, how they can get this, and how they can benefit from re-invent as well. Here, I’ll be sharing what I did.
It is important that I put a disclaimer here,
“I don’t work for Amazon or its associates, and being accepted in the All Builders Welcome grant does not mean that Amazon or its third parties have recruited you, and neither are on a salary. NO! It only means that you are joining the huge Amazon community and will be an Ambassador for Amazon and its services, as well as participate and receive community benefits from Amazon.“
Now that this is out of the way let’s understand what re-invent is.
What is Re: invent?
AWS re: invent is a developer tech conference launched in 2012 by AWS. It is a week-long event, usually from Sunday to Friday, packed with super fun and interactive sessions. The event hosts over 70,000 attendees in Las Vegas, Usually at the end of November. It boasts about 1500 technical sessions, including, amongst other activities. This worldwide event brings in cloud computing experts in different works of life.
Anyone can attend this event, and It is a great opportunity to learn something new and sharpen your skills, network with thousands of people from different backgrounds and have fun.
It serves every aspect and field of technology, both in person and online.
Fun Facts
- AWS re: invent is one of the largest tech conferences in the world
- It has about 70000 people attending worldwide
- It is usually hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada
- It has one of the biggest numbers of conference sessions hosted by a company (about 1500)
Want to attend, there are many ways.
- You can attend as an individual (independent registrant)
- Through company sponsorship(THe company you work for can sponsor the event for employees)
- Through an Amazon program sponsorship like AWS, All builders grant recipient, which we’ll be detailing here.
Now…this is how I got to attend for free, with all expenses covered by AWS.
As mentioned earlier, I will be attending the world’s biggest tech event; all expenses will be covered by AWS. This means conference passes, flights, and lodging. I am attending through the AWS re: invent 2022 All Builders Welcome Grant, which I applied for as an AWS community builder.
But what is this grant?
What is the AWS All Welcome Builders Grant?
An AWS All Builders Grant is a way AWS promotes diversity, accessibility, and inclusion for under-represented technology groups within five years of their career. It sponsors you to attend AWS reinvent at no cost, all expenses are taken care of. It is an AWS reinvent scholarship offered to those.
The program is usually launched around June, and results are released in August or September.
What are the program Benefits?
The AWS re: invent 2022 all builders welcome grant program includes
- Full conference pass with reserved seating at keynotes and other sessions worth$1799.
- A roundtrip flight between an airport near (within 50 miles of) the address you list in your application and Las Vegas, NV; and
- Hotel accommodations in Las Vegas, NV, for up to five nights to attend re: Invent 2022.
- Access to all sessions and re: invent content (About 1500 sessions outlined above)
- You may also receive certain benefits as determined at AWS’s sole discretion. Such benefits may be subject to their terms and conditions. All Program benefits you receive are personal to you.
How to participate in the AWS All Builders Welcome grant program
To be eligible for the program, you should meet the following criteria:
- You are at least 18 years of age;
- You are within the first five years of your technology career;
- You identify as being a part of one or more of the following groups that have been historically underrepresented in technology fields:
- (i) women, (ii) Black or African American, (iii) Hispanic or Latino(a), (iv) indigenous or native people, (v) military veterans, (vi) people with disabilities, and/or (vii) LGBTQIA+ (collectively, “Underrepresented Groups”),
- Have you faced barriers or disadvantages in your technology career due to discrimination actions against Underrepresented Groups, or
- Your participation in this Program would otherwise further the mission of the Program;
- You have not previously accepted a grant to an AWS event (e.g., from the We Power Tech or All Builders Welcome programs);
- You are not an employee, intern, independent contractor, officer, director, legal or financial advisor of AWS or any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advisors, or advertising/promotion agencies;
Check out the website for Full requirements and eligibility to the program.
What qualified me for the Grant
I applied for this as an AWS Community Builder. This AWS community outreach program brings in people who contribute in one way or another to AWS services, either as Ambassadors or Volunteers.
1. I am an AWS Community Builder
AWS community builder program was launched in 2020 by Amazon Web Services to provide more technical resources, networking opportunities, and mentorship to passionate community leaders and AWS volunteers who share knowledge and give back to their communities.
The program is launched twice a year, and it is an opportunity to join and learn from a large community of leaders and tech enthusiasts.
No specific criteria are stated to qualify for the program. However, it evaluates how valuable your contribution(s) have been to the community.
How do I apply?
If you are interested in the AWS community builder program, the process starts now; you need to keep a track record of your community activities and what you have done to promote AWS services.
Add your name to this waitlist to get notified when the program launches so you don’t miss the opportunity. I will write another article to explain how to prepare and apply for the AWS community Builders Program.
2. Volunteering for a Community Organization
Before Applying to the program, I was a community Volunteer in two AWS communities in Africa. Wirfon Cloud and Cloud Heroes Africa.
Both communities aimed to introduce and teach AWS Cloud computing services to a group of interested Africans for FREE. I was a:
- Teacher
- Mentor
- Coach
I was a WIRFON Cloud Community lead. As the first batch of a community that started as a study group and eventually grew to an organization pioneered and led by Ngo Banjika, we designed a Cloud computing course curriculum and introduce cloud concepts to students interested in learning Cloud concepts.
Some of the courses are uploaded on the Youtube channel. We also have leadership sessions every Saturday. If interested, join the telegram and LinkedIn groups. We have helped over 90 students become Cloud practitioners, Solutions Architect Associates, and AWS Solutions Architect professional certifications. However, we have provided and shared resources with more than 500 students and still do.
I mentor students and help give them career advice on tech, particularly cloud computing. Give motivational talks when required and needed. I also have had one-on-one consultations with some students to help trace a path for career growth. This is pioneered by Shang Samoa Alphonse!
3. AWS AMBASSADOR
I share AWS resources and motivate interested candidates on different platforms, particularly Linkedin. I am a speaker at community meetups, and I share my engagements and experiences for others to benefit from.
4. Share course material on Slideshare
The course material I prepared where shared on Slideshare for others to access. It is a resource to view and share slides on different topics. There’s a lot on cloud computing; check it out. Feel free to download and use it for your studies.
5. A member of Women In Cloud (WIC)
I am also a member of Women in Cloud, an organization that brings together women in the Cloud and shares cloud resources benefiting women in the cloud computing world. Join women in Cloud to benefit from these resources and network with some of the most influential women making strides in cloud computing. It’s not just for women; anyone can join.
These were some of the activities I did that got me a spot at re: invent. You can still attend as an individual. If you have a Youtube channel, make sure to share it!
What you get when you register for Re: invent!
You can register to attend both in-person and Online
- In-person is a $1799 conference registration fee
- You can register to attend virtually for free. All you need is an email account; follow these steps below to register and reserve seats in sessions to watch them live and learn.
- What Sessions are available
These sessions are categorized into four different session levels depending on your experience and expertise in the field. These are:
- Level 100 – Fundamental
- Level 200 – Intermediate
- Level 300 – Advanced
- Level 400 – Expert
Session types include Keynotes, training, and Certification, breakout sessions, Workshops, theater sessions, chalk talks, boot camps, geo breakouts, Lab sessions, Lightening talks, geo talks, gamified learning, builders fairs, and builders sessions, most of which are subdivided into different levels to accommodate different levels of expertise.
- Where does re: invent take place?
Re: invent is hosted in one of the most talked about and lively event/performance cities in the United States – Las Vegas. The sessions are spread across some of Vegas’s biggest and most luxurious hotels.
PS. You still get to pay for your hotels besides registration. The conference fee only gets you to the sessions, and accommodation is NOT included.
One of the biggest and most luxurious hotels in Vegas, Encore is located at the core of the Las Vegas strip. It has beautiful architecture and hosts some of Vegas’s most popular live shows. This venue will host some Keynote, breakout, workshops, chalk talks, and builders sessions.
Known as the Wynn twin tower, it shares features and services with Wynn and is part of the Wynn Resorts. It also has an in-built Premier class shopping Centre with stores like Off white, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Balmain, Cartier, and Zimmermann.
This venue will host some Re: invent breakout sessions and conference services.
MGM features one of the most beautifully architected hotels on the Vegas strip. It will be host to the AWS Re: invent breakout sessions, chalk talks, Industry Track, and workshops.
An iconic resort Known for its antique and sophisticated Architecture, the Venitian is one of the main venues for the event and will make you feel like you’re in old Italy. It will host Lab sessions, Keynotes, workshops, Breakout sessions, leadership sessions, and geo talks.
At the entry to the Vegas strip, feel welcomed by this iconic Madaly bay beauty. She will host keynote sessions, boot camps, gamified learning, chalk talks, breakout sessions, and workshops.
Known for its Iconic monuments, Caesar’s palace takes you through seasons of ancient kings and statues at every corner of the hotel, even in bars. It also features headless architecture and is a historical representation of ancient times, each carrying a strong message.
It also has a shopping center that features luxury shops.
It will host Keynotes, workshops, breakout sessions, chalk talks, and builders sessions.
This is the arena that brings the end of re: Invent. This is where the party is at. Music, food, Riot, fun and games, lounges, and a silent disco. This is where all the fun is taken to.
Can I attend Virtually?
Yes, you can attend virtual sessions at Re: invent. Most of them are free. However, you need to reserve seats to attend.
It’s not too late to register. You can still register online and reserve seats for keynotes and other sessions.
Hopefully, this made you thirsty to attend Re: invent next year. If so, Don’t wait; start planning for it now, particularly if you want to attend as an AWS All Builders Welcome Grants recipient.
For more on deep dive into sessions, check out this detailed article by Mark Nunnikhoven
Good luck. Don’t forget to reach out if you have any questions. I am here to help.
Also, check out
10 best free resources to kick start your cloud Journey
Top 10 Certifications that will land you a job in 2023
Freebies!
I am being told there are tons of freebies at Re-invent. If you are interested in one, please enter your email, and I will reserve one.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
