Imagine a better future and build it today.
Amazon Catalyst is an in-house incubator that enables entrepreneurial professors to start new, world-changing businesses with Amazon.
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Build the Future With Us
We are a team of quirky innovators and big thinkers on a mission to uncover and catalyze ideas that can become new Amazon businesses. If you have a world-changing idea, this is your opportunity to make it a reality.
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Innovate at Amazon
Launch your idea with one of the world's most innovative companies.
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Earn Seed Funding
We invest what it takes to get you started. There is no min or max investment.
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Leave Your Mark
Turn your research into reality and come make history with us.
What We Look For
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Think Big
Ideas must solve a problem that impacts at least 1% of the world's population and make the world a better place.
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10x Impact
Solutions must deliver at least a 10-fold improvement on the status quo. The more radical the solution, the better!
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Feasibility
The end of a year in Catalyst must result in a "minimum loveable product" with a path to an Amazon launch in 3 to 5 years.
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New to Amazon
Ideas should not logically fit under any existing Amazon business unit or team. We exclusively seek net-new ideas.
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Business Potential
Ideas should have a path toward profitability. (We do not fund non-profit or charitable initiatives.)
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Leadership Skills
You should be capable operating inside industry and executing your project.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The investment depends on the idea. For now, don't let budget limit your thinking! If necessary, we'll also give you resources to hire a small team to work with you. Please note, we do not fund research proposals.
The program is designed for academics from universities around the globe who want to apply research methods in practice and help Amazon launch new businesses without leaving their academic institutions.
Basic qualifications:
  1. PhD in a relevant field or related discipline
  2. 7+ years of relevant work or academic experience
  3. Experience leading technical research projects with multiple stakeholders
  4. Current affiliation with an academic or research institution
No. We have uniquely tailored this program to support you in a flexible capacity, in particular reduced-time arrangements and sabbaticals. It is, however, essential that you dedicate enough time to execute on your proposal during your year with Amazon Catalyst.
You begin the process by emailing us to introduce yourself and request more information at
If we believe you could be a fit for our program, we will reach out to arrange a phone call to learn more about you and your work.
No. You can pitch us any time, and we launch new ideas year-round.
For any other questions email us at
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Have a world-changing idea?
Contact us today.
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