You absolutely don't need 100k in AWS credits to validate your idea and most web apps/SaaS APIs can be running on one or more Digital Ocean droplets at fairly l

You absolutely don't need 100k in AWS credits to validate your idea and most web apps/SaaS APIs can be running on one or more Digital Ocean droplets at fairly low opex. AWS giving away cloud credits to startups is not unlike drug dealer handing out some free hits to new potential customers. They're not doing it out of goodness of their hearts.