Fractional PDM
Most early-stage AWS partners have no Partner Development Manager assigned — which means no guidance, no co-sell access, and no one at AWS actively helping them. We fill that gap. Grnmrk acts as your fractional PDM, getting you set up right from day one.
The AWS Partner Network is one of the most powerful go-to-market engines in enterprise software. But for partners just joining, it can feel like you've been handed a key to a building with no map. Partner Central is complex, the requirements aren't obvious, and the PDM who's supposed to help you is managing 100+ other partners.
Most early-stage partners spend their first 12 months making avoidable mistakes — choosing the wrong partner path, skipping the ACE setup, missing early funding opportunities, and building toward the wrong tier requirements. By the time they figure it out, they've lost a year.
"The first year in the AWS partner ecosystem sets the trajectory for everything that follows. Partners who get the foundation right in year one are the ones climbing tiers and capturing funding in year two. The ones who wing it spend years trying to undo what they got wrong."
What a real PDM does
A PDM is your advocate inside AWS. They explain how the programs actually work, help you navigate Partner Central, brief you on funding opportunities, guide your tier advancement, and introduce you to the right field teams when you're ready to co-sell. Most early-stage partners don't get this. We give it to you.
Six core areas of support, delivered bi-weekly. No fluff, no generic advice — everything is specific to your partner profile, your tier, and your goals.
We make sure your Partner Central account is set up correctly from the start — right partner path, accurate company profile, solutions listed, and no gaps that will cause problems later. Most partners get this wrong and don't find out until they apply for something.
We audit your current standing against your target tier, build a written roadmap to get there, and track your progress bi-weekly. You'll always know exactly where you are and what the next action is — no guessing at what AWS is evaluating.
We set up your ACE pipeline correctly, walk you through the submission process, and help you get your first qualified opportunities in the system. An active ACE pipeline from day one changes how AWS sees you immediately.
We identify which MDF, MAP, and other funding programs you're eligible for as an early-stage partner and flag application windows before they close. Most early-stage partners don't know these programs exist until it's too late.
We build a certification plan aligned to your tier goals and team makeup — so your people are getting the right AWS certifications, not random ones. Certification drift is one of the most common reasons partners stall at Select.
A dedicated bi-weekly call with a Grnmrk advisor — reviewing your tier progress, ACE pipeline, upcoming funding windows, certification status, and any Partner Central issues. The meeting your PDM should be having with you but probably isn't.
Every engagement starts with a clear plan. Here's what the first three months typically look like.
You've registered with the AWS Partner Network but aren't sure what comes next. You know AWS is important to your go-to-market but don't know how to make the program work for you yet.
You're at Registered or early Select and have no PDM assigned. You know you should be doing more with AWS but don't have a clear path or anyone at AWS actively helping you navigate it.
You're a founder or early employee who's been handed "own the AWS relationship" without any background in how the partner program actually works. You need a knowledgeable guide, not a course.
You're a lean team where no one is dedicated to AWS partner program management. The program needs attention but you can't justify a full-time alliances hire at this stage.
One flat monthly rate. No setup fees, no hourly overages. 3-month minimum so we can actually build something together.
Starting at
For AWS partners in their first 12–18 months who need expert guidance, a clear roadmap, and someone actively managing their partner program in the background.
When you're ready to go deeper — active MAP/MDF management, co-sell support, Active PDM engagement — you can upgrade to our Growth managed service ($4,500/mo) with no interruption to the work.
What Makes This Different
This isn't a course, a Slack community, or a templated onboarding kit. It's a real human with deep AWS partner ecosystem experience actively managing your program every month. When you have a question, you get an answer from someone who's been in this ecosystem — not a knowledge base article.
Why 3-Month Minimum
Month one is setup and assessment. Month two is the first real actions and early results. Month three is where the habits are built and the program starts compounding. One month isn't enough to build anything meaningful. We're not in the business of one-call wonders.
The Upgrade Path
Partner Launch is the entry point. As your program matures and you're ready for active MAP/MDF management, co-sell support, and PDM engagement, you move to Growth ($4,500/mo) or Scale ($8,500/mo) — with everything we've already built carrying forward.
Launch is designed to grow into Growth and beyond. Here's how the tiers stack up.
| Launch — $2,500/mo | Growth — $4,500/mo | Scale — $8,500/mo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | First 12–18 months in APN | Active partners with growing pipeline | Tier advancement + co-sell maturity |
| Partner Central Setup | ✓ | — | — |
| Tier Roadmap | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ACE Pipeline | Setup & first submissions | Ongoing hygiene & management | Full management + co-sell requests |
| Funding Programs | Identification & early applications | Active MAP/MDF management | Full funding capture program |
| Co-Sell Support | — | Basic co-sell support | ✓ Active PDM engagement |
| Bi-weekly Check-in | ✓ 1 standing call | ✓ Bi-weekly reporting | ✓ Bi-weekly strategy session |
| Minimum Term | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months |
30 minutes. We'll assess where you are in the AWS Partner Network, show you what you're missing, and tell you exactly what the first 90 days should look like.