Microsoft Azure offers two ways for startups to get free credits. The first is a basic Azure startup credit offer that offers eligible startups up to $5,000 in free credits. The second is the full Microsoft for Startups offering (formerly known as Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub), available to startups referred from affiliated investors in the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network. This program offers a comprehensive suite of resources to help early-stage startups build, scale, and succeed.

If you’re not affiliated with any accelerators or investors yet, you’re still able to get some free credits! While it may not come with the extra bells and whistles of the full program like dedicated support, you can still get up to $5,000 to work with. 

All you need to do is be a new customer to receive an initial $1,000 in credits (valid for 90 days) and pass a basic business verification to receive an additional $4,000 (valid for 180 days). 

Note: If you receive funding from an affiliated investor later on, you can still apply for those additional credits in the full program! 

Microsoft for Startups is a platform designed to support startups at every stage of their journey. It offers a range of benefits, including Azure credits, development tools, and business resources, to help startups innovate and grow. 

Credit amounts begin at $100,000, with opportunities to earn more based on your investor and engagement level. (In other words, if you can prove to Microsoft that you’re using the credits well, you may be able to get even more!) 

Additional Benefits

• Access to on-demand GPU VMs
• Access to Azure technical experts
• Free Azure standard support
• Go-to-market support to help you scale
• Discounts on products like free GitHub Enterprise, LinkedIn Premium, M365 Business Premium, and more! 

Eligibility & Application

To apply for the Microsoft for Startups program, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be affiliated with an investor who is part of the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network
• The accelerator or VC will provide a referral code.
• Be engaged in the development of a software-based product or service that is a core part of the business model.
• Have received fewer than $350,000 in lifetime free Azure credits.
• Headquartered in a country where Azure services are available
• Not yet raised Series C funding
• Be privately held and for-profit.

When you apply, be ready with your referral code from your investor to begin the application process. You’ll also need to connect your LinkedIn account.

• Provide a Clear Product Description: Clearly articulate your product or service, its value proposition, and how it leverages Azure technologies.
  
• Demonstrate Traction: Include metrics or milestones that showcase your startup’s progress, such as user growth, revenue, or partnerships.
  
• Highlight Innovation: Emphasize any innovative aspects of your solution, especially if it involves AI, machine learning, or other advanced technologies.
• If It’s Declined: The reason for your decline will be included in the email you receive. You’ll be able to reapply after 14 days if you’re able to change it.

• Multiple Investors: If you’re affiliated with multiple investors from the investor network, apply with one code first, then reach out to support to add the additional codes to your profile. 
• Unlock More Credits: To qualify for more credits, spend $100 or more in a single month on services like Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Microsoft Sentinel, and Microsoft Purview. Azure views these services as essential for building a well-architected solution, so if you can show that you’re building something strong on Azure, they may grant you more credits. 
• Credit Validity and Deadlines: Investor offer credits are valid for up to 2 years from activation.
• OpenAI and Foundry Inference Limitations: Azure startup credits may not cover inference costs for third-party or OpenAI models in Azure AI Foundry.

Microsoft for Startup’s Investor Offer remains a strong equity‑based program for startups backed by recognized investors. You can receive over $100,000 in Azure credits, expert support, productivity tools, and co‑selling opportunities. Planning early, using services smartly, and maintaining investor affiliation are key to maximizing benefits. Even without any investor affiliation, you can still get a solid $5,000 in free credits to experiment with.