AI Tool
Azure OpenAI
Listed offer value
$150,000Pre-seed to Series C B2B software, no prior Azure
Eligibility & conditions
Microsoft for Startups is the only route to free Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Foundry usage, there is no standalone Azure OpenAI credit program. The $150,000 figure is a ceiling unlocked in stages, not an amount granted at signup. A startup applying without an investor referral code starts at $1,000 of Azure credit for 90 days, then a further $4,000 for 180 days once the business is verified, and rises from there on verified progress, service adoption and sustained Azure usage. Startups with a 10-character referral code from a Microsoft for Startups Investor Network partner typically start at $100,000.
Captured Oct 28, 2026View source
How to apply
6 steps- Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/startups and click "Get started now".
- Sign in with a personal Microsoft account. Work, school and company-domain email addresses are rejected, and the account must have no prior Azure subscription.
- If an investor, accelerator, incubator, angel network or university gave you a 10-character referral code, enter it to reach the investor offer. Otherwise select "Continue without a code".
- Enter your registered startup name, industry and address exactly as they appear on your legal documents, then verify your contact email and phone number. Mismatches fail business verification.
- Complete the three-step Azure account setup. A credit card is required for identity verification and for the automatic switch to pay-as-you-go once credits run out.
- Expect a decision by email in about three business days. Activate the credits within 90 days of accepting the program agreement, after which they are valid for up to two years with no extensions.
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