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Startup credits

How to apply for Microsoft for Startups

· 6 min read

Microsoft for Startups gives eligible companies Azure credits, technical guidance and access to other Microsoft tools. The program has a single application, with credits that can grow over time as you show progress and Azure usage. The details that matter most are using the right Microsoft account and activating your credits before the deadline. Amounts here are advertised maximums from Microsoft's own pages, and approval is not guaranteed.

What you need before you start

  • A personal Microsoft Account (MSA) that you plan to use long term for Azure. Microsoft's FAQ warns that work or school (Entra ID) accounts may cause activation errors, and credits cannot be moved to another account later.
  • A credit card. Microsoft says it is required for identity verification, for services not covered by credits, and for the switch to pay-as-you-go when credits end.
  • Basic company details: name, website, country, and a description of your software product.
  • A referral code, if you are backed by a partner in the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network. Ask your investor or accelerator for it.
  • Confirmation that you meet the eligibility rules listed below.

Check eligibility

Microsoft's documentation lists these requirements. Your company must build a software product or service that it owns, be privately held and for-profit, and be headquartered in a country where Azure is available. It must not have received more than $350,000 in lifetime free Azure credits, must not have raised Series C or later, and must not be an educational institution, government body, consultancy, agency or crypto mining business.

Microsoft advertises up to $150,000 in Startup credits, unlocked over time as your startup shows verified progress and sustained Azure usage. Its FAQ describes a path for startups without an investor: $1,000 for 90 days to begin, then an additional $4,000 for 180 days after business verification. Investor-backed startups may unlock more, earlier.

Submit the application

  1. Go to startups.microsoft.com and select Get started.
  2. Sign in with the Microsoft Account you intend to keep using for Azure.
  3. Fill in your company profile, product description and funding details.
  4. If you have a referral code from an Investor Network partner, enter it during the application.
  5. Review the application carefully. Microsoft says you cannot edit it after submitting.
  6. Submit and watch the email address you applied with. Microsoft says most applications are reviewed in about three business days.

If you spot a mistake while the application is still pending, Microsoft's FAQ says you can follow the confirmation email to delete it and reapply. If you are declined, you may reapply after 14 days.

Activate your Azure credits

Approval is not the same as activation. Microsoft says you must activate your Azure credits within 90 days of accepting the program agreement, or the offer expires and you have to reapply. Once activated, credits are valid for up to two years with no extensions.

  1. Sign in to the Azure portal with the same Microsoft Account you used to apply.
  2. Open your Microsoft for Startups benefits area in the portal and find the Azure credit offer.
  3. Start activation and create the subscription the credits will attach to. Credits stay tied to this subscription.
  4. Add your credit card when asked.
  5. Wait for the credits to appear. Microsoft says this can take several hours after activation.

Check your balance and get help

  • If you see an Already redeemed error, the Microsoft Account has used Azure credits from another program. Contact Program Support.
  • If you are charged while you still have credits, the service may not be covered, or usage may be on a different billing profile.
  1. In the Azure portal, search for Cost Management + Billing and open it.
  2. Go to Payment methods and look for the Azure credits tab to see your available balance, original amount and expiration date.
  3. Create a budget with alert thresholds on your subscription so you notice spending early.
  4. For program problems, open the Get Program Support option under the Your Microsoft Team tile in the Azure portal.

What Azure credits do not cover

Microsoft's billing documentation says Azure credits generally do not cover partner-provided products, non-Microsoft products on Microsoft Marketplace, Azure support plans, or software licenses that are not billed as Azure consumption. Usage of these is billed to your card even while you have a credit balance.

When credits run out or expire, Microsoft says subscriptions move to pay-as-you-go billing automatically so services keep running. That is convenient, but it also means charges can start without any action on your part. Put the two-year validity date in your calendar on the day you activate.

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