Microsoft for Startups

Build fast, scale smart, and sell more with Microsoft

Access up to $150K in Startup credits to build, test, and scale on Azure with AI‑ready cloud infrastructure. Run real production workloads backed by enterprise‑grade security, privacy, and Microsoft’s global customer ecosystem. Unlock more credits as you grow on Azure.

Apply now

Your partner in tech

Accelerate your path to success with innovation that scales

Build fast, scale smart, and sell more with the cutting-edge AI, global customer experience, and deep enterprise experience of Microsoft.

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Build fast

Iterate from idea to MVP with Startup credits, Foundry model testing, and GitHub→Azure CI/CD.

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Scale smart

Run production at scale with enterprise security, governance, and identity for AI workloads on managed AKS.

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Sell more

Go to market through Microsoft Commercial Marketplace with buy agreements and partner distribution.

Startup spotlight

Launch the next big thing

See how startups are growing on Azure.

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Use Startup credits to build on Azure and GitHub, deploy on AKS, and power AI workloads

Apply now and start building immediately, then unlock more credits as you scale with Microsoft.

Unlock your credits

Founder experiences

Hear directly from founders who are shaping the future of innovation

Why startup founders and leaders partner with Microsoft to build and grow their business.

“Haut.AI’s entire AI ecosystem is built on Microsoft tools … providing the highest level of security, reliability, and scalability.”

Anastasia Georgievskaya, CEO and Co-Founder, Haut.AI

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“This is my third venture and I have never seen such a beneficial go-to-market program for founders … especially in the enterprise segment.”

Thea Myhrvold, CEO and Founder, GetBee

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“Snorkel AI is proud to partner with Microsoft to help organizations rapidly and cost-effectively harness the power of data and AI.”

Paroma Varma, Co-Founder and Head of Research, Snorkel AI

“By leveraging Azure … and the expert technical guidance from Microsoft for Startups, we accelerated the development of our product platform.”

Brent Poynton, CTO, Strolll

“The Microsoft for Startups program has enabled TruLite Health to accelerate our commercial success …”

Alan Roga, CEO and Founder, TruLite Health

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“Azure’s advanced AI capabilities enable Typeface to deliver brand-aligned content at scale …”

Vishal Sood, CPO of Typeface

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Free access to tools

Microsoft ecosystem advantage

Build where your customers already work across Microsoft 365, Teams, Dynamics, and Copilot where agent based experiences are already taking shape, with more than 3,000 skills, agents, and MCPs via Agent 365.

Microsoft for Startups is a program that helps founders overcome common startup challenges by providing access to AI services, expert guidance, and essential technology. The program offers benefits like free Startup credits, AI tools, and resources to help you build, scale, and sell your solutions.
The Microsoft for Startups portal supports startups by providing access to various resources, benefits, and programs. Startups can tap into pre-built marketing materials, industry-leading AI services, expert guidance, and essential technology to help build and scale their businesses.
Microsoft for Startups provides a range of technical benefits designed to help startups build and scale their businesses. These benefits include:
Free Startup credits: Startups receive Startup credits to help them get started with building their solutions quickly and efficiently on the Azure platform.
Access to AI tools: Startups can leverage industry-leading AI services and tools for software development, enabling them to create innovative and intelligent applications.
Technical resources: Startups have access to various resources that assist in building better products, scaling faster, and increasing sales. This includes documentation, guides, and support to help with replication and modernization journeys.
Startup credits can be applied across eligible Azure services to support your startup from early development through production workloads.
Build and test your product

Use credits for core development and testing needs, including:

Virtual Machines
Storage and networking
Developer workflows with GitHub and Azure DevOps

Build with AI and data services

Apply credits to eligible AI and data services, such as:

Foundry Tools
Azure OpenAI services
Azure Machine Learning

Run and scale in production

Support real, customer‑facing products with production‑ready services:

Application hosting with Azure App Service
Containerized workloads with Azure Kubernetes Service
After you're approved for Microsoft for Startups, you can start building right away with Startup credits for early development and testing, and unlock up to $5,000 in Startup credits through business verification. As your product evolves and you adopt more Azure services with sustained usage, additional Startup credits unlock, supporting your path from MVP to production. Startups can unlock up to $150,000 in Startup credits over time as they build and scale on Azure, all within one unified program that grows with you.
Once your Startup credits are fully used, you can continue running your workloads on Azure as a standard customer. Your applications and production environments stay live without disruption, and you simply transition to Azure’s standard pay‑as‑you‑go pricing as your business grows. This ensures continuity as you move from startup support to long‑term scale.
Microsoft for Startups helps startups reach enterprise buyers by enabling publication to the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace. Customers can purchase using existing contracts and Azure budgets, making procurement easier. Eligible startups can also access partner distribution and Microsoft seller co‑sell opportunities to shorten sales cycles and scale revenue.
Microsoft for Startups supports founders with technical resources, documentation, and guidance to help build, deploy, and scale on Azure. Startups can access AI tools, cloud infrastructure guidance, and best practices early on. As startups grow and adopt more services, additional technical and go‑to‑market support options may become available based on usage and eligibility.
Microsoft for Startups is designed for early‑stage startups building software products, including AI‑powered and cloud‑based applications. The program supports founders and teams from idea and MVP stages through scaling production workloads and selling to customers.
Yes. You can apply whether you’re just getting started or already using another cloud. Every startup joins Microsoft for Startups the same way. Apply through our website, get started with Startup credits, and begin building on Azure right away. There’s no requirement to migrate everything at once. You can start where it makes sense and unlock more credits and support over time as you build and scale on Azure.

Ready to start building?

Join thousands of startups innovating on Azure. Claim your benefits today.