Microsoft for Startups: Up to $150,000 in Azure & OpenAI Credits
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud: compute, databases & OpenAI’s GPT models, all on 1 Azure bill.
$200 the day you sign up, $5,000 after verification, more as your Azure usage grows
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The practical way to get OpenAI credits without a partner VC. OpenAI’s own startup credits need a referral from its partner funds. Azure credits pay for GPT models, and any eligible startup can start today.
What Microsoft for Startups is, & why founders use it
Microsoft for Startups puts Azure credits on your account and raises them automatically as your product grows. They pay for ordinary cloud infrastructure and for the models founders want most, OpenAI’s GPT family served from Azure.
GPT in your product, paid with credits. Azure OpenAI models are sold & billed directly by Azure, so the credits cover them like any other Azure service.
The whole cloud bill, not 1 service. Virtual machines, databases, app hosting & AI services all draw on the same balance.
Enterprise-ready from day 1. If your buyers are corporates already on Microsoft, being on Azure removes a procurement question before it is asked.
Credits that grow with you. You do not reapply for more. Microsoft reviews your usage and raises the limit when you hit the next milestone.
How the credits grow: $200 to $150,000
Microsoft publishes 5 milestones. Upgrades are automatic, and you can jump straight to a higher one once you meet it.
| $200 | Sign up for Azure & verify your identity with a personal LinkedIn account. Microsoft says the balance shows within 24 hours. |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | Complete business verification: confirm your startup is a registered legal entity. |
| $25,000 | Run 5+ Azure workloads for about 60 days. This milestone also adds a one-time 2-year extension to use your credits. |
| $50,000 | Run 7 or more Azure workloads for about 60 days. |
| $150,000 | Run 10 or more workloads with about $3,000 a month of Azure usage, for about 60 days. |
A workload is any Azure service you actively use: virtual machines, AI services, databases, app hosting. The 60-day clock starts once each workload has at least $1 of spend, and each one has to stay above $1 for the whole period.
Which AI models the credits cover
Microsoft’s credits apply to models sold & billed directly by Azure. That decides which AI bill they can pay.
| Covered | OpenAI’s GPT models on Azure, plus the other Foundry models sold directly by Azure. |
|---|---|
| Not covered | Anthropic’s Claude, Hugging Face, and select Cohere, Meta & Mistral models. They are billed by the model provider, so they go to your card even with credits left. |
| Want Claude on credits? | Use AWS. Activate credits pay for Claude on Amazon Bedrock, and InnMind members apply with our provider ID: see the AWS Activate deal. |
Deal at a glance
| Programme | Microsoft for Startups |
|---|---|
| Start | $200 at sign-up, $5,000 after business verification |
| Ceiling | Up to $150,000, raised automatically as Azure usage grows |
| With an investor code | Microsoft says most startups begin with $100,000 |
| AI models | OpenAI GPT & other models sold directly by Azure |
| Stage | Pre-seed through Series B, building software or AI |
| Activation | Within 90 days of accepting the programme agreement |
| Access | Free with any InnMind account |
| Last verified | October 2026 |
With an investor code: most startups begin at $100,000
If your accelerator, VC or investor is in Microsoft’s Investor Network, ask them for their 10-character referral code before you apply. Microsoft says most startups on the investor offer begin with $100,000, plus Azure Standard Support, technical experts, go-to-market help and discounted Microsoft software such as GitHub Enterprise and Microsoft 365. Enter the code during the application; Microsoft does not publish the list of participating investors.
How to claim it
- Sign in to InnMind, or create a free account.
- Open this deal in the InnMind app & click Access Perk to reach the Microsoft for Startups application.
- Sign up with a personal Microsoft account that has never had Azure. Microsoft does not accept work or company-domain accounts at sign-in.
- Verify with your personal LinkedIn account to get the first $200, then complete business verification for $5,000. If you have an investor code, enter it here.
- Build. Microsoft raises your credits automatically as your Azure workloads grow.
Good to know before you apply
| 90 days to activate | The clock starts when you accept the programme agreement. Put the date in a calendar the day you are approved. |
|---|---|
| A card is required | For identity checks and anything the credits do not cover. When the credits are used up, the subscription moves to pay-as-you-go, so set a budget alert on day 1. |
| Personal account only | Use the same personal Microsoft account to register and to activate. Work or school accounts are the most common cause of activation errors. |
Who is eligible
| Stage | Pre-seed through Series B. Bootstrapped teams qualify. |
|---|---|
| Product | A software, AI or technology product your company owns. |
| Company | Privately held, for-profit, headquartered where Azure is sold. |
| Prior credits | Under $350,000 in lifetime free Azure credits. |
| Excluded | Consultancies, agencies, educational institutions, government organisations and crypto mining. |
| InnMind plan | Free with any InnMind account. |
Terms worth knowing
This is Microsoft for Startups, run by Microsoft, & Microsoft decides every application. Figures & conditions are Microsoft’s own as published in October 2026: up to $200 in startup credits at sign-up with personal LinkedIn verification, $5,000 after business verification, $25,000 with 5 or more Azure workloads for about 60 days, $50,000 with 7 or more, and $150,000 with 10 or more workloads and about $3,000 a month of Azure usage, upgraded automatically; a one-time 2-year extension at the $25,000 milestone; on the investor offer, most startups begin with $100,000 with a 10-character referral code from a participating investor. Credits apply to Microsoft Foundry models sold and billed directly by Azure; Anthropic, Hugging Face and select Cohere, Meta and Mistral models are not covered. Eligibility: pre-seed through Series B, a company-owned software product, privately held and for-profit, under $350,000 in lifetime free Azure credits, not a consultancy, agency, educational or government organisation or crypto mining operation. Credits must be activated within 90 days of accepting the programme agreement; a card is required and the subscription converts to pay-as-you-go when credits are used or expire. Deal details verified October 2026.
Questions founders ask
How much does Microsoft for Startups give you?
$200 in Azure credits the day you sign up and $5,000 after business verification. Credits then rise automatically to $25,000, $50,000 and up to $150,000 as your Azure usage grows.
Can I use Microsoft for Startups credits for OpenAI GPT models?
Yes. Azure OpenAI GPT models are sold and billed directly by Azure, so the credits cover them. It is the practical way to pay for GPT with credits when you do not have a referral from one of OpenAI’s partner VCs.
Do Azure startup credits cover Claude?
No. Anthropic models on Azure are billed by Anthropic, not Azure, so they are not covered. For Claude on credits, AWS Activate credits pay for Claude on Amazon Bedrock.
How do I get more Azure credits?
Use more Azure services. 5 or more workloads for about 60 days gets you $25,000, 7 or more gets you $50,000, and 10 or more with about $3,000 a month of usage gets you $150,000. Microsoft upgrades you automatically.
What is an investor referral code?
A 10-character code from an accelerator, VC or investor in Microsoft’s Investor Network. Microsoft says most startups that apply with one begin with $100,000. Ask your investor for it before you apply.
How long do the Azure credits last?
Activate within 90 days of accepting the programme agreement. Reaching the $25,000 milestone adds a one-time 2-year extension to use your credits.
Who is eligible for Microsoft for Startups?
Pre-seed to Series B companies that own a software or AI product, are privately held and for-profit, and have taken under $350,000 in lifetime free Azure credits. Consultancies, agencies and crypto mining are excluded.
Do I need a paid InnMind plan to claim it?
No. Microsoft for Startups is free with any InnMind account.
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