Microsoft for Startups: funding, terms & how to apply
Microsoft's equity-free credits engine — restructured in 2025 into a self-service track for early founders and an Investor Network track that starts backed startups at $100K+ in Azure and AI credits.
Investment
Varies — check official site
Equity
No equity; up to $150K in Azure/AI credits
Program length
Ongoing membership (no cohorts)
Format
Remote
Deadlines
Rolling — self-service track for unfunded startups; Investor Network track from $100K credits
Acceptance rate
Not published
Facts last checked 2026-08-26. Deals and dates change — the official site is always the source of truth for the current application window.
What Microsoft for Startups actually is
Microsoft for Startups (the 'Founders Hub' branding was retired in July 2025) is a rolling, equity-free program with two tracks: a self-service tier giving unfunded startups a starter allocation of Azure and AI credits, and an Investor Network tier — for startups backed by affiliated VCs and accelerators — that starts at $100K in credits and scales toward $150K, plus development tools and support.
Like NVIDIA Inception, treat it as infrastructure rather than a program: join early for the credits, and if you raise from an affiliated investor, have them nominate you into the higher tier — that nomination is the main gate.
What they look for
The bar you need to clear before the application is worth sending.
Any legitimate software startup qualifies for the self-service tier.
For the $100K+ tier: backing by a VC or accelerator in Microsoft's Investor Network.
A cloud/AI product roadmap that will actually consume the credits.
Before you apply
Most rejections happen before the interview — in the application itself
Every question Microsoft for Startups asks — problem, traction, business model, team, market size — maps to work you can finish first. Build your startup profile in StartupKit, run the readiness score, and walk into the application with real answers instead of blank fields. Free, no card.
Build your startup profile freeApplication FAQ
Does Microsoft for Startups take equity?
No — both tracks are equity-free. The program provides Azure and AI credits, tooling and support, not investment.
How do I get the $100K+ credit tier?
Through the Investor Network track: startups backed by an affiliated VC or accelerator can be nominated by that investor. Unfunded startups start on the smaller self-service tier.
What happened to Founders Hub?
Microsoft restructured the program in July 2025 and retired the Founders Hub name; existing benefits moved into the current two-track structure.
Similar programs
NVIDIA Inception
Global · No equity, no fees — a free member program
Not a cohort — a free membership for AI startups: GPU credits and preferred hardware pricing, NVIDIA engineering resources, and exposure to its VC alliance, with zero equity and no deadline.
Google for Startups Accelerator
Global · No equity — mentorship, technical support and cloud credits
Google's equity-free 10-week program — deep technical mentorship from Google engineers, AI/ML support and cloud credits for seed-to-Series-A startups, at zero dilution.
Plug and Play
Global · No equity for the programs; its VC arm invests separately
The corporate-innovation matchmaker — equity-free vertical programs whose real product is warm introductions to the Fortune 500 partners funding each batch.