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[content]
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Activate Azure Credits
Feedback
Summarize this article for me
In this article
Overview
Which activation path applies to you?
Activate through the Microsoft for Startups portal
Activate through the Azure portal
Azure Activation FAQs
Overview
Every startup accepted into the Microsoft for Startups program receives startup credits. Once you activate your credits, you manage your Azure subscription and resources directly in the
Azure portal
. For more details on where credits are applicable, see
Best ways to use your credits
.
The details of your Azure sponsorship offer type can be found at
azure.microsoft.com/pricing/offers/ms-azr-0036p/
.
Azure Service Agreement & Terms can be found at
azure.microsoft.com/support/legal
.
Important
Due to recent program changes, your activation experience will differ depending on when you joined Microsoft for Startups. Use the guide below to determine which set of instructions applies to you.
Which activation path applies to you?
If you joined Microsoft for Startups before May 29, 2026
, follow the instructions under
Activate through the Microsoft for Startups portal
.
If you joined Microsoft for Startups on or after May 29, 2026
, follow the instructions under
Activate through the Azure portal
.
Activate through the Microsoft for Startups portal
Use these steps if you joined the program before May 29, 2026.
Navigate to the
Microsoft for Startups Portal
and log in to your startup account.
On your homepage, click
Activate Azure
to open the activation sidebar.
Select
Link Microsoft account
to connect your Azure account.
Choose the Microsoft account for your credits and click
Activate
to confirm.
Click
Complete Azure sign-up
to finish setup. You will need a payment method, but you will not be charged until credits expire.
Go to the Azure portal to manage your account, track credits, and start building with AI tools.
Note
Credits may take up to 24 hours to appear on your account.
Activate through the Azure portal
Use these steps if you joined the program on or after May 29, 2026. Net new startups complete activation as part of the application process through the Azure portal.
Before you begin
Gather the following information before starting:
Personal information:
Preferred contact email, phone number, and time zone (email and phone will be verified during the process).
Business information:
Registered startup name (must match your legal documents), primary industry, website (if available), and registered business address.
Azure account setup:
Country/region of your billing address, personal address, and payment information. Your card will not be charged unless you exceed credits and move to pay-as-you-go pricing.
Optional:
Investor referral code (10 characters, provided by your investor, accelerator, or VC if they are in Microsoft's Investor Network).
Step 1: Visit the Microsoft for Startups page
Navigate to the Microsoft for Startups landing page and click
Get started now
to begin the application process. If you do not have an investor referral code, you can also click
No invite code?
to learn more about applying without one.
Step 2: Sign in with your Microsoft account
You will be redirected to the Microsoft sign-in page. Enter your email address and follow the prompts to sign in. If you do not have a Microsoft account associated with this email, click
Create an account
to set one up.
Step 3: Choose your application path
On the "Apply for Microsoft for Startups" page, you will be asked whether you have an investor referral code. This is the branching point in the application process:
If you have a 10-character investor referral code,
enter it in the field and click
Next
. Continue to
Path A: Applying with an investor referral code
.
If you do not have an investor referral code,
click
Continue without a code
. Continue to
Path B: Applying without an investor referral code
.
Note
Microsoft does not publicly share the list of participating investors. To request an investor referral code, contact your accelerator or VC directly.
Path A: Applying with an investor referral code
If you have a 10-character investor referral code, follow the steps below. After completing this path, you will continue to the Azure account creation steps shared by both paths.
Step A1: Enter your personal information
After entering your investor code and clicking
Next
, you will be prompted to enter your preferred contact email, phone number, and time zone. This information is used to send updates about your application and connect you with regional support.
Step A2: Verify your contact email
Click
Send code
on the "Verify your contact email" modal. A verification code will be sent to your email address.
Check your email for the verification code, enter it in the
Verification code
field, and click
Verify
. The code expires in 10 minutes — if you don't see the email, check your spam folder or click
Resend code
.
Step A3: Verify your phone number
Next, you will be prompted to verify your phone number. Click
Send code
on the "Verify your phone number" modal. A verification code will be sent via text message.
Enter the verification code from your text message and click
Verify
. If you do not receive the code, click
Resend code
to try again.
Note
Both email and phone verification are required to continue. If a verification code expires before you enter it, click
Resend code
to receive a new one.
Step A4: Enter your business information
After verifying your contact information, complete the Business information form. You will need to provide:
Registered startup name (must match your legal documents)
Primary industry your startup serves
Website (if available)
Registered business address
Once complete, click
Submit
.
Step A5: Application submitted
After submitting your application, you will see an "Application submitted" confirmation page. Microsoft will review your application and respond within 3 business days. Before you can begin building, you need to set up your Azure account.
Click
Continue to Azure sign up
to proceed.
Important
Both the investor code and no-code paths require setting up an Azure account before you can begin building. Continue to
Setting up your Azure account
below.
Path B: Applying without an investor referral code
If you do not have an investor referral code, you can still apply by clicking
Continue without a code
on the application page. After completing this path, you will continue to the Azure account creation steps shared by both paths.
Step B1: Land on the Build your startup preview
After clicking
Continue without a code
, you will be taken to a preview of the "Build your startup" dashboard. Notice the
Unlock $1,000 in Azure credits — Sign up
prompt in the top-right corner. Click
Sign up
to begin creating your Azure account.
Note
Without an investor code, you go directly to Azure account creation rather than completing the longer application form. You will receive $1,000 in starter Azure credits to begin building.
Setting up your Azure account
Both application paths converge here. Whether you applied with or without an investor code, you will complete a 3-step Azure account creation process to receive your $1,000 in starter credits.
Step C1: Step 1 of 3 — Profile information
Enter your profile information, including:
Country/region (must match your billing address)
First and last name
Email address for important notifications
Phone number
Complete the "Let's prove you're human" verification, then click
Next
.
Note
You cannot change your country or region selection later. If your country is not listed, the offer is not available in your region.
Step C2: Step 2 of 3 — Address information
Enter your billing address: address line 1, address line 2 (optional), city, state/province, and postal code. Review and accept the consent checkboxes:
Confirm you are the individual identified on this account and agree to the Microsoft Customer Agreement and Supplemental Individual User Terms
(Optional) Opt in to receive product news, tips, and offers
(Optional) Allow Microsoft to share your information with select partners
Click
Next
to continue.
Step C3: Step 3 of 3 — Payment information
Enter your payment information, including:
Cardholder name
Card number
Expiration month and year
CVV
Billing address (will pre-populate from Step 2)
Click
Save
to complete account setup.
Tip
Your credit card will not be charged unless you exceed your $1,000 in credits and choose to move to pay-as-you-go pricing. Spending protection is enabled by default to prevent unexpected charges.
Step C4: Account setup in progress
After clicking
Save
, you will see a "Setting up your account" loading state. This typically takes a few moments to complete.
Step C5: Land on your Build your startup dashboard
Once your account is created, you will land on the "Build your startup, [Name]" dashboard. What you see depends on which application path you took:
If you applied without an investor code:
You will see a confirmation tip in the top-right corner:
You've unlocked $1,000 in Azure credits
. Your credits are immediately available, and you can begin deploying resources right away.
If you applied with an investor code:
You will see a "Hello, [Name]" welcome modal confirming you have $1,000 in Azure credits to begin building while your application is reviewed. A yellow banner at the top of the dashboard indicates that your application is under review. Click
Start exploring
to dismiss the modal and begin using the portal.
Note
Your credit balance may take up to 24 hours to fully update after account creation. Once your application is approved (typically within 3 business days), you will receive expanded program credits and benefits.
Azure Activation FAQs
How long do I have to activate Azure credits?
You must activate Azure credits within 90 days of accepting the program agreement. If you don't, your offer will expire, and you'll need to reapply to regain access to the investor offer.
How can I confirm that the Azure credits are showing under my account on the Azure portal?
Log into the Azure portal and navigate to
Cost Management
>
Billing
>
Payment methods
.
What happens if I don't activate my Azure credits within 90 days?
Your offer will expire, and you'll need to reapply to regain access to the investor offer.
What do I do if I get an "Already redeemed" error when activating my Azure benefit?
Azure credits were previously allocated to the Microsoft Account (MSA) associated with this email address, often from another Microsoft program. If you finished using credits from the other program, contact support at
aka.ms/startuphelp-mfs-portal
for help with activating Microsoft for Startups Investor Offer credits.
If you're still using credits from another program, we recommend you finish using those credits before activating Microsoft for Startups Investor Offer credits. Azure credits and other benefits must be activated by the date indicated on your Home page of the
Microsoft for Startups Portal
.
To use credits from two programs in parallel, set up a new MSA with another email address. Note that it isn't possible to share workloads across MSAs.
"You aren't eligible for this offer" Azure activation error
Contact support through the portal at
aka.ms/startuphelp-mfs-portal
.
"Your account type is not supported" Azure activation error
You receive this message when your account doesn't have an active administrator for your tenant. You can
take administrator ownership of the account by following these steps
.
Alternatively, this can occur if the account is registered in an unmanaged Azure Active Directory.
Sign up using another account or take over the unmanaged AD directory
.
How do I resolve Azure activation errors related to my credit card?
To troubleshoot credit card issues, refer to
Troubleshoot a declined card at Azure sign-up
.
"You aren't eligible for an Azure subscription" Azure activation error
Check that the information provided for your Azure account profile — including contact email address, street address, and telephone number — is correct. Make sure that the credit card information you entered is correct, and you don't already have a Microsoft account with the same information. If you still face issues, contact support at
aka.ms/startuphelp-mfs-portal
.
I activated my Azure sponsorship. How can I create subscriptions to use my sponsorship credits?
Sign in to the
Azure portal
using the email address associated with your Microsoft for Startups credits.
Navigate to
Subscriptions
and then select
Add
.
Select the billing account under which the credits are allocated.
All subscriptions under that billing account will be able to use the allocated sponsorship credits.
Microsoft for Startups Support
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Last updated on
05/30/2026
In this article
Overview
Which activation path applies to you?
Activate through the Microsoft for Startups portal
Activate through the Azure portal
Azure Activation FAQs
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