All programs
Microsoft
Azure OpenAI Startup Ecosystem
Via Azure startup credits
Partial / TieredVia cloud/ecosystemFoundation Models & Gen AI
Manually reviewed by our team
Azure OpenAI Service access for startups is consumed through Microsoft for Startups Azure credits, not a separate OpenAI credit grant.
Program tiers
| Tier | Value | Access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft for Startups | $150K | unknown | Azure OpenAI billed against Azure credits |
Eligibility
- Bootstrapped founders eligible
- Registered legal entity required
- Company website required
- Business email matching domain
- Separate legal entities can apply independently
How to apply
- 1Confirm eligibility (stage, funding, entity requirements) on the official program page
- 2Use a business email and website matching your legal entity domain
- 3Submit the application via the official apply link
- 4Activate credits within the provider's stated window after approval
Important notes
- No standalone Azure OpenAI startup apply page. Milestone Azure credits ($200–$150K) fund Azure OpenAI deployments. Direct OpenAI API credits discontinued from Microsoft Founders Hub.
- Separate legal entities can apply independently where terms allow distinct company accounts, domains, and billing.