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Azure for Startups – Country Eligibility Issue

Mohamed Sidi 0 Reputation points
2026-01-10T11:38:18.4333333+00:00

I am attempting to register for Microsoft for Startups / Azure credits as part of my participation in the AI Hub for Sustainable Development – Compute Accelerator Programme (Compute Curious track), coordinated in partnership with UNDP.

During the registration process, I encountered an issue related to country eligibility, which is preventing me from completing the signup successfully. I would like to kindly request clarification on the following points:

1.	Whether my country Mauritania of operation is currently eligible for the Microsoft for Startups / Azure credits programme.

2.	If not, whether there is any alternative registration pathway or manual onboarding option available for startups participating in UNDP-supported programmes.

3.	Whether temporary access to Azure credits can be enabled for programme participants while eligibility verification is ongoing.

My project focuses on an AI-based computer vision solution for industrial safety and public space monitoring, and the Azure resources would be used strictly for model training, testing, and deployment in line with Microsoft’s responsible AI guidelines.

I would greatly appreciate your guidance on how to proceed, or any workaround you may recommend.

Thank you very much for your time and support.

I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,

Abdelkader

Azure | Azure Startups
Azure | Azure Startups

Startups: Companies that are in their initial stages of business and typically developing a business model and seeking financing.

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  1. Jilakara Hemalatha 13,845 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-01-13T04:18:29.39+00:00

    Hello Mohamed Sidi,

    Thank you for reaching out regarding the country eligibility issue you encountered while registering for the Microsoft for Startups / Azure credits program.

    Regarding your questions:

    1. Country Eligibility: Microsoft for Startups eligibility is based on Microsoft’s supported country and region list. If Mauritania is not currently included, registration may be restricted at this time. You can verify the latest eligibility details on the official Microsoft for Startups website.
    2. Alternative Registration Pathways: At present, there is no publicly documented alternative or manual onboarding process for startups operating in non-supported regions. However, since your participation is through a UNDP-supported program, we recommend contacting your program coordinators or Microsoft for Startups support directly to explore whether any special arrangements are available.
    3. Temporary Access to Azure Credits: Temporary or provisional access to Azure credits during eligibility verification is not a standard offering. That said, Microsoft support can provide the most accurate guidance based on your specific situation.

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  2. Adharsh Santhanam 8,225 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Volunteer Moderator
    2026-01-12T10:51:02.35+00:00

    Hello Mohamed Sidi, please find below the specific responses to your queries.

    1. The Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub and Azure startup credit offers are available only in countries/regions where Azure services are supported. Mauritania is not currently listed among the supported regions, which explains the eligibility error you encountered during registration.
    2. There's no manual onboarding step that exists. If you have any Microsoft field sellers/contacts, you may try to get a nomination field through them (there's no guarantee of the outcome).
    3. No, temporary access to Azure credits is not available. These are unlocked only after the registration.

    Please do not forget to "Accept the answer” and “up-vote” wherever the information provided helps you, this can be beneficial to other community members.

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