Founders Hub Next Level Application is denied because of Engagement Score with no clear explanation

Question

Dear Sir,

our application for next level (we are currently in 25000 USD with 21175 USD consumed till this day) is denied because we don't have enough Engagement Score. Out verification list is 9/9 complete. We sent few emails to Azure support but haven't received clear explanation what is our Engagement Score and how can we improve it?

Please help.

We are intensively using Azure Cloud with various services and features and running own IOT platform solution and ITS SCADA on Azure Cloud (App Service and Azure VM). Unfortunately if we don't get next level of Startups Hub package we will be in very bad situation since all our development is based on Azure and .NET technologies. We have few you days left (11 January 2025 is our last day to convert to pay-as-go model).

Please help us clarify and advise how can we improve Engagement Score to move to next level?

Best regards

Hrvoje Kaluder CEO @ DTX

Answer 1

@Hrvoje Kaluđer Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum, Thank you for posting your query here!

To improve your Engagement Score and potentially qualify for more Azure credits, consider the following steps:

1. Revisit Your Azure Infrastructure: Evaluate your current Azure setup to ensure you are utilizing the services effectively. This might involve optimizing your existing resources or exploring additional Azure services that could benefit your operations.
2. Explore AI Features: Look into the AI features available in Azure. Engaging with these features can help improve your Engagement Score as it reflects active usage of Azure services .
3. Monitor and Complete Tasks: Ensure that all tasks in your verification checklist are complete. Although you mentioned that your checklist is 9/9 complete, double-check for any updates or additional tasks that might have been added .
4. Engagement Score Calculation: The Engagement Score is calculated based on your active usage of Azure services. Since you are using Azure Cloud intensively, ensure that this usage is being tracked correctly. If there are any discrepancies, it might be worth discussing with Azure support
5. Explore Business Tools: Utilize more business tools available in the Benefits tab of the Founders Hub.
6. Contact Support for Clarification: Since you have already reached out to Azure support, continue to follow up for a detailed explanation of your current Engagement Score and specific areas where you can improve. You can contact support at aka.ms/startuphelpemail for further assistance

Note: When you build more with Azure, you have a higher likelihood of improving your Engagement score.

As your Azure credits near their expiration date, your tasks and engagement score will automatically be reviewed to see if you’re eligible for more credits without needing to submit a request. This review happens approximately 45 days before your benefits are due to expire. Prior to 45 days before your benefits expire, make sure your task list is complete and monitor your engagement score. If approved, the additional Azure credits and benefits will be automatically applied to your account.

How do I improve my engagement score?