Microsoft for Startups Investor Network - how to apply as an investor

Question

Hello,

The Venture fund I work for used to have an account with Microsoft Azure for the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network before Azure switched to having the startups apply directly. Now it's been switched back and we'd like to become involved again to get an Investor code to give to our startups as they go through our program. We currently have over 300 companies in our portfolio and invest in another ~50 companies every year, so this would be an awesome perk to offer to our portfolio if we can get involved again. How do we apply as an Investor to get a code for our startups?

Looking forward to hearing back on this.

Answer 1

Hello @Katie Bachert,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

it sounds like you want to re‐join the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network so you can issue referral codes to your portfolio companies. Here’s how you can get set up:

Join the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network:

• Go to the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network application page: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-for-startups/program-agreement

• Review and accept the Program Agreement. You’ll be asked to confirm you’re an accredited investor or accelerator/VC firm.

• Submit your organization details for validation.

Wait for approval:

• Once Microsoft verifies your affiliation, you’ll receive a confirmation email. • Your new Investor Referral Code(s) will be made available in the Startups Portal.

Distribute referral codes to your startups:

• Sign into the Microsoft for Startups Portal as an investor: https://portal.startups.microsoft.com

• Navigate to “Investor codes” (or “Referral codes”) in the left-hand menu.

• Copy and share unique codes with each startup in your program.

Startups use the code to apply:

• Instruct your founders to go to https://startups.microsoft.com, click “Get started now,” and enter your code during the application flow. •

Once approved, they’ll unlock up to $100K (and growth tiers up to $150K) in Azure credits and all the Microsoft for Startups benefits.

Reference links

• https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-for-startups/program-agreement
• https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-for-startups/application
• https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/signups/overview
• https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-for-startups/benefits

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Answer 2

The available documentation only covers how startups apply using a referral code from an investor already in the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network and does not describe any public application path for new investors.

To participate as an investor and obtain referral codes for portfolio companies, the documented path is:

1. Ensure portfolio startups meet the Microsoft for Startups investor offer eligibility criteria (for example: software-based product, under $350,000 lifetime free Azure credits, privately held, for‑profit, not Series C, headquartered where Azure is available).
2. Once affiliated with an investor in the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network, startups receive a referral code directly from that investor and then apply themselves at startups.microsoft.com using that code.

However, there is no documented self-service process for a venture fund to newly join the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network or request issuance of investor referral codes. The documentation also notes that the list of participating investors is not publicly shared.

Because of this, the only supported next step available in the documentation is for startups to use the open Azure startup credit offer directly in the Azure portal if they do not already have an affiliated investor in the network. That offer provides:

• $1,000 in Azure credits (valid for 90 days)
• An additional $4,000 (valid for 180 days) after business verification

Those credits can be requested per startup via the Azure startup credit offer flow.

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References:

• What is Microsoft for Startups?
• Applying for the Microsoft for Startups Investor Offer
• Microsoft for Startups Investor Offer Eligibility
• Microsoft for Startups Investor Offer Benefits
• Unlock More Azure Credits