Applying / Startup Enrollment Issue / Founders Hub

Question

Hi Microsoft Startups Team,
I’ve already created an Azure account and received initial Azure credits, but I am unable to complete Founders Hub enrollment. Every time I attempt to sign up, I am redirected to the investor referral code page, and I do not have a referral code. It appears my account is stuck in an onboarding loop where I cannot access the standard Founders Hub application.
Can you please:

1. Manually enroll my startup (Lorespinner Corp) into Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub,
   OR 2) Reset my onboarding state so I can complete the application without requiring an investor referral code This is blocking me from accessing additional startup benefits.
   Thank you, Thomas Wittmer

Answer 1

Hello Thomas,

Thank you for reaching out and for clearly explaining the issue — I understand how this onboarding loop is preventing you from completing your application.

Based on your description, your account appears to be routed through the investor referral flow in Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, which is why you’re being asked for a referral code. This typically happens due to an onboarding state mismatch and cannot be resolved from the user side.

Before we proceed further, you may try a few quick checks:

• Sign in using a private/incognito browser or clear your cache and cookies, then access: https://foundershub.startups.microsoft.com
• Ensure you're using the same work/business email associated with your Azure account
• Sign out of all Microsoft sessions and try again

If the issue still persists, it will require backend assistance from the relevant team.

Alternatively, you can also raise a support request via the Azure portal:

Go to Help + Support → New Support Request → Product & Subscription Limits → Microsoft for Startups enrollment, and include the relevant details about the issue.

You can follow the official documentation here for step-by-step guidance on creating a support request: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-portal/supportability/how-to-create-azure-support-request

Answer 2

Manual enrollment or direct reset of the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub onboarding state cannot be performed directly. The appropriate path is to open a program support request so the Microsoft for Startups team can review the account and correct the enrollment flow.

To proceed:

1. Sign in to the Microsoft for Startups Portal at https://portal.startups.microsoft.com/login (use the same account that has the Azure credits).
2. Submit a program support request describing the issue (being redirected to the investor referral code page without having a referral code, and that the standard Founders Hub application is not accessible).
3. The support team will review the case and can adjust the enrollment or advise on the correct application path (Investor Offer vs. standard Azure startup credit offer).

If the startup does not have an investor in the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network, the investor offer (and its referral-code-based flow) is not applicable. In that case, the startup should instead use the general Azure startup credit offer available directly in the Azure portal, as described in the “Unlock More Azure Credits” guidance.

If the startup does have an eligible investor, obtain a referral code from that investor and then:

1. Go to https://startups.microsoft.com.
2. Select “Get started now.”
3. Enter the referral code to begin the Microsoft for Startups Investor Offer application.

For any uncertainty about which account was used to activate credits or if credits need to be moved to a different account, submit a support ticket to the Microsoft for Startups Support Team as outlined in the “Properly Setting Up Your Azure Account” guidance.

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References:

• What is Microsoft for Startups?
• Azure experience for founders
• Properly Setting Up Your Azure Account
• Unlock More Azure Credits
• Startup support and troubleshooting
• Why can’t I see my startup’s Azure credits as a team member?