The program is meant to connect startups with mentors, provide startup-centric training, and provide access to a variety of Microsoft and third-party technologies at a discount. Microsoft is making benefits available at various points in the startups’ lifecycle, rather than just providing a lump-sum. “Microsoft’s previous startup initiatives, focused on cloud credits over a set timeframe, and on co-sell opportunities. While both are important for startups, Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is a new approach which prioritizes helping founders where they need it most: Getting started,” said a company spokesperson when I asked for details about the adjustments Microsoft has made to its startup program. Microsoft is providing startups with up to $150,000 Azure credits over time. The available credits grow from the “ideate” stage, when startups can get $1,000 of credits per year, up to $120,000 for those who are ready to scale their companies. Startups also get access to other products like GitHub and Microsoft 365 as part of the program. Via the just-announced OpenAI credit, Microsoft and OpenAI are providing Microsoft startup participants with $1,000 worth of credits, three free months of the OpenAI API Innovation License, and free consultation with an OpenAI expert. OpenAI is the creator of the language-based GPT-3 AI model. In 2019, Microsoft invested $1 billion in the OpenAI company. In exchange, it received commitments from OpenAI to make Microsoft its “preferred partner for commercializing new AI technologies.”
