Feedback on the Microsoft Azure Sponsorship Program

What is ut and who can access it?

The Microsoft Azure Sponsorship Program supports startups by providing Azure credits and additional benefits to help them build and scale their applications. To access the program, startups must complete an application that includes proof of financial stability and company age. Although the application process may seem detailed, the benefits far outweigh the effort.

Benefits

The program offers multiple tiers of funding, providing up to $150,000 in Azure credits. These tiers are unlocked based on the startup’s stage and provided documentation. Generally, the program is generous, and obtaining credits is simple and quick.

Participants also receive various discounts and free products from Microsoft, such as Teams and Visual Studio, as well as offers from third-party companies like Miro and Stripe. Startups have regular meetings with a program manager who can connect them with technical experts as needed. These managers primarily focus on business development and global infrastructure strategies.

Limitations

Despite its benefits, the program has some limitations. Increasing resource quotas can be challenging, and access to GPU-enabled resources may be restricted. If a startup needs GPUs, it typically must use a paid subscription alongside its sponsored subscription. Adding a new subscription under the sponsorship requires submitting a support ticket, which is relatively quick but not immediate.

Additionally, tracking current consumption at the resource or resource group level is limited within the sponsorship subscription. Cost management is handled through a different portal that offers less detail than the Azure portal, making it challenging to thoroughly understand cost allocations.

What happens after the program ends?

When the sponsorship program concludes, your program manager will assist you in transitioning to a suitable license for your enterprise. The license switch is done without impacting your existing resources, and your subscription is retained. However, quotas are reset to the default values of the new license.

Therefore, especially with a Pay-As-You-Go license, it’s important to monitor your quotas and request increases during the license update. While your running workloads won’t be affected, you may not be able to scale them because your quotas may be lower than your current usage.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Azure Sponsorship Program is a fantastic opportunity for startups, offering significant benefits and support. However, it’s essential to be aware of the quota limitations, as they can lead to challenges at the end of the program. Thank you, Microsoft, for this incredible help!