Microsoft

Choose the right route

• Building a company and want cloud credits: apply to Microsoft for Startups.
• Backed by an investor: ask whether they are a Microsoft for Startups Investor Network member. Members can give portfolio startups access to the benefits.
• Building AI and based in India: look at the UNNATI AI 2.0 acceleration strand, once you have confirmed its application window.
• A developer, student or early-career professional: the developer training strand is free.
• Hoping for Pegasus: it is invite-only, so you cannot apply directly.

How applications work

• Microsoft for Startups: apply on Microsoft's startup site by selecting Get started and submitting an application.
• Eligibility check: confirm your company is headquartered in a country where Azure services are available, and that it has not already received free Azure credits above the lifetime limit the overview states. The overview does not name India.
• UNNATI AI 2.0: the timeline shows September 2026 as the closing month for the second cohort, but other text on the page reads as if applications are open. Confirm the current status on the programme site first.
• Investors: apply to join the Investor Network on its page.

Before you sign

• Ask about equity and fees. The overview page does not state either.
• Expect credits to unlock over time as your progress and Azure usage are verified, as the overview describes, rather than all at once.

Microsoft Corporation, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Redmond, Washington, runs Microsoft for Startups, which gives early companies Azure cloud credits, AI models and developer tools. In India, Microsoft supports UNNATI AI 2.0, an AI programme run by FITT at IIT Delhi.

How programmes work

Microsoft's startup offer is spread across several tracks, and each works differently.

Microsoft for Startups is the main route. Companies apply directly on Microsoft's startup site by selecting Get started and submitting an application. The benefits are Azure cloud credits and access to AI models and developer tools.

Pegasus is a separate, invite-only track. It connects startups with Microsoft's enterprise customers across industries, and each company in it gets a dedicated Cloud Solutions Architect to support its technical work on Microsoft technology. Founders cannot apply to it directly.

The Investor Network is for investors rather than founders. Members can give their portfolio startups access to Microsoft for Startups benefits. A founder whose investor is a member can ask that investor whether this applies to them.

UNNATI AI 2.0 is the India-facing track. FITT at IIT Delhi runs it, with support from Microsoft's corporate social responsibility programme. Its startup acceleration strand offers non-dilutive grants, so startups keep their equity, and an opportunity to pitch for support from the FITT Investment Fund. Its developer strand is free. It gives aspiring developers, students, researchers and early-career professionals practical AI skills through hands-on learning, industry mentorship and real-world projects. Sessions are led by Microsoft-certified trainers, and participants can earn an officially certified Microsoft training credential. Press reports say the wider programme was unveiled in July 2026.

Who can apply

For Microsoft for Startups, the overview page asks that a company be headquartered in a country where Azure services are available. The page does not name India in that requirement, so an Indian company should confirm its eligibility before applying. The overview also sets a lifetime limit on free Azure credits that a company may already have received. A company above that limit does not qualify, and the overview states the figure.

The Pegasus track is closed to direct applications. The UNNATI AI 2.0 acceleration strand is for AI-first or AI-enabled ventures, with founders committed to solving real-world challenges through AI, and it is open to startups across India. The developer strand is for individuals, not companies. The Investor Network is for investors who want to offer benefits to their portfolio companies.

Credits and what the pages leave out

Microsoft's pages describe the startup credit offer in two ways. The India-facing page presents the credits as part of the offer. The overview page says they unlock over time as a startup shows verified progress, service adoption and sustained Azure usage. Until the terms are confirmed, a founder should plan on the staged version.

The overview page does not state whether Microsoft takes equity or charges fees under Microsoft for Startups, and it does not give a duration for the programme. The Pegasus page does not state cost or location either. For UNNATI AI 2.0 the page does not state a fee. Check these points before you sign anything.

Scale

Microsoft's startup pages say thousands of startups are building on Azure. That is a self-description, not a published count, and it is not used as a figure here.

Who runs it

Microsoft Corporation runs Microsoft for Startups, Pegasus and the Investor Network. UNNATI AI 2.0 is run by FITT at IIT Delhi with Microsoft's support, and its developer training is delivered by Microsoft-certified trainers.

Locations

Microsoft's corporate headquarters is in Redmond, Washington, in the United States. Its India-facing UNNATI AI 2.0 track is delivered through FITT at IIT Delhi, and the acceleration strand takes applications from startups across India. The location of AI Maker Space, where the developer training takes place, is not stated.