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Unlock Up to $150,000 in free Azure credits to accelerate your cloud projects

Discover how startups can get up to $150,000 in free Azure credits through Microsoft’s startup program. Learn how to deploy and manage Azure AKS with ease using Qovery - no upfront cost, no complex setup.
December 9, 2025
Julien Dan
Technical Product Manager
Summary
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Starting up means every dollar counts, especially when it comes to infrastructure. What if you could explore the power of Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) without the heavy initial investment? Good news : you can!

Microsoft offers generous startup programs that provide up to $150,000 in Azure credits (and sometimes even more!), designed to fuel your innovation without breaking the bank. And with Qovery, leveraging these credits to deploy and manage your Kubernetes clusters on Azure AKS has never been easier.

Why Azure Credits are a Game Changer for your Company

Cloud infrastructure can represent a significant investment, especially when you're exploring new technologies or scaling your operations. Azure credits directly address this challenge by providing you with the resources to:

  • Experiment freely with powerful services like Azure AKS.
  • Scale your applications without immediate financial strain.
  • Innovate faster by removing cost as a barrier to trying new technologies.
  • Test Qovery on Azure AKS comprehensively, understanding its full potential for your projects.

How to secure your free Azure credits

1. Check if you're eligible

👉 Check your eligibility here on Microsoft for Startups page.

Visit the Microsoft for Startups page and review the eligibility criteria. Generally, you need to be:

  • Affiliated with an investor who is a part of the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network. Not eligible for the full amount? No worries! You can kick off with $5,000 in Azure credits.
  • A registered startup (independent, less than 7 years old) Not yet heavily funded (specifics vary by program)
  • Building a software-based product or service

2. Apply to the program

Once you've confirmed your eligibility, the next step is to apply.

👉 Use the official application form on the Microsoft for Startups website

  1. Once accepted, you'll get access to much more than just credits, including:
  • Significant Free Azure Credits: Your gateway to powerful cloud resources.
  • Dedicated technical support: Get help when you need it most.
  • Access to tools and training: Resources to help your team succeed.
Microsoft Azure credits dashboard

My Take on the Process

I went through the process myself and honestly, it’s pretty straightforward. It’s mostly just filling out a few forms, and you’ll get a response quickly. No complex paperwork or long waiting times. If you're a startup, it's definitely worth taking a few minutes to apply.

Then, it's time to put them to work! Qovery makes deploying and managing your applications on Azure AKS incredibly simple. You can take full advantage of your free credits to:

  • Quickly set up and manage Kubernetes clusters on Azure.
  • Automate deployments and simplify your DevOps workflows.
  • Focus on your code, not complex infrastructure configurations.

👉Follow our Azure AKS setup guide

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