Ineligible for Azure credits after Antler Founders referral without code

Antler’s participation as a partner does not by itself make an account eligible; eligibility is determined by the Microsoft for Startups program rules and how the application is submitted.

From the available guidance:

1. The investor offer (larger credit amounts) requires a valid referral code from the participating investor or accelerator. The code is how affiliation is verified.
2. If there is no referral code, the correct path is to apply without a code. In that case, the startup can still receive Azure startup credits, but via the standard “no investor code” offer (initial $1,000 for 90 days, then an additional $4,000 for 180 days after business verification) rather than the investor offer.
3. Many startup benefits, including credits, also cannot be redeemed on certain existing enterprise or previously-benefited accounts. If the current Microsoft account has already redeemed a similar startup offer or is an enterprise account, it may be ineligible.
4. Program Support is the channel that can confirm account-level eligibility, check whether the current account can receive credits under the Antler partnership, and correct any entitlement issues.

Recommended next steps:

1. If Antler has an investor referral code for the Microsoft for Startups investor offer, request that code and submit a new application using that code.
2. If no code is available, follow the “Continue without a code” path and complete the Azure account creation and business verification steps to receive the standard startup credit offer.
3. If the portal continues to show that the account cannot be used for Microsoft for Startups credits, open a ticket with Microsoft for Startups Program Support from the Azure portal (Microsoft for Startups page → Get Program Support under the Your Microsoft Team tile). Ask them to:
   • Verify eligibility of the specific Microsoft account for startup credits.
   • Confirm whether any prior benefit redemptions or enterprise status are blocking the offer.
   • Clarify which offer (investor vs. no-code startup credits) applies to the Antler referral in this case.

Only Program Support can definitively confirm whether this particular account can receive credits through the Antler partnership and, if so, align the correct offer with the account.

References:

• Microsoft for Startups – Frequently Asked Questions
• Activate Azure Credits
• How to Apply to Microsoft for Startups
• Microsoft for Startups – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)