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Microsoft for Startups not visible for one MSA but works for another in the same Azure portal — how to enable it?

Nhat Luong 0 Reputation points
2026-06-12T06:22:56.6966667+00:00

## Issue

I have two personal Microsoft Accounts (MSAs) for my company Docosan

(telehealth platform in Vietnam):

  • MSA A: ******@docosan.com
  • MSA B: ******@docosan.com

When I sign in to https://portal.azure.com and try to open the

Microsoft for Startups experience, the two accounts behave differently:

MSA B (******@docosan.com) — works as expected

  • Microsoft for Startups page loads at: https://portal.azure.com/#view/Microsoft_Azure_StartupsHub/...
  • Shows "Build your startup, Luong" header.
  • Shows the offer: "Unlock $1,000 in Azure credits — Verify with LinkedIn".
  • Banner: "Now you can unlock up to $150,000 in Azure credits...".

MSA A (******@docosan.com) — does NOT load the Startups page

  • When I search "Microsoft for Startups" in the global Azure portal search bar and click the result, instead of opening the Microsoft for Startups experience, the portal opens the Application Templates page (Home > Application templates), OR redirects to the Microsoft Learn doc page about Program Graduation (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/startups/microsoft-for-startups/program-graduation).
  • The Azure portal home only shows the standard `$200 USD in credits
    • Expires July 11, 2026` panel (free trial), with **no Microsoft
    for Startups pane** anywhere.

Environment

  • Country: Vietnam
  • Browser: Chrome + Edge, tested in InPrivate / Incognito with cookies cleared for *.microsoft.com.
  • MSA A tenant: DEFAULT DIRECTORY (NHATLUO...) — has an active Azure subscription 1 ($200 free trial, credit card on file).
  • MSA B tenant: a different DEFAULT DIRECTORY (tenant id starts with F8CDEF31-...) — no subscription yet.
  • Both MSAs were created recently, both are personal accounts (avatar popup shows "My Microsoft account").
  • Followed setup guide: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/startups/build/azure-getting-started/set-up-account

What I have tried

  1. Fully signed out, cleared cookies, used a fresh InPrivate window.
  2. Tried both global Azure portal search and the direct URL https://startups.microsoft.com → MSA A always lands on Application Templates or Program Graduation doc; never the Microsoft for Startups experience.
  3. Confirmed credit card is added on MSA A (so payment instrument should not be the blocker).

Questions

  1. Why does the Microsoft for Startups experience load for MSA B but not for MSA A, when both are MSAs under the same company (docosan.com)?
  2. Is MSA A flagged as ineligible (graduated / restricted)? If so, is there a way to check the eligibility status from my side?
  3. How can I make MSA A able to access the Microsoft for Startups offer (preferred, since it already has the subscription + payment set up), OR transfer the existing entitlement on MSA B over to MSA A so the company has one consolidated credit holder?

Thanks for any guidance.

(1)

(2)

Azure | Azure Startups
Azure | Azure Startups

Startups: Companies that are in their initial stages of business and typically developing a business model and seeking financing.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-06-12T06:23:18.42+00:00
    1. The Microsoft for Startups experience and the associated credit offer are always issued to a specific individual MSA, not to a company domain or tenant. Each MSA is evaluated independently for eligibility and has its own program state. This is why MSA B can see the Microsoft for Startups hub and offer, while MSA A only sees the standard Azure free trial; the startup offer is currently associated with MSA B only.
    2. Eligibility or graduation status for a given MSA cannot be checked directly from the Azure portal. When the portal redirects to general documentation instead of the Startups hub, it indicates that the signed‑in account is not currently recognized as having an active Microsoft for Startups offer. To confirm the status of MSA A, a support request must be opened with the Microsoft for Startups team so they can look up that specific MSA and its program state.
    3. To consolidate on a single account or move the entitlement:
      • If the goal is to move credits or the startup offer from MSA B to MSA A, an entitlement transfer is required. This can only be done by Microsoft for Startups support. Submit a support ticket to the Microsoft for Startups Program Support Team and request an entitlement transfer from the MSA that currently has the offer to the preferred MSA.
      • If the issue is simply that the correct MSA is unclear, sign in with each possible MSA and check for a sponsorship subscription under Subscriptions in the Azure portal. If still unclear, the Microsoft for Startups Support Team can help identify which MSA holds the credits.

    Once support confirms and, if approved, completes an entitlement transfer, the preferred MSA (MSA A) will become the account where the startup credits and related benefits are applied. After that, follow the account setup guidance to ensure the Entra tenant, custom domain, and admin accounts are configured correctly before building workloads.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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