Ignite 2025: Drive the next era of software innovation with AI
Artificial intelligence is unlocking new possibilities and redefining what’s achievable. Software companies, startups, ISVs and AI Natives are leading the charge, using AI to speed up delivery, scale effectively, and unlock new business potential. Microsoft empowers software companies to unlock growth through AI-driven innovation, empowers their developers to ship faster and scale through programs, incentive and Microsoft Marketplace. There is clear momentum in AI innovation, led by forward-thinking software companies. For instance, Microsoft Marketplace now offers 4,000+ AI Apps and Agents—more than any other marketplace—as well as additional cloud solutions designed to help customers accelerate their innovation. Software company acceleration at Microsoft Ignite. This week at Ignite, Microsoft is empowering software companies across three key areas: 1. Unlock growth with AI Software companies can access a broad choice of models, tailor them to their use case, and create AI apps and agents that deliver outcomes while using responsible AI to protect data and reduce risk. New announcements: Unified tools catalog in Microsoft Foundry (Public preview) New Microsoft Foundry updates in preview will enable developers to enrich agents with real-time business context, multimodal capabilities and custom business logic through a unified Tools catalog of Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers built with security and governance in mind. The catalog includes Unified tool discovery, deep business integration, new tools for prebuilt AI services, and custom tool extensibility. Managed instance on Azure App Service (Public preview) Enables organizations to move web applications to the cloud with just a few configuration changes, saving the time and effort of rewriting code. Whether .NET web apps are running on-premises or in virtual machines, developers will be able to modernize them into a fully managed platform-as-a-service (PaaS) environment and future-proof their infrastructure. The result is faster app modernization with lower overhead and access to cloud-native scalability, built-in security and Azure’s AI capabilities. Cohere joins Microsoft Foundry’s first-party model lineup (Public preview) Cohere’s leading language models (Command A, Embed 4 and Rerank) are now available directly from Azure, giving customers fast, secure, and compliant access without third-party dependencies. Delivered with Azure-native governance, observability, networking, and billing, Cohere on Azure enables organizations to build high-performance retrieval, classification, and generation workflows at enterprise scale. Introducing Anthropic's Claude models in Microsoft Foundry (Public preview) Microsoft and Anthropic are expanding their existing partnership to provide broader access to Claude for businesses. Customers of Microsoft Foundry will be able to access Anthropic’s frontier Claude models including Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Opus 4.1, and Claude Haiku 4.5. This partnership will make Claude the only frontier model available on all three of the world’s most prominent cloud services. Azure customers will gain expanded choice in models and access to Claude-specific capabilities. 2. Accelerate development Ship faster with AI-assisted workflows, build across clouds and open-source stacks, and use databases that speed data access and analysis to quickly move from prototype to production. New announcements: Systems innovation (Private preview) Remote storage throughput of up to 20 GBps, up to 1 million remote storage IOPS and network bandwidth of up to 400 Gbps, enabling significant performance improvements for the latest Azure VM series. Azure Boost is a server subsystem designed by Microsoft consisting of purpose-built software and hardware that offloads server virtualization processes traditionally performed by the hypervisor and host OS. Various storage and network intensive workloads will benefit the most from these new performance specifications. Microsoft Defender for Cloud + GitHub Advanced Security (Preview) With Microsoft Defender for Cloud and GitHub Advanced Security, you can protect cloud-native applications across the full app lifecycle from code to cloud. This natively integrated solution helps connect software developers and security teams while staying in the tools they use every day; to prioritize the most critical risks exposed in production and fix these risks faster with AI-powered remediation. Azure HorizonDB PostgreSQL (Private preview) A new PostgreSQL cloud database service delivering high speed and elastic scalability for building or modernizing mission-critical applications. Integrated with Microsoft Foundry, Microsoft Fabric, Visual Studio Code and more, Azure HorizonDB streamlines development. Modern authentication with Microsoft Entra ID and security features like Microsoft Defender and private endpoints support enterprise-grade protection. 3. Scale with confidence Turn innovation into revenue with Microsoft Marketplace by expanding your reach through the partner ecosystem, unlocking go-to-market benefits, and differentiating with offers that stand out. New announcements: Global release of Microsoft Marketplace (General availability) Microsoft Marketplace — your trusted source for cloud solutions, AI apps, and agents — is now globally available following its launch in the United States in September. All traffic from legacy storefronts (Azure Marketplace and AppSource) is now redirected to Marketplace.Microsoft.com. Featuring the industry’s largest catalog of AI apps and agents, Marketplace extends the Microsoft Cloud, helping customers accelerate their AI-first transformation with tens of thousands of vetted solutions from our partner ecosystem. These solutions integrate easily with Microsoft products, delivering faster time-to-value. Microsoft Agent 365 (Preview) Extend the existing infrastructure that you use for managing people to agents. Agent 365 equips your agents with the same apps and protections, tailored to agent needs, saving IT time and effort on integrating agents into business processes. It includes leading Microsoft security, productivity and collaboration solutions: Defender, Entra and Purview to protect and govern agents; Microsoft 365 productivity and collaboration apps and Semantic Index to accelerate their productivity; and Microsoft 365 admin center to manage agents. We're already seeing great examples from Devin, Genspark, Glean, Kasisto, Manus AI, n8n, ServiceNow, Workday, and more. Unified programs for software companies – App Accelerate (Public preview) Our Partner Program is focused on delivering more value for software companies, and we’ve identified an opportunity to simplify the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program (MAICPP) offers available to software companies today. We're announcing a new offering for software development companies, available in 2026—combining incentives, benefits, and co-sell resources across existing offerings such as ISV Success, and Marketplace Rewards—into one streamlined pathway for partners. App Accelerate brings together ISV Success, Marketplace Rewards, and more into a single-entry point, creating a unified and simplified experience to help partners accelerate their growth through Microsoft Marketplace. Early access to co-sell benefits (Pilot) As part of our new unified offer, we’re creating an additional route for software companies to access co-sell benefits. This pathway is designed for partners who may not have reached the $100K milestone in Marketplace Billed Sales (MBS) or Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR) but demonstrate readiness in other critical areas. This early access option is nomination-based, with eligibility determined by criteria such as Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC), customer traction, and pipeline strength. Resale enabled offers (General availability) Analysts estimate nearly 60% of cloud marketplace business will be channel-led by 2030. With a partner ecosystem of 500K+ —Microsoft Marketplace is fully embracing the channel-led Marketplace opportunity with the general availability of resale enabled offers. Resale enabled offers enable software companies to empower channel partners to manage their Marketplace listings through a repeatable model designed for scale. This helps software companies break through to new markets without adding overhead while channel partners maintain their customer relationships while getting the added value of Marketplace. Sales of eligible solutions also count toward customers’ Azure consumption commitments, opening the door to larger, more strategic deals funded by pre-committed cloud budgets—creating stickier relationships and fueling growth. Featured Ignite sessions Whether you're attending Ignite in person or joining online, these sessions are designed to help software companies build smarter, scale faster, and unlock new growth opportunities. Tuesday, November 18 – 1:00pm PT Agents, apps, and acceleration: Helping software companies grow Explore the opportunity for AI apps and agents. Learn how to build experiences that matter and get best practices from other leading software companies. Wednesday, November 19 – 10:15am PT Benefits for accelerating software company success Discover resources available across the build, publish, and grow journey in MAICPP. Hear how peers are using AI investments and go-to-market benefits to grow. Wednesday, November 19 – 5:00pm PT Executing on the channel-led Marketplace opportunity for partners Discover practical strategies across diverse dealmaking scenarios to grow business and deepen Microsoft partnerships. Keep the momentum going—explore more Ignite sessions and activities created with software companies in mind. Let’s create the future together You are redefining what’s possible with AI. Microsoft is here to help you create the future. Get started Get resources to help grow your software development company Use ISV Success to build faster with AI tools, services, and expert support Publish your solution and reach millions of customers on the Microsoft Marketplace Access App Advisor and get step-by-step guidance to build, publish, and sell your app or agentFrom AI to ecosystem strategy: Why UP LIVE Reston was a game-changer
On Oct 28–29, Carahsoft hosted Ultimate Partner LIVE at their incredible Reston, VA facility — a high-impact, two-day experience designed to empower ecosystem partners to lead through change. With keynotes from top Microsoft leaders, immersive workshops, and a curated executive audience, this wasn’t just another conference — it was a strategic accelerator for the future of partnering. Here are the top 7 insights from Ultimate Partner LIVE Reston 1. Microsoft’s vision: Ecosystem leadership in action The event kicked off with a powerful keynote from Craig Abod, President of Carahsoft, who reminded attendees to “know the business you're in, and know where you're going.” His disciplined approach to scaling — from $2B to $10B — set the tone for strategic focus and execution. His advice to “take care of your $2K customers, they’ll become $50K customers” was one of the most quoted lines of the event. Microsoft leaders then took the stage to amplify the momentum: Erwin Visser- GM, SCP Channel, challenged attendees to embrace co-innovation, stating, “In 10 years, the world’s top 50 brands don’t even exist yet.” Matt Berg- Global Sales Leader, AI Workforce SME&C, emphasized the importance of scaling success through Copilot and secure AI adoption. Pat Primavera- Americas ISV Channel Sales Leader Applications and Infrastructure, shared the origin story of Microsoft’s co-sell practices, highlighting how transparency and shared learning fuel ecosystem growth. Together, their insights framed a clear call to action: the time to build is now, and the future belongs to those who lead with purpose, partnership, and velocity. 2. AI is reshaping the partner ecosystem AI isn’t just a tech trend — it’s a business revolution. From Copilot to Agentic AI, Microsoft and its partners are leading the charge in redefining how innovation is delivered. Systems integrators (SIs) are at the forefront of AI experimentation, signaling a shift in who drives transformation. The message was clear: “Don’t wait for the next wave. Be the wave.” 3. The lines between partner roles are blurring The partner landscape is being rewritten. Today, partners play an average of 3.2 roles — ISV, MSP, SI, and more. The traditional definitions are fading fast. The winners will be those who adapt their models to stay relevant as these worlds collide. As one speaker noted, “Modern sales is an ecosystem play.” 4. Relationships are the real currency Jay McBain- Chief Analyst, Channels, Partnerships & Ecosystems at Omedia & Canalys, nailed it: “The difference between contacts and contracts is the letter R — Relationships.” His “7 Spheres of Influence” framework — advisors, analysts, ISVs, influencers, integrators, peers — was widely referenced as a guide to navigating modern partnerships. Trust and influence are now central to deal-making, and the ecosystem is the engine that drives it. 5. The buyer has changed permanently Only 5% of buyers are ready to buy now, and 90% will choose from their “Day 1 list.” With 51% of B2B buyers being millennials, early relationship-building is no longer optional — it’s essential. Partners must engage long before a formal buying process begins. The takeaway? If you’re not already on their radar, you’re already too late. 6. The time to build with AI is now From Copilot to secure chat and Agentic AI, Microsoft’s message was clear: the opportunity to build, launch, and scale new solutions is unbridled. Business-led innovation > tech-led innovation. AI isn’t just about automation — it’s about reimagining how work gets done and delivering real business outcomes. Partners were encouraged to adopt AI-first strategies and start building now. 7. Community beats chaos Transformation fatigue is real. Burnout is real. But UP LIVE Reston was described by attendees as “the jolt I didn’t know I needed.” Amid the noise of the industry, the event provided a space for authentic conversations, collaboration, and inspiration. From hallway chats to workshops, the energy was electric. The message was clear: community still matters, and we are truly better together. Special thanks to Craig Abod and the Carahsoft team for their generous support and leadership throughout the event. Carahsoft was honored with Ultimate Partner’s 2025 Partner of the Year Award, recognizing their outstanding commitment to building lasting relationships across the partner ecosystem. If you missed UP LIVE Reston, you can catch the event recordings here: Ultimate Partner LIVE: Reston - Oct. 28 Ultimate Partners LIVE: Reston - Oct. 29Explore Marketplace and partner innovations at Microsoft Ignite 2025
Are you coming to Microsoft Ignite? Microsoft Marketplace has an expanded space in the Hub, in addition to a full slate of must-watch breakout and theater sessions. We are thrilled that the following software companies will be joining Marketplace in the Hub to showcase their cutting-edge solutions: Ada Agentic CX for the world’s most personalized customer experiences Contentsquare Better digital experiences, made easier and faster with AI Delinea Your next AI innovation is our next identity to protect Fivetran Moves, transforms, and activates data to power AI innovation Moveworks The AI Assistant platform for your entire workforce ntegral Empowering the future of cloud innovation Parloa AI agents that elevate every customer conversation Profisee Build trusted data to operationalize AI and accelerate innovation Sight Machine Industrial transformation at the speed of AI with enterprise scale Sitecore Digital experiences so powerful they connect the world Unily The #1 enterprise employee experience platform Zammo.ai Build AI agents with just your words, any channel, any use case If you’ll be joining us at Microsoft Ignite in San Francisco, make sure you stop by our Marketplace space in the Hub from November 18-20 to: Connect directly with Microsoft subject matter experts ready to help you become Marketplace-ready and accelerate your business growth Explore AI-powered solutions from featured partners, all available in Microsoft Marketplace Experience live demos, interactive showcases, and receive hands-on guidance Grab a sweet treat with the return of our famous Marketplace donut wall Not able to attend in person? Breakout sessions will be streamed live for digital attendees and available on demand. Learn more about the value in purchasing through Marketplace in these breakout sessions: BRK213: Microsoft Marketplace: Your trusted source for cloud and AI solutions BRK215: Boost cloud and AI ROI using Microsoft Marketplace If you're a software company looking to sell through Marketplace, these sessions are for you: BRK424: Marketplace success for partners—from SMB to Enterprise BRK420: Executing on the channel-led marketplace opportunity for partners As a trusted source for cloud solutions, AI apps, and agents, Marketplace is an extension of the Microsoft Cloud, where we collaborate with our partner ecosystem to bring their innovations to our customers globally. Whether you’re looking to innovate, scale, or simply get inspired, Marketplace is your destination at Microsoft Ignite. Register today.Channel strategy, accreditation, and real results — All at UP LIVE Reston
FY26 Is the Year to Lead with Capability FY26 is here — and Microsoft is investing more than ever in partner-led growth. From expanded co-sell motions to marketplace acceleration and capability development, the message is clear: partners who demonstrate value through accreditation and specialization are leading the way. According to Microsoft’s FY26 Partner Strategy Update (July 2025), accredited partners are seeing 3x higher engagement in co-sell motions and 2x faster time-to-market in the commercial marketplace. These metrics reflect a growing emphasis on partner capability, specialization, and alignment with Microsoft’s GTM priorities. That’s why ISSI’s workshop at Ultimate Partner LIVE: Reston is a must-attend for partners looking to align with Microsoft’s FY26 strategy and drive measurable business impact. Making Accreditation Work for Partners and Vendors ISSI has spent years helping IT service organizations and hyperscalers build smarter, more effective partner channels. Their consulting and auditing services focus on transforming partner programs — not just for compliance, but for impact. Their workshop, Driving Channel & Customer Value with Partner Accreditation, will explore: How accreditation programs are designed and optimized Case studies from both a hyperscaler and a partner organization How partners can assess the relevance of accreditation to their business Ways to improve technical and business capabilities through structured programs ISSI’s recent article “The Ways That Partners Can Make Money” outlines five core ways partners generate revenue: Resale Managed Services IP Monetization Marketplace Success Co-Sell Engagement Accreditation amplifies each of these models. It builds trust, proves capability, and unlocks deeper engagement with vendors like Microsoft. Why Attend UP LIVE: Reston ISSI’s workshop is just one part of a much larger conversation happening at UP LIVE: Reston. With over 42 speakers — including leaders from Microsoft, AWS, Elastic, Carahsoft, and more — the event brings together the most accomplished voices in partnering: Jay McBain Canalys (part of Omdia)), Erwin Visser (Microsoft), Pat Primavera (Microsoft), and Darryl E. Peek II (Elastic) the innovators building the future of co-sell and marketplace success — Rebecca Jones (Bridge Partners) Reis Barrie (Carve Partners), Erin Figer (CORE Consulting LLC), and Sam Gong (WorkSpan) the leaders transforming GTM and channel execution — Craig Abod (Carahsoft), Shane Wilson (Cohesity), Scott Sacket (AvePoint), Tarek Shamounki (ServiceNow), Erika Irby (Veeam Software) Expect: Real conversations about what’s working now in co-sell, marketplace, and GTM execution Actionable insights from strategists, innovators, and channel leaders A community of peers who are shaping the future of partner success Whether you're a partner looking to refine your strategy or a vendor seeking stronger channel performance, UP LIVE is the place to connect, learn, and lead. The Takeaway Accreditation isn’t just a badge — it’s a business accelerator. ISSI’s work shows how structured partner programs can unlock new revenue streams, improve delivery quality, and align with Microsoft’s evolving priorities. If you’re serious about driving channel and customer value in FY26, don’t miss ISSI’s workshop — and don’t miss UP LIVE: Reston. ISSI manages client-specific programs that enable industry leaders to quantify, asses, and improve the quality of services available to partner organizations migrating or managing customer workloads. Visit www.issi-inc.com or contact them at asales@issi-inc.com to learn more. ⭐ SPECIAL OFFER As a valued Microsoft partner, Ultimate Partner is offering a 15% discount on general passes to experience UP LIVE. 👉 Register HERE USE CODE: ULTIMATEVIP15 at checkout If you are unable to attend, join us via the live stream: Ultimate Partner LIVE: RestonDon't miss the moment: FY26 is the year to align, accelerate, and win with Microsoft
The moment is now. For digital native software development companies and startups bringing AI solutions to our joint customers, growth in partnership with Microsoft isn’t just about gaining speed and reach, it's about strategically aligning with purpose. I know that every deal is gold, having hustled building partnerships at both startups and global software development companies myself. I’ve felt the urgency to unlock Microsoft’s strengths: incentives, access to Microsoft field sellers and ecosystem, and the power of showing up “better together” in the market. You need to move fast, but with intention. Now at Microsoft, I stay focused on what drives results: testing strategies, leveraging programs and incentives and continued learning from other experts in our ecosystem. My advice? When you get the chance to learn from those experts—take it. The partners who align their vision with Microsoft’s AI-first, marketplace-driven future are the ones who will scale fastest and furthest. “AI is the new runtime.” That’s how Microsoft framed the opportunity at the AI Tour earlier this year — and it wasn’t just rhetoric. In the past 12 months, more than 3,000 AI apps and agents have launched in the new Microsoft Marketplace, attracting 6 million monthly visitors and driving 2× year-over-year growth in AI transactions. For digital native software companies, the message is clear: align your solutions with Microsoft’s AI-first, marketplace-driven ecosystem, or risk being left behind. In just a few weeks, leaders from across the partner ecosystem — software development companies, GSIs, MSPs, distributors, and consultants — will gather in Reston, Virginia for Ultimate Partner® LIVE. For software-first companies, this event arrives at the exact moment when Microsoft is reshaping the partner landscape for FY26 and beyond. Microsoft’s shifting landscape: What’s changed since July 2025 Marketplace at scale Microsoft unified AppSource and Azure Marketplace into the new Microsoft Marketplace. More than 3,000 AI apps and agents are now live, with 6M+ monthly visitors. Microsoft reports 2× year-over-year growth in AI solution purchases through Marketplace. Partner programs re-architected for AI At MCAPS Start FY26, Microsoft expanded the AI Cloud Partner Program with new specializations — including Copilot — and streamlined recognition around three areas: AI Business Solutions, Cloud & AI Platforms, and Security. Microsoft is urging partners to adopt agentic AI — autonomous workflows and composable agents — as the foundation of innovation. Compliance and governance tightened Partner-of-Record validation now enforced for CSP orders. MFA is mandatory across Partner Center (UI enforced Aug 2025; API April 2026). The AI Cloud Partner Program Agreement updated as of Sept 2025. For software companies, the implication is straightforward: be AI-ready, transactable, and compliant — or risk losing ground. Why Ultimate Partner Reston matters Ultimate Partner LIVE will bring these shifts into focus. The agenda features voices across the ecosystem delivering the insights you can’t get anywhere else. Key sessions include: Microsoft’s Erwin Visser, Matt Berg, and Harman Cheema unpacking FY26 priorities and the role of AI in customer transformation. Cisco’s Aly Shivji and Commvault’s Sanjay Mehta on driving outcomes through stronger partnering. Elastic’s Darryl Peek, Cohesity’s Shane Wilson, ServiceNow’s Tarek Shamounki, and Canalys’ Jay McBain on what it takes to win in 2026 and beyond. Workshops from WorkSpan, PartnerTap, Carve Partners, AvePoint, RevStacker, and Digitalzone, offering frameworks that top partners usually guard as competitive advantage. Why FY26 demands urgency from digital native software companies Early movers capture momentum. Partners publishing solutions now are compounding growth through marketplace and co-sell. Gateways are narrowing. Microsoft’s designations and compliance requirements filter who gets field visibility and GTM support. Agentic AI is the new baseline. Customers expect more than AI add-ons — they want autonomous, composable, outcome-focused solutions. Co-sell is non-negotiable. Microsoft’s field sellers are incentivized on it. If you’re not aligned, you’re not in the motion. Final word For digital native software companies, FY26 represents a massive opportunity. Microsoft is doubling down on AI, marketplace, and co-sell motions — and those who align early will define the next wave of growth. Reston isn’t just about attending an event. It’s about stepping into Microsoft’s AI-driven future, connecting with the leaders shaping it, and walking away with the playbooks to lead. ⭐SPECIAL OFFER As a valued Microsoft partner, Ultimate Partner is offering a 15% discount on general passes to experience UP LIVE⭐ 👉 [Register Now for UP LIVE: Reston] USE CODE: ULTIMATEVIP15 at checkout See you there!Build enterprise-ready AI agents with confidence: Microsoft AI agent envisioning series
In today’s fast-paced software landscape, keeping up with new technologies and frameworks to build secure, scalable, and enterprise-ready AI apps and agents is more critical—and more complex—than ever. The Microsoft AI Agent Envisioning Series is a four-part webinar experience designed to equip software development companies with the frameworks, tools, and strategies needed to build, publish and monetize AI agents using Azure AI Foundry and the Microsoft Marketplace. Whether you're launching new solutions or evolving existing ones, this series will help you accelerate development, ensure compliance, and scale with confidence. Why Attend? Software companies are racing to deliver intelligent, autonomous solutions that scale. But building commercially viable AI agents that are secure, compliant, and enterprise-ready is no small feat. That’s why we created the Microsoft AI Agent Envisioning Series—a webinar series designed to help you build, publish, and monetize AI agents using Azure AI Foundry, with your preferred coding practices and standards. What You’ll Gain Each session delivers step-by-step guidance, technical best practices, and business strategy to help you: Architect AI agents for real-world business impact Package and publish your solution on the Microsoft Marketplace Build trust with enterprise customers through security and compliance Monetize with confidence using proven go-to-market frameworks The Sessions *It is not required to take the sessions in order. Session 1: Introduction to AI Agent Opportunities and Azure AI Foundry Explore the evolution from general LLMs to specialized agents. Learn how Azure AI Foundry simplifies development and unlocks new monetization paths. Session 2: Architecting AI Solutions for Marketplace Monetization Use the Marketplace Lean Canvas to define your agent’s value. Learn how to optimize cost, select models, and align pricing with customer outcomes. Session 3: Publishing & Releasing Your AI Agent Solution Get your solution marketplace-ready. Learn how to configure SaaS and container offers, meet compliance requirements, and find your buyers. Session 4: Winning Customer Confidence with Trustworthy AI and Production-Ready Architecture Dive into the Azure Well-Architected Framework for AI. Learn how to implement observability, tracing, and enterprise-grade security. Built for Software Development Companies Whether you're building net-new agents or transforming existing apps, this series will help you: Accelerate development with Azure AI Foundry templates and SDKs Ensure compliance with SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 Publish confidently with Partner Center and Marketplace certification Scale globally with Azure’s infrastructure and co-sell programs Ready to Build AI Agents That Scale? Join us and get the frameworks, tools, and strategies to build AI agents that enterprises trust, IT departments approve, and customers love. Register now for the AI Envisioning Day to access all the sessions and start your journey from idea to customer impact.Ultimate Partner LIVE Fall 2025: AI ecosystem masterclass & partner success summit
Mark your calendars! Ultimate Partner LIVE Fall is coming to the Washington, D.C. area, October 27-29, and this event presents a unique, high-impact opportunity for partners looking to stay ahead of the tectonic shifts, align priorities, and accelerate performance in 2026. We are taking the ecosystem to Carahsoft's facilities for a masterclass in how to become the Ultimate Partner. With immersive workshops, direct access to decision-makers, and a curated executive audience; you’ll accelerate your strategy to new levels. Here is what you can expect: Decode the Tectonic Shifts: Learn how AI, Marketplaces, Co-Selling, and Ecosystems are reshaping partner success — and what you must do now. Hear directly from Microsoft leaders, Erwin Visser, Matt Berg and Wole Moses who will take you through the exciting $450B+ durable cloud budget flowing through marketplaces, FY26 AI priorities, and where you should align. Access Proven Frameworks & Playbooks: Attendees will also participate in hands-on workshops facilitated by top industry experts including: The Odigo Group, Carve Partners, ISSI, AvePoint, Bridge Partners, Digitalzone, WorkSpan, Revstacker and more! Workshops will focus on co-selling, AI marketing strategy and Building Service Models to grow revenue. Be in the Room with Leaders Network with 200+ executives, thought leaders, ISVs, GSIs, MSPs, distributors, and consultants in an intimate, high impact setting. 40+ amazing speakers will share their secrets to successful partnering! ⭐SPECIAL OFFER As a valued Microsoft partner, Ultimate Partner is offering a 15% discount on general passes to experience UP LIVE⭐ 👉 [Register Now for UP LIVE: Reston] USE CODE: ULTIMATEVIP15 at checkout Hope to see you there, Vince Menzione CEO, Ultimate Partner ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ultimate Partner is the go-to destination for technology leaders and partners aiming to thrive in the Hyperscaler ecosystem. Ultimate Partner delivers high-impact content, expert insights, and exclusive events—both live and digital. Our mission is to “Empower technology leaders to achieve their greatest results through successful partnering”. Learn moreMicrosoft Azure Migrate & Modernization Summit recap: Product announcements on agentic AI tooling
On September 23rd, Microsoft hosted its digital Migrate and Modernize Summit, where it announced new agentic AI tooling capabilities and richer investments for customers and partners on migration and modernization opportunities. In case you missed the event, here is a summary of the announcements and a link to the on-demand recording (registration required) Azure Migrate announced new agentic capabilities along with simplified, connected workflows that can help customers move faster and work smarter (Private Preview). GitHub Copilot announced new autonomous AI agent capabilities (GA) to help accelerate modernization and upgrades of Java and .NET apps. This capability reduces complexity and time to modernization from weeks to days, empowering developers to modernize apps drastically faster, with less risk and greater confidence. Azure Accelerate was announced to customers as the new Azure offering that brings together Azure Migrate and Modernize, Azure Innovate, and Cloud Accelerate Factory under one umbrella. The session highlighted the expanded and richer benefits and investments across the entire project lifecycle, with particular mention to benefits around migrating and modernizing to Azure. Learn more: If you’re curious to learn more about the capabilities and investments launched for migrating and modernizing to Azure, check out the resources below. Azure Migrate Announcement Capabilities GitHub Copilot App Mod Capabilities Azure Accelerate Announcement blog: aka.ms/mmsannouncement Azure Migrate Deep-Dive Blog: https://aka.ms/azm/news Azure Database Deep-Dive Blog: aka.ms/ databases_migratemodernizesummit Announcement blog: aka.ms/mmsannouncement GitHub App Mod Deep-Dive Blog: aka.ms/ghcp-appmod/blog GitHub App Mod solution page: App Modernization Solutions | GitHub · GitHub GitHub Changelog: aka.ms/ghcp-appmod/changelog Azure Accelerate announcement blog Azure Accelerate home page Azure Architecture blog Ready to engage with these capabilities or investments? Explore Azure Accelerate and connect with a Microsoft sales lead today.The Marketplace Partner Digest | May 2025
Welcome to the monthly partner release notes for the Microsoft marketplace! The marketplace is central to how we help you reach more customers, simplify sales, and drive growth. Dive into this month’s roundup of announcements and updates to stay informed about the latest marketplace developments. Don’t miss an update! Subscribe to the “Partner Digest” label to get notified whenever a new Marketplace Partner Digest hits the community blog. Check out this community post for how-to guidance on configuring your settings. 🚀 Noteworthy Highlights Flexible billing improvements now available in the marketplace We're excited to announce improvements to flexible billing for private offers are now generally available. With supported scenarios for quarterly, semiannual, bimonthly billing, and much more, flexible billing for private offers makes it easier to align customer payments to unique budget cycles. The value for you and your customers: With flexible billing schedules, customers can buy with confidence knowing that private offers can be customized for virtually any contract value and billing timeline to align with their requirements. For partners, you can tailor customers’ private offers and multiparty private offers to meet unique business requirements, helping you to unlock larger deals by aligning with customer billing expectations, while streamlining sales and accelerating deal velocity. Resources: For more on how to build a flexible billing schedule, check out the documentation at aka.ms/flexbill-docs. Learn more by checking out these demo videos for examples of how partners and customers are using flexible billing. 🌟 ️Partner Resources Discover exclusive resources designed to help you maximize your success in the marketplace! Explore our latest resources, blogs, and much more below: Partner blog series: Capturing the marketplace opportunity by selling path Dive into our four-part blog series to explore how you can grow your business across different marketplace selling paths. Whether you're just getting started or refining your marketplace strategy, these blogs are a great place to find guidance. Part one: Explores how adopting the marketplace as a core go-to-market strategy can help you close deals faster and increase deal sizes. Part two: Delves into the power of always-on selling with the digital self-serve motion to help you grow your pipeline. Part three: Offers tips and insights to maximize success when selling with channel partners through multiparty private offers. Part four: Focuses on strategic co-selling with Microsoft field sellers to accelerate enterprise-grade deals through the Microsoft marketplace. Co-sell Coaching Series Hosted in the Marketplace Community, Co-sell Coaching features Microsoft partners walking you through their best practices on how to effectively co-sell through the Microsoft marketplace. These sessions also include live Q&A with Microsoft subject-matter experts. The next session is scheduled for June 18 th featuring Contentsquare. Stay tuned for this session and catch up on past sessions on-demand: Episode 1: Carve Partners Episode 2: Abnormal Security Episode 3: Silverfort Mastering the Marketplace webinars Whether you’re new to the marketplace or focused on growing sales, our Mastering the Marketplace webinars cover a broad range of business and technical session topics to help accelerate your marketplace success. Check out these upcoming webinars, register, and mark your calendars. All times are listed in Pacific Time. June 3 at 9 AM: Learn how to use the multiparty private offers campaign in a box June 9 at 9 AM: ISV to CSP private offers - experience walkthrough June 11 at 9 AM: Unlocking sales through the marketplace Access the full library of webinars, including live and on-demand options at aka.ms/MTMwebinars. 🔮 Marketplace Events Marketplace Office Hours June 12, 2025, 8:30 am PST: Customer office hours Q&A: what we learned at FinOpsX Get a recap of insights from the FinOpsX 2025 event on what we learned from practitioners on best practices to manage cloud, SaaS, and AI investments. Discover strategies we shared on how to unlock faster time-to-value by using the marketplace to source thousands of pre-vetted solutions that accelerate AI transformation while better managing technology spend. Invite your customers to register and view previous sessions office hours session on-demand here. Prepare for the 2025 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards (POTYA) are driven by a self-nominating process and acknowledge outstanding successes and innovations by partners across our global ecosystem. We especially encourage nominations for the Marketplace Partner of the Year Award, which recognizes partners that have embraced the Microsoft marketplace as core to their GTM strategy. The nomination window for this year’s program is June 18 – July 18, 2025, but you can prepare now by reviewing the guidelines for all awards. Partners can contact potyasup@microsoft.com with any questions. 💬 Share Your Feedback! We truly appreciate your feedback and want to ensure these Partner Release Notes deliver the information you need to succeed in the marketplace. If you have any feedback or suggestions on how we can continue to improve the content to best support you, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below! Thank you!Join us at Microsoft's campus for the Ultimate Partner LIVE event!
The countdown is on - Ultimate Partner LIVE in Redmond, WA on May 1st – 2nd is fast approaching, and you won’t want to miss it! This is the event for connecting with Microsoft executives, partners, and industry experts driving ecosystem growth and shaping the future. Join us as we take over the iconic Microsoft Conference Center for two action-packed days. It’s your opportunity to engage directly with Microsoft leaders, learn from expert panel discussions, immerse yourself in hands-on workshops, and experience a targeted partnering experience. Microsoft’s ongoing support of Ultimate Partner, along with its sponsorship of the Ultimate Partner LIVE event, highlights the importance of ecosystem-led growth. A special thank you to all the Microsoft leaders below who plan to take the stage and those who coordinate behind the scenes to make this event a success. Over 30 industry-leading speakers and award-winning partners will grace the stage and share insights that will shape the future of cloud go-to-market strategies. The two-day agenda will cover topics such as: Prepare Your Microsoft Business for FY26 The Marketplace Ecosystem Opportunity The State of the Marketplace Ecosystem Microsoft’s AI & Software Vision Forging the New World of Data & AI Defining the Marketplace of the Future for SMBs The Power of Partnerships: Building AI Together Perspective of a Microsoft Marketplace POTY Award Winner Embracing Change and Pivoting for Success Acre of Diamonds: How to Leverage the Opportunity with Microsoft Unlocking the Opportunity Through Ecosystem Thinking The Partner Perspective for Ecosystem Thinking Future of Distribution Co-Selling Journey Celebrating Microsoft: 50 Years of Tectonic Shifts And more! Why This Event is Critical: We are standing at a pivotal moment: AI is advancing faster than most organizations can keep up with. Accelerate Microsoft FY25 Q4 priorities and understand FY26 opportunities. Microsoft Marketplace is poised for explosive growth. Go-to-market success now demands tighter alignment and precision from partners than ever before. Why You Can’t Afford to Miss This Event: Exclusive Access to Microsoft Decision-Makers The executives setting the agenda for FY26 will be in the room. You’ll gain clarity on FY26. Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer & CVP Global Partner Solutions will kick us off, and you will hear from leaders across the Software, Services, Reseller, Marketplace, and Sales Organizations. Know exactly how to align your business, resources, and messaging to what Microsoft actually cares about this fiscal year. Interactive Workshops to Sharpen Your Skills How to co-sell smarter with Microsoft How to design GTM plays that convert How to win with commercial marketplace motions With Industry Experts like Reis Barrie, CEO of Carve Partners, John Jahnke, CEO of Tackle.io, Sam Gong, SVP Marketing at WorkSpan, Rebecca Jones, Chief Growth Officer of Bridge Partners, Erin Figer, Founder of Core Consulting, and leaders from The Partner Masters, Suger and more hosting immersive workshops, be prepared to learn and implement. Proven Frameworks for Delivering Results Vince Menzione will share his 7 Principles of Successful Partnerships—developed from working with top-performing partners across the ecosystem. Other experts will share frameworks for marketplace, co-selling, GTM, and more Networking Opportunities to Accelerate Your Business This will be a curated executive room where you'll connect with partner leaders, advisors, and Microsoft stakeholders in high-trust conversations that spark real opportunities. You’ll leave with a tighter, more strategic network—and future deals in motion. An Intentionally Designed Experience with Real-World Impact Every detail of this event—from the location in Redmond to the experience design—is built to support meaningful conversations, clarity, and action. What People Say: “What an incredible experience at the Ultimate Partner Live Executive Summit. Two days packed with relationship building, business growth, and learning – it felt like months of progress compressed into 2 days.” Steven Karachinsky, CEO at Ziro “Really loved the vibe and amazing conversations with the partners at the Ultimate event! I think you absolutely have the right formula to create impact for the entire ecosystem with such a gathering.” Sandy Gupta, VP, Ecosystems of Global Software Companies at Microsoft “The event was informative, insightful, and inspiring. Your ability to put into words the tectonic shift we are all experiencing is refreshing! Thanks for being the trailblazer by providing thoughtful content and curated partner experiences. We have all been craving this for so long.” Regina Manfredi, EVP, General Manager at Crayon Group US “Attending this event was like striking gold 🙂 As a startup founder focused on co-sell and partnership, the validation and insights I gained at this event were invaluable; the future of partnerships and alliances is clearly bright. Vince Menzione, you are truly a powerhouse, and I wish you continued success! Most importantly, thank you for streaming the entire event, was truly incredible.” Archana Vadya, Founder & CEO at PartneRite “A big shout out to Vince Menzione for bringing this scale event (Ultimate Partner LIVE in Dallas) to life! It was a mega effort, and the results were amazing. Just look at the abundance of LinkedIn posts! It was an absolute pleasure sharing the stage with so many incredible speakers and colleagues from Microsoft and several of our partners like WorkSpan, Carve Partners, BDO, EY, Archive360, Sage, PartnerTap.” Kevin Peesker, (former) President, SMC - Small, Medium, Corporate Business at Microsoft This will prove to be the most valuable two days for your business in the first half of 2025. Ultimate Partner LIVE is a premium, focused, two-day immersive experience that will equip you with the tools and insights to lead through change and drive measurable results in FY26. Register now and use code ULTIMATEVIP50 at checkout for an exclusive discount.
