Microsoft for Startups Rejected My Verified Business Over a New LinkedIn Account
I'm a South Korean startup founder operating ModuVoice (https://moduvoice.com/), an AI-based speech technology service. I've been trying to resolve a Microsoft for Startups verification issue since June 2026, and I'm sharing my experience because I believe it raises important questions about the program's verification process. Here's what happened: June: My business verification failed. Microsoft Support subsequently acknowledged an internal system issue preventing Business Verification reviews and manual intervention. September: My initial $1,000 Azure startup credits had expired, and I opened another support case to resolve the verification issue. October: I submitted my official South Korean business registration certificate, GitHub development history, and NVIDIA Inception membership information. October 22: Microsoft informed me that my LinkedIn account was too recently created. October 27: Support suggested that completing LinkedIn verification could allow the internal team to consider a final exception review. October 28: I completed LinkedIn identity verification using South Korea's PASS identity system and Persona facial verification, then informed Microsoft. November 5: Support again rejected my application, stating that my LinkedIn account was recently created and that my profile was not verified. The case was then marked for closure without a clear explanation of why my completed verification was not recognized. Here's what I find particularly concerning. I created my LinkedIn account in June 2026 specifically because Microsoft required it for my startup application. I had not previously needed LinkedIn to operate my business. Microsoft asked me to create and verify a LinkedIn account. I followed those instructions and completed the requested identity verification. Yet my application was still rejected partly because that same account was too new. Why should the age of a social media account determine whether a legally registered startup is legitimate? A LinkedIn account created five years ago does not automatically prove business legitimacy, just as an account created five months ago does not make a founder illegitimate. I have provided government-issued identity verification, third-party facial verification, official corporate registration documents, and evidence of actual software development. I also question whether my application received an independent manual review or whether the decisions were based primarily on automated screening results. I understand that Microsoft needs fraud prevention measures, and I'm not asking for verification requirements to be bypassed. However, I believe legitimate startup founders should have a transparent and reasonable way to verify their identity and business without being dependent on how long they have used LinkedIn. My questions for Microsoft and other founders are: Is there an official minimum LinkedIn account age for Microsoft for Startups eligibility? If so, where is that requirement documented? Would waiting another few months make the same business eligible? Why is a completed identity verification still being classified as unverified? Is there an alternative verification process for founders who did not previously use LinkedIn? Can applicants request an independent manual review when automated verification or internal system issues appear to be involved? I've spent more than four months trying to resolve this issue through official support channels. My goal is not just to obtain Azure credits. I would like to understand whether the verification process is functioning as intended and how other legitimate founders are expected to navigate it. Has anyone else experienced similar problems with Microsoft for Startups verification, particularly with newly created LinkedIn accounts? I'd also appreciate guidance from any Microsoft representative who can help direct this issue to the appropriate verification team.
Microsoft for Startups: wait it out or cut my losses?
I’ve spent months in Microsoft for Startups, and I’m frustrated enough to question whether continuing is worth it. I’d appreciate advice from founders who have navigated its credit milestones. Here’s the timeline: - August: Support told us we had seven qualifying workloads. We planned our Azure usage around that guidance. Microsoft later confirmed that information was wrong: only three resources had exceeded $1 in consumption that month. - September: Azure Cost Management showed eight workloads with more than $1 in consumption, but Support reported five qualifying workloads, with the required 60-consecutive-day qualification period starting September 11, 2026. They have not explained the difference between those counts, nor the start date which doesn't match when the resources went live. - Now: Under the corrected timeline, we expect to run out of existing credits before reaching the next milestone. I requested a program-manager review and a way to submit formal feedback about the incorrect guidance and its impact. I still haven’t heard back. After months in the program, nobody has been able to give us a clear, account-specific explanation of which workloads count, which don’t, or why the qualification count differs from what we see in Cost Management. I understand that spending more than $1 may not be the only requirement—but what additional requirements are our workloads failing? The repeated explanation is that progression is automated and Support cannot override it. “It’s automated” does not explain the calculation or address the consequences of incorrect support advice. I’m not upset that credits come with conditions. I’m upset that we relied on incorrect information, cannot independently verify our progress, and are spending time chasing basic explanations instead of building the business. At this point, I would struggle to recommend the program to another founder. Has anyone successfully resolved a situation like this? Would you wait it out to see whether the next credits materialize, potentially spending your own money in the meantime—or consider this a failed experiment, cut your losses, and move on?
Startup verification failed for newly incorporated company - records now synced, need manual review
Hi team, I need a manual review of my Azure startup credit business verification. The automated check returned "We couldn't verify your startup. We'll switch you to a pay-as-you-go subscription once your remaining Azure credits run out or expire." No reason was given, and there is no option to resubmit. Context: - Company: I entered the legal name exactly as on the Certificate of Incorporation. The company was incorporated in India on 30 Sep 2026. - I submitted the business details on the same day I received the Certificate of Incorporation. Because the company had just been incorporated, its records had not yet reached public databases at that time. - Those records have now synced. The CIN and PAN can both be verified, and the company bank account is being opened. - I'm a genuine early-stage startup. Support history: - Emailed email address removed for privacy reasons on 1 Oct 2026: no response - Azure support ticket 2610030030000809, opened 4 Oct 2026: no response Every listed Microsoft for Startups support link redirects back to the Azure portal, so I can't find another channel. My current credit expires in 30 days, so this is time-sensitive: I need to decide whether to continue building my startup on Azure. Request: please escalate to the startup credits verification team for a manual review. I can share the company details, documents (Certificate of Incorporation, PAN, TAN), subscription ID and any other details privately. Thank you.Founders Hub Account Inaccessible — LinkedIn SSO Locked, Two Tickets Open With No Response
Hi everyone, I'm a Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub member based in Nigeria and I've hit a frustrating wall I can't get past through normal support channels. The Problem: My Founders Hub account was registered via LinkedIn SSO. My LinkedIn account is now permanently locked and inaccessible. I cannot recover it because: LinkedIn's ID verification does not accept the Nigerian NIN slip format Phone OTP recovery is not working — SMS codes never arrive on my number LinkedIn's account recovery flow has not resolved the issue This means I am completely locked out of my Founders Hub account despite having an active Azure subscription and active credits. What I Need: I need my Founders Hub account transferred from the locked LinkedIn SSO to my email address: mailto:email address removed for privacy reasons Support Tickets Filed: I have raised two support tickets through the Azure portal but have received zero human response: Case ID: 31af6335-8101cfc1-7de21bf0-e3e9-4880-95da-1279aa4af091 Tracking number: 2609250050003463 Is there anyone from the Founders Hub team or a founder who has resolved a similar LinkedIn SSO issue who can help or escalate this?Unexpected ₹147K Claude charges despite active Microsoft for Startups sponsorship
Hi Microsoft for Startups team and community, I am a Microsoft for Startups participant using an Azure Sponsorship subscription. I recently discovered unexpected charges from Anthropic Claude through Microsoft Foundry. The Claude usage was billed as Marketplace/SaaS charges instead of being deducted from my Microsoft for Startups Azure sponsorship credits. My Azure Sponsorship credit is still active and has a substantial unused balance. However, my Azure Cost Analysis currently shows approximately ₹491K in September charges, with approximately ₹475K categorized as SaaS, primarily related to Claude. I currently have an invoice amount of approximately ₹147K due. I stopped the Claude deployments as soon as I discovered the charges to prevent further usage. I contacted Azure Billing Support multiple times, but the requests were closed with a message saying that the issue falls outside Billing and Subscription Support because it involves Marketplace/third-party services. I was directed to Marketplace refund resources instead. I also tried to contact Microsoft for Startups support. I was previously instructed by the Microsoft for Startups team to use the Founders Hub support portal, but my account now redirects to the newer Microsoft for Startups experience in Azure, where I cannot find the documented startup program support option. I need help getting this escalated to the appropriate Microsoft for Startups or Marketplace team for an actual review. Specifically, I would like to know: What is the correct support channel for this situation? Can Microsoft review the unexpected Claude charges? Is a discretionary credit, refund, or billing adjustment possible given the circumstances? I can provide screenshots showing my active sponsorship, remaining Azure credits, Claude charges, and invoice privately if required. Thank you.
How can a Microsoft for Startups user escalate unexpected Claude Marketplace billing?
I have approximately ₹9.49 lakh of Microsoft for Startups Azure credits remaining. I deployed Anthropic Claude through Microsoft Foundry and later received invoice G183537293 for ₹70,716.76 because the Claude Marketplace usage was not covered by the sponsorship credits. I understand the eligibility rule now. My question is about escalation. Azure Billing has told me Marketplace adjustments are handled by the publisher. Anthropic has told me Azure Marketplace billing is processed through Microsoft. I have therefore been redirected between both parties. I also found a previous Microsoft for Startups case involving similar unintended Claude/Foundry usage where the customer reported receiving a $1,000 special-exception credit: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5728641/azure-ai-foundry-presents-third-party-ai-models-as?utm_source=chatgpt.com Is there a Microsoft for Startups, Marketplace billing, or Foundry escalation team authorized to review a one-time goodwill credit in this situation? I am specifically looking for the correct escalation path, not asking the Q&A community to access or modify my invoice.
Microsoft Contacts
I am located in Australia and have just had my initial founders application instantly declined. I would really like to discuss my application with a Microsoft employee but cant seem to find any contacts anywhere. Ive located a person in Linked In but cant seem to get into contact with them. There whole process so far for me has been quite frustrating. How do we proceed from here? Thanks Todd
Cannot access startup verification flow
I signed up for Azure startup credits (self-service path, no investor code) approximately 83 days ago and received my initial $1,000 in credits on an Azure Sponsorship subscription. My 90-day business verification window to unlock the additional $4,000 closes within the next week. I'm writing in hope that either someone from Microsoft can get me in touch with the right team, or a fellow founder has located a viable workflow that I didn't. What I've tried: Founders Hub portal (portal.startups.microsoft.com): Redirects to azure portal. Azure portal home: Shows a "Build your startup" page with an "Unlock $1,000 in Azure credits — Verify with LinkedIn" prompt. This is the initial $1,000 onboarding step, which I already completed months ago. The portal does not recognize that I am already enrolled. Clicking "Verify with LinkedIn" returns a {"error":{"code":"BadRequest","message":"BadRequest (Conflict)"}} response from startupsweb.production.portalrp.azure.com/api/auth/linkedin/callback. Azure support ticket: Filed a ticket under Benefits - Offers / Entitlement check (ticket #2606240010000362). The T1 agent is not reading the content of my messages and keeps directing me back to the Founders Hub portal and the same broken links. He is attempting to close the ticket without resolution. email address removed for privacy reasons: Received an auto-reply that this is an unmonitored inbox directing me to submit a ticket through the Founders Hub portal — which redirects to the aforementioned dead end workflow. I believe this is related to the program experience migration that went live May 29, 2026. My account was created before this date, so per Microsoft's own documentation I should be on the pre-migration portal experience, but neither the old nor new experience is functional for my account. It seems like those of us with in-progress states are just getting lost in the shuffle of the migration.Azure Startup Credit Issue
Hi, I've been trying to verify my LinkedIn account to unlock $1,000 in Azure startup credits for over a week. Every time the OAuth callback hits error and, I get: {"error":{"code":"BadRequest","message":"BadRequest (Conflict)"}}. I've revoked all LinkedIn app permissions on both LinkedIn and Microsoft sides. I suspect that the issue is an orphaned LinkedIn identity record in your backend from a previous failed attempt. My support ticket has gone unanswered for over a week now and I also created a post in the learn community that went unanswered for days now. Could you point me to the right person? Happy to provide any account details needed.