Microsoft is giving some startups access to serious Nvidia AI power
Microsoft has announced plans to give a select number of startups free access to powerful AI supercomputers powered by Nvidia’s latest chips.
The Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub program gives eligible startups access to Microsoft Azure resources, including some of the same generative AI technology that powers popular tools like ChatGPT.
Charlotte Yarkoni, Redmond’s President for Commerce and Ecosystems under the Cloud & AI division, said: “For startups, this is a unique opportunity to make a game-changing impact in a market hungry for change.”
Microsoft is giving some users free Azure AI
The company has already been generous with the tools it has offered to a number of startups, including free access to GitHub and the Microsoft Cloud, plus $2,500 in OpenAI credits and up to $150,000 in Azure credits. These offers became available last year.
This year, Microsoft plans to give out free access to Azure AI, including VM clusters with high-end GPUs like those from Nvidia.
Eligible startups include those working with Y Combinator, which is credited with helping launch a number of well-known brands such as Airbnb and Stripe. Microsoft will also partner with its own venture capital fund, M12, to expand the reach of its offering of free AI resources.
Microsoft says it will provide the tools for startups to simplify deployment and management through Azure Machine Learning. They can also lean on the tech giant’s extensive experience in artificial intelligence, including its commitment to responsible AI.
Earlier this year, the company announced that it would support users of its GenAI in the event of a copyright lawsuit, thereby footing the (potentially high) bill.
Y Combinator Managing Director Michael Seibel said that with more accessible AI resources and powerful tools, startups could deliver faster.