Entrepreneur First’s Autumn AI Cohort Chooses Microsoft Azure as Exclusive Cloud Partner for Defensive Tech Innovation 

At Microsoft for Startups, we are committed to empowering the next generation of AI innovators. We recognize the substantial investment of capital and resources needed to develop cutting-edge AI solutions. To help address this challenge, we’ve teamed with London-based Entrepreneur First to provide up to $350,000 in Azure Credits to startups in their Autumn AI cohort. These credits unlock access to Azure’s advanced AI infrastructure, including high-performance GPU virtual machine clusters, enabling Entrepreneur First startups to efficiently train and fine-tune AI models at scale. Azure’s AI infrastructure is specifically designed to support startups as they scale complex AI workloads. From deploying large-scale models like GPT-4o and ChatGPT via Azure OpenAI Service to utilizing AI-optimized solutions with networked GPUs, startups can leverage these robust capabilities to accelerate the journey from development to production. With our comprehensive Model-as-a-Service offering, startups have access to the industry’s most extensive set of models, including OpenAI models, Llama 3 from Meta, and Microsoft’s own Phi model. 

Defensive Acceleration 

This cohort is uniquely themed around “defensive acceleration” (def/acc), a concept focused on building technology that protects against some of the most significant risks facing the world, such as pandemics, cybercrime, AI safety, and nuclear threats. The concept emphasizes that the most powerful solutions to technological risks often come from advancing technology itself. By creating stronger defenses—whether through better AI safeguards, advanced cyber capabilities, or innovative biosecurity tools—these startups aim to balance technological optimism with a serious approach to mitigating risks. This focus not only accelerates technological progress, but also ensures that such advancements contribute positively to global safety, growth, the preservation of democratic values and open institutions, and the advancement of human agency and capability. 

If you align with the def/acc team’s thesis and would like to register your interest in joining or supporting future cohorts then please reach out to James.Richards@entrepreneurfirst.org.uk.

Tags: AI; Entrepreneur First; Venture; Defensive Acceleration; Azure;

At Microsoft for Startups, we are committed to empowering the next generation of AI innovators. We recognize the substantial investment of capital and resources needed to develop cutting-edge AI solutions. To help address this challenge, we’ve teamed with London-based Entrepreneur First to provide up to $350,000 in Azure Credits to startups in their Autumn AI cohort. These credits unlock access to Azure’s advanced AI infrastructure, including high-performance GPU virtual machine clusters, enabling Entrepreneur First startups to efficiently train and fine-tune AI models at scale. Azure’s AI infrastructure is specifically designed to support startups as they scale complex AI workloads. From deploying large-scale models like GPT-4o and ChatGPT via Azure OpenAI Service to utilizing AI-optimized solutions with networked GPUs, startups can leverage these robust capabilities to accelerate the journey from development to production. With our comprehensive Model-as-a-Service offering, startups have access to the industry’s most extensive set of models, including OpenAI models, Llama 3 from Meta, and Microsoft’s own Phi model. 

Defensive Acceleration 

This cohort is uniquely themed around “defensive acceleration” (def/acc), a concept focused on building technology that protects against some of the most significant risks facing the world, such as pandemics, cybercrime, AI safety, and nuclear threats. The concept emphasizes that the most powerful solutions to technological risks often come from advancing technology itself. By creating stronger defenses—whether through better AI safeguards, advanced cyber capabilities, or innovative biosecurity tools—these startups aim to balance technological optimism with a serious approach to mitigating risks. This focus not only accelerates technological progress, but also ensures that such advancements contribute positively to global safety, growth, the preservation of democratic values and open institutions, and the advancement of human agency and capability. 

If you align with the def/acc team’s thesis and would like to register your interest in joining or supporting future cohorts then please reach out to James.Richards@entrepreneurfirst.org.uk.

Tags: AI; Entrepreneur First; Venture; Defensive Acceleration; Azure;