Becoming a Microsoft AI Cloud Partner

[GregReiser]

I am looking for help with completing the process for signing my company up as a Microsoft AI Cloud Partner.

I have been directed to https://partner.microsoft.com/en-US/partnership, where I select "Become a Partner".

I go through the process as instructed but hit a dead end when I arrive at the "Join a program..." page. Note that this page offers only two options (Bethesda Partner Program, Windows and Xbox), neither of which is appropriate for me and both of which I am not eligible to join (even if I wanted to).

For the program for which I am interested (Microsoft AI Cloud Partner) the page says "...Sign in again using your work account." So it may be that the site does not recognize my account as a work account. Unfortunately, the instructions provided for creating a work account (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/mpn-overview and https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/intro-to-cloud-partner-program-membership) direct me back to the partner page at the beginning of this post. So I am stuck in an infinite loop.

I have reached out to partner support, Azure support and Azure sales. Everyone directs me to the same above referenced partner page and/or advises me to log a support request. When I did the latter I received a response with a link to the same partner page.

I would greatly appreciate any guidance beyond a link to the partner page that is not working for me. I acknowledge that the root cause MAY be my own user error. But a few minutes with a knowledgable guide would be a lot more productive than many hours of detective work.

[#2]

Six easy steps to becoming a Microsoft partner | Microsoft may help guide you. I'm not familiar with the sign up process, but maybe you will find information in some of the links on that page. Good luck! 

[#3]

Thank you @JillArmourMicrosoft . Unfortunately, the first step (Join the Microsoft Partner Cloud Program") is the problem. The link provided leads me to the dead end described in my original post.

I have tried to contact someone at Microsoft who can help diagnose the problem, but without success. It looks like there are no resources available to diagnose problems like this. Any other ideas?

[#4]

@GregReiser have you tried submitting a support ticket? You don't have to be a partner to do so:

https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/support?stage=1

[#5]

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/2052111 unfortunately that link does not allow me to log a ticket. Rather, it only provides the ability to "Review solutions".

And when I do select "Review solutions" it leads me to a page that suggests that I create an Office 365 work account. But when I try to follow that guidance by selecting "Partner sign up" it leads me to an error page that says "Sorry. Domains must be purchased through the Office 365 admin portal."

[#6]

@GregReiser I'm asking support to give me step by step directions on how to submit a support ticket without signing in to partner center (with screenshots) so I can post them for all to utilize. It's information that should be shared more I think!! 

I will let you know when they respond. 

[#7]

Thank you Jill!

[#8]

Hi @gregreiser,

Hope you are doing well!
To solve this issue, you must log in your partner, with your work account, in a private browser, or using a different than the one you use at the moment.

You should have at least 2 accounts for your Partner organization:

1- Global Admin (Oversee the administration of your organization-Root-Licenses attributions)
2- Backup Admin (Manage user groups, invoice cycle...)
3- "Your work account" ("Work" account (Business email), Not your "Personal")

You can't be the owner as your work account or personal account, from your Partner business account.

Hope this will help you!
Best regards!

[#9]

@Sirlupinwatson Thank you SO much for your response. 

[#10]

You're welcome!

Have a wonderful day!