MDF Management for Technology Partners
MDF management is the ongoing work of planning, spending and claiming the marketing funds vendors give their partners. Inception Marketing manages market development funds and Microsoft co-op for MSPs, systems integrators and technology partners, so the money funds marketing that builds pipeline and every claim gets paid.
Most partners leave vendor funds on the table.
Vendor funds are the cheapest marketing money you’ll get. Vendors give partners funds to market their solutions. Then most of it expires, gets spent in a rush before the deadline, or is lost at the claim. Nobody owns it, each vendor has its own portal and rules, and funded activity stops the day the claim goes in.
MDF works when it’s managed all year: planned against your marketing strategy, spent on activity that leaves something behind, and claimed properly.
Read: how partners waste co-op and MDF, and what to spend it on instead
MDF management might be right for you if…
- You work with more than one vendor. Each has its own funds, portal, rules and deadlines, and keeping track is a job in itself.
- Funds expire, or get spent in a rush. The money is there, but it goes on whatever can be organised before the deadline.
- Claims get rejected or stuck. Proof of execution is missing, branding rules were missed, or the activity fell outside the window.
- Your partner manager wants a plan. Vendors back partners who show a clear, funded marketing plan.
- You can’t show what funded activity returned. Without reporting, it’s hard to ask for more next year.
Every vendor dollar,
planned, spent and claimed
We manage co-op and MDF from every vendor and distributor you work with, from the first plan to the final claim.
Fund tracking
One view of available funds and expiry dates across Partner Center and every vendor portal
Annual fund plan
Co-op and MDF mapped to your marketing strategy and each vendor’s fund windows
Approvals and proposals
Funding proposals and pre-approvals prepared, and every activity checked against the program rules
Funded campaigns
Campaigns, events, webinars and content delivered by our team, built to the claim requirements
Claims and proof
Proof of execution collected as the work runs, and claims prepared and submitted on time
Reporting
Pipeline and results from funded activity, for you and your partner managers
Audit
We find every fund you have access to, what’s expiring, and what’s been missed.
Plan
We build a year-round fund plan tied to your marketing strategy and each vendor’s windows.
Deliver
We run the funded activity, with follow-up planned for every lead.
Claim and report
We submit claims with complete proof, then report the results to you and your vendors.
How It Works
A year-round rhythm that turns vendor funds into pipeline, instead of a scramble before every deadline.
Start small, or hand it all over
Most partners start with a free fund check, then choose the level of help that fits their funds and team.
START HERE
Fund check and claims
A free review of the co-op and MDF you have available and what’s expiring.
- Free fund check
- Claim preparation from AU$500 per claim
- Funding proposals scoped as needed
ONE CAMPAIGN
Co-op Campaign
One compliant Microsoft co-op campaign, built and launched in 2 to 4 weeks, at a fixed price.
- Fund audit and eligibility
- Email, landing page and social assets
- Claim guidance through Partner Center
ALL YEAR
Ongoing MDF management
Year-round planning, delivery, claims and reporting across every vendor you work with.
- Annual fund plan
- Funded campaigns and events
- Claims, proof and reporting
We speak vendor, and we deliver too
Co-op, MDF, CPOR, co-sell and Marketplace are part of our day-to-day work with Microsoft partners and other technology vendors.
We bring process: trackers, templates and claim checklists, so nothing falls through. And because we deliver the marketing too, funded activity is built to perform, not just to tick a box.
For everything else Microsoft, see our Microsoft Partner Services and Vendor Marketplace Management.
Every vendor, one plan
Microsoft co-op and MDF, through Partner Center
Cloud vendor MDF, including AWS
Security and networking vendor MDF
Hardware and device vendor MDF
Distributor-funded campaigns and programs
The Factor: CMO leadership across two brands
The Factor, a Microsoft Solutions Partner, needed marketing leadership across two brands without building an in-house team.
Inception provided an executive-level CMO with weekly strategy sessions, plus a delivery team managing their Microsoft relationship, events, website and content.
“Working with Inception has been incredibly valuable for our business. The combination of strategic guidance and day-to-day marketing support has allowed us to maintain momentum across both of our brands while continuing to grow. The team integrates seamlessly and brings a level of expertise and structure that’s made a real difference.”
Keiran Mott, CEO, The Factor
Frequently asked questions
What is MDF?
MDF, or market development funds, is money a vendor gives its partners to market the vendor’s solutions. Partners run approved marketing activity, then claim the money back with proof it happened.
What’s the difference between MDF and co-op?
Which vendors’ funds can you manage?
Why do MDF and co-op claims get rejected?
Can MDF pay for your fees?
How much does MDF management cost?
We only have a small amount of funds. Is it worth it?
Put your vendor funds to work.
Book a 30-minute call. We’ll look at the funds you have, what’s expiring, and how to turn them into pipeline.
