Microsoft is retiring the Power Up program

Microsoft is retiring it's **#PowerUP** - an initiative that helped citizen developers build technical skills and deliver **#PowerPlatform** solutions to accelerate their internal business processes. For me that's a shame as it was a go-to program that I was recommending in communities if somebody was looking to get started with Microsoft low-code ecosystem - including Power Automate, Copilot Studio and Power Apps. Program offered high-quality syllabus with prerecorded materials. In the last year, program leaned heavily into Copilot Studio, but given the fact that Microsoft has recently released a whole new version of the tooling, I'm assuming 90% of materials would need to be recreated from scratch. The biggest loss, however, is not just the learning materials - it’s the community around them. Many learners will lose a place where they could exchange ideas, ask questions, and get feedback from others. That community aspect was one of the strongest parts of the program. As a volunteer in the program, I really enjoyed reviewing and assessing people’s submissions. Watching participants use these tools for the first time, seeing their enthusiasm, and seeing the moment when they realized they could actually build something valuable was a truly rewarding, tutoring-like experience. The program was driven by a small but passionate Microsoft team with Darian Nastvogel, MBA, PMP being a face of the initiative. While programs evolve and priorities change, I hope the spirit behind **#PowerUP** continues somewhere in Microsoft Learn communities - helping the next generation of now AI-driven business users discover what they can create with new tools on the market... and possibly how to do it safely in governed infrastructure. The impact of initiatives like this is often bigger than the content itself; it’s about giving people the confidence to start building.