Microsoft Startup Accelerator program

Don Dodge (and others) had the news last week

Microsoft's Emerging Business Team announced today the Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program . The program is designed to help high potential software startups get access to Microsoft people and programs, guidance on future directions, and support to accelerate their success.

The Emerging Business Team , the group I work in, evaluates hundreds of technology startups each year to identify those with the strongest potential to succeed in the market, shape the industry’s future and enhance the overall value of Microsoft products and services for customers.

The Startup Accelerator program shines the spotlight on some of our most promising startup partners and provides good examples of how startups can work successfully with Microsoft. The program is launching with 20 companies and will grow to 100 over the next 12 months. Sign up here if you would like to be considered for the program.

The Startup Accelerator program will provide;

• Access to Premier Support people to help solve problems quickly
• Provide free or discounted software licenses and subscriptions
• Early access to beta software and new technologies
• Free access to Microsoft Technology Centers for consulting and testing
• Introduction to appropriate product and marketing teams inside Microsoft
• Success stories
• Inclusion in Microsoft marketing campaigns
• And lots more

Get full details at MicrosoftStartupZone.com

This is an area I feel really strongly about - how startups can work successfully with Microsoft. It's something I focused on when I was in Australia and it is something I really want to see succeed.

I am starting to work with the Emerging Business Team on ways in which this can happen. So if you are an entrepreneur, an investor, a pundit, or someone with a great idea - we're going to be looking for you...

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Startup, EBT

Comments

• Anonymous
  October 09, 2007
  PingBack from http://www.artofbam.com/wordpress/?p=6502

• Anonymous
  October 09, 2007
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  October 09, 2007
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  October 09, 2007
  i too want to see australia on the list!!! im working on it ;)

• Anonymous
  October 14, 2007
  Guys dont forget the Empower program is still up and runnning in Australia...   Thats how my product has come up in the ranks... Empower is a wonderful conduit...  but is due to be phased out... (so I am told)... it also has some restrictions on access... The Accelerator program looks like a wonderful successor. Cheers.