Microsoft Accelerator for Windows Azure Announces Its New Class for 2013

The new class for Microsoft Accelerator for Windows Azure just launched. According to Scott Guthrie, a Corporate Vice President in the Microsoft Server and Tools Business, we started the first Azure Accelerator because we wanted to give promising startups full access to Azure, so that they can build and grow. We're doing it again for the next three months. You can read Scott's full blog post here.

This spring’s Windows Azure class includes:

• 1Track—Bellevue, WA. 1Track enhances the consumer in-store shopping experience and drives sales for retailers.
• Airpost.io—Toronto, CA.  Airpost unifies cloud storage services to allow people to access files from anywhere.
• Azuqua—Bellevue, WA.  Azuqua helps companies build integrated cloud-based enterprise apps in ten minutes or less.
• Beehive Biometrics—Austin, TX.  Beehive is a service that enables developers to incorporate biometric matching into apps with a single line of code.
• Boxella—Redmond, WA.  Boxella helps retailers sell add-on products through an app that tracks individual customer inventory.
• Builders Cloud—Bellevue, WA. Builders Cloud is a file-sharing and mobile collaboration platform for the construction industry.
• Factor.io—Portland, OR.  Factor.io makes it easy for engineering teams to build their continuous integration and deployment pipeline.
• GiftGiv—Redmond, WA.  GiftGiv makes business gifting simple while retaining the personal touch. 
• nuMVC—Denver, CO.  nuMVC is a content distribution platform that automates delivery of relevant content anywhere on the web.
• ScanMyList—Everett, WA. ScanMyList is a mobile app empowering businesses to efficiently utilize BI from sales and order information. 

The Microsoft Accelerator for Windows Azure is powered by TechStars and has created some pretty successful startups in its short life has proven to help startups reach a level of reliable performance. 

The Fall 2012 class has been busy since Demo Day. Here is what they have accomplished so far. 

• MetricsHub—the company behind Active Cloud Monitoring and automated cloud performance management—was recently acquired by Microsoft.   
• Realty Mogul—crowdfunding for real estate—won the HATCH Pitch Competition at SXSW, made its service generally available, and just closed a $500,000 seed round of funding.
• Staq—a real-time analytics engine for games—joined email engagement experts Embarke in the Windows Azure Store.
• Mobilligy – a mobile bill payment platform – closed a $400,000 seed round of funding.