Thursday, November 13, 2008

Microsoft BizSpark Program helps Central Ohio IT Startups

I am happy to announce that I signed TechColumbus up yesterday evening as a Network Partner for the new Microsoft BizSpark program. To get more information on this program, check out the website: http://www.microsoftstartupzone.com/pages/home.aspx, or contact me.

This is the program overview from Microsoft:

BizSpark is an innovative new program that unites startups with global entrepreneurial and technology resource in one community, with a common goal of supporting and accelerating the success of a new generation of high-potential Startups.

BizSpark is uniquely designed to help Startups engaged in software development to jump-start their business, by:
• Providing them with “express access” to Microsoft tools and technologies, for their immediate use in design, development, testing, demonstration, and hosted application production and deployment; and
• Connecting them with Network Partners and a united, global community of resources designed to support them.

More detail on this great program:

Startup Eligibility Requirements:
• An eligible startup must have the following characteristics at the time of joining:
Actively engaged in development of a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of its current or intended business1,
Privately held,
In business for less than 3 years, and
Less than US $1 million in annual revenue.

• To be eligible to use the software for production and deployment of hosted solutions, startups must also be developing a new “software as a service” solution (on any platform) to be delivered over the Internet.

Term: Startups can participate in BizSpark for up to 3 years. On the first and second anniversary of initial enrollment, they must update their enrollment (e.g., confirm they haven’t gone public and their ownership hasn’t changed).

Fee: A USD $100 program offering fee is due when the Startup exits the Program. As part of Microsoft’s commitment to Startup success, there are no initial costs for Startups to join BizSpark.

Technology offering: The BizSpark technology offering to Startups currently includes:
• Design, development, testing and demonstrations rights with regard to:
All the software included in the Visual Studio Team System Team Suite (VSTS) with MSDN Premium subscription
Expression Studio (Version 2)
VSTS Team Foundation Server (Standard Edition)
• Production Use rights to host a “software as a service” solution (developed by the startup during their participation, on any platform) over the Internet, with regard to products including: Windows Server (all versions up to and including Enterprise); SQL Server (all versions); Office SharePoint Server; Systems Center, and BizTalk Server The information is representative and not comprehensive.

Products, versions, availability and additional benefits are subject to change. Because this offering is likely to be updated from time to time, Startups and Network Partners should visit the Microsoft® BizSpark website at https://microsoft.com/bizspark often to check Program Guides.

Special offers: By virtue of their participation in BizSpark, Startups may also be eligible for additional special technology or services offerings (from Microsoft or others) from time to time during their tenure in the Program. Startups enrolled in BizSpark will be notified of special offers when they become available, as well as the terms of those offerings and how to sign up for them.






Join BizSpark

1 comment:

Tom Williams said...

Kevin - I checked out the site real quick. Other than access to MS software (which we don't currently utilize in our LAMP dev. models) is there really a benefit? They talk about getting you in front of investors and "connected" but I saw no detail. Having your company name thrown into a database is far from getting you in front of investors. Can you hit on the main benefits of this service?