Startups’ free software dream come true
November 21, 2008 by SGEntrepreneurs
Filed under Events, Press Releases
So now there’s a legitimate way of obtaining free Microsoft software without having to scour the web for dodgy downloads! The name which all startups looking to reduce their R&D costs should know is the Microsoft BizSpark programme. Microsoft launched this international initiative for startups in Singapore, coinciding with Global Entrepreneurship Week, and has already signed up 12 startups and 11 network partners.
SINGAPORE — 20 November 2008 — Microsoft today announced the launch of its new global initiative, BizSpark, in Singapore. As part of the BizSpark program, Microsoft will significantly subsidise costs of development software for technology startups over a three year period. The program enables fast and easy access to current full-featured Microsoft development tools and production licenses of server products with no upfront costs, as well as technical support and market visibility. Through BizSpark, Microsoft will also rally the support of local government agencies and network partners comprising of academic institutions, venture capitalists and incubators to provide start-ups with guidance, mentorship and resources to drive business success for them.
To date, Microsoft has signed up 12 start-ups to benefit from BizSpark and aims to enroll a total of 150 startups by the end of the first year of the program.
“Entrepreneurs play a vital role in driving innovation and creating the kinds of new jobs that are essential to sustainable economic growth. Small businesses and local start-ups are starting to feel the pinch from the ongoing economic downturn, and Microsoft is committed to helping them through these difficult times by taking the lead to help accelerate their success”, said Ms. Jessica Tan, Managing Director, Microsoft Singapore. “As part of our longer term commitment to nurture a vibrant local software economy in Singapore, Microsoft BizSpark provides business startups with a great combination of development tools, advice, support and international exposure they need to grow and flourish. Through our partnerships with government agencies such as MDA, SPRING Singapore and IDA, we look forward to growing this community of startups to fuel greater innovation and progress and to support the goals set out in the iN2015 Masterplan.”
In Singapore, Microsoft has enlisted the support of 11 “Network Partners” for the BizSpark program which include venture capitalists, incubators and web-hosters. These include Azione Capital, Thymos Capital, Frontedge Capital, Business Angel Network of South East Asia (BANSEA), Expara, Extream Ventures, iAXIL, Upstream Ventures, NUS Entrepreneurship Centre, Aksaas and Webvisions.
Building Startup Success Through Software Access, Market Support and Global Visibility
As part of BizSpark, Microsoft is providing startups with a three-year Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Professional subscription, which makes available for download a broad set of development tools needed to build, test and maintain an application on the Microsoft platform, including Microsoft Visual Studio and the Microsoft .NET Framework.
Through MSDN, BizSpark also provides professional support services and expert information resources. For startups building hosted software, BizSpark includes production licenses for application hosting, management servers, and rights to host a ‘software as a service’ solution over the Internet, using products such as Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server, BizTalk Server and Systems Center, with Microsoft Dynamics CRM to be added soon.
The program also will provide a worldwide network of hosting partners, offering discounted hosting services to startups that would like to take their business or product online using their BizSpark licenses.
Finally, startups will have the opportunity to be profiled and promoted on the BizSparkDB, an online startup directory hosted on the Microsoft Startup Zone, where Microsoft will promote promising startups from around the world every day.
“We think Microsoft BizSpark addresses a fundamental challenge that startups like us face: access to software and support early in the business life cycle when these resources are most needed and least affordable. BizSpark will give startups like ours a chance to grow and put Singapore on the global map,” said Mr. Alvin Yap from GameMo.
In addition to the core BizSpark offering, BizSpark startups will be eligible for other Microsoft offerings, such as Microsoft cloud services technologies, including the following:
• Access to the community technology preview (CTP) of the Azure Services Platform, a new computing platform that will help developers build the next generation of applications that will span from the cloud to the enterprise datacenter and deliver compelling new experiences across the PC, Web and phone. The Azure Services Platform was announced last month at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2008 (PDC2008).
• Access to the community technical preview (CTP) of the Live Framework, a simple, open and interoperable framework for developers to access and consume Live Services. Live Services is a set of building blocks within the Azure Services Platform for handling user data and application resources, which includes Live Mesh technologies for synchronizing users’ data and extending Web applications across multiple devices.
Microsoft will also ensure that BizSpark members are notified of all programs of particular interest to startups, such as the Microsoft Web Platform Installer and Microsoft Web Application Installer. These offerings, make it easier for developers to bring compelling PHP and .NET Web applications to market faster with a streamlined download, install and configure experience, as well as design and development integration and pre-packaged open source applications that run well on the Microsoft Web Platform.
About BizSpark
BizSpark is available worldwide to privately held startups building a software-based product or service that have been in business less than three years and have less than USD $1 million in revenue. BizSpark provides startups with software, support and visibility early in their life cycle when those resources are most needed and least affordable. As a demonstration of Microsoft’s commitment to startup success, a program fee of USD $100 is payable on exit from the program rather than upfront when joining. More information about BizSpark and other startup resources is available at the Microsoft Startup Zone at www.microsoftstartupzone.com/.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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