Recently, my peer, Taylor Cowan covered the Field Guide to BizSpark. As Microsoft continues to engage startups all over the world through this program, we always have exciting stories to share. Here in the Central US, we have been working to drive success for entrepreneurs and I would love to share some success stories that came out of this partnership between BizSpark and the entrepreneurial community.
BizSpark focuses on the three pillars of Software, Support and Visibility. Each startup has unique needs and this program also aims to support entrepreneurs and help them through strategic partnerships with Microsoft product groups as well as Microsoft partners such as Elance andPluralsight.
Software
Several startups have been successful in building mission critical, gaming, and social or even web-based applications on the Microsoft platform. The whole idea is to mix and match technology solutions as they make sense.
AuditShark is a startup providing critical web server security monitoring for startups and decided to pick Azure for its cloud-hosting needs.
“It is my mission to make life more difficult for hackers who want to break into your servers and steal your data. Using AuditShark, you can help to lock down your servers to comply with industry best practices or your own internal compliance standards.” says Mike Taber, the Lead Architect of AuditShark
Let’s Play Please makes family time interactive and real using Skype and was recently featured on NBC Chicago. A newly released Windows 8 app Kiddomath helps children learn Math in fun and engaging ways.
Social startup eyeMe has a range of socializing applications including the Windows 8 and Windows Phone app that offers consumers and brands fun and engaging photo and audio features.
With emerging startups such as Pix2gether and Widgets&Apps launching their company sites, blogs and marketing sites hosting on Azure, it is now a matter of seconds before a startup can create an online presence.
Support
In addition to the free software tools and resources that startups receive from Microsoft, we also train entrepreneurs and developers to ramp up on the latest in technology.
Recently, Microsoft held a Node.js Hackathon at Capital Factory in Austin and a Windows 8 App Kick start at TechNexus in Chicago. As part of our participation at Startup weekend, Microsoft conductedWindows 8 & Azure Boot camps across the globe including Chicago and Kansas City.
These events connected hundreds of entrepreneurs in a 1:1 close-knit setting. We succeeded in providing personal attention, in depth technical conversations and support. Pix2gether and Wazoo are two startups that launched at Startup weekend as a result and are both hosted on Azure.
Visibility
The Microsoft BizSpark network reaches 60k+ startups world-wide and 25k+ startups in the US as well as 3k+ network partners. 37k fans on facebook and a twitter following of 27k make for a great community of entrepreneurs world-wide.
The partnerships through BizSpark provide opportunities to shine such as Windows Startup challenge, Accelerator for Windows Azure, 500 Startups Demo day, Startup weekend and DevCamps. You can also access technical resources, product training, business resources, and talent for your startup.
As part of the BizSpark ‘Startup of the Day’ featured blog, we recently highlighted eyeMe, Elevate Digital and Mobiligy. In addition to this, we conducted interviews of participants at Startup Weekend Chicago and broadcasted them on Channel9.
As entrepreneurs ride the ever-changing trends of the startup scene across the globe, Microsoft BizSpark has partnered with media companies such as TechCocktail, landmark events such as SxSWand local channels such as the Silicon Prairie News. Taylor Cowan & Karri Dunn will also be attending Big Kansas city this year and are available to connect with you. Internally, we are connecting withWindows, Bing and Azure product groups to bring forth great opportunities for startups.
As you start thinking about launching your startup, building your marketing campaign, expanding your sales funnel or iterating on your business model; know that BizSpark has a variety of offerings to make life easy and simple. Just ask and you shall receive software, support and visibility that makes sense for your needs.
