Please Welcome WebsiteSpark!

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WebsiteSpark Last year, Microsoft provided a program to help new start-ups get developer tools, discounts and a business network at practically no cost. BizSpark helped over 300 Irish start-ups in the last twelve months.

This year, the Spark family is extending to include web designers and developers.  WebsiteSpark is launching officially in Ireland on Tuesday, October 20th at the Guinness Storehouse.  WebsiteSpark provides web designers, developers, students, freelancers and anyone else who is interested software licenses, support and business resources to help them grow and succeed.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
There are only two requirements to join the WebsiteSpark program.  A) Your company builds websites and/or web applications for other people (that is, you’re not building a product, you’re providing a service) and B) Your company has < 10 employees.

WHAT DO WE GET:
WebsiteSpark will provide you the following software licenses for three years.  After enrolling here, you can download & immediately use the software.

  • 3 licenses of Visual Studio 2008 ProfessionalMicrosoft Web Platform
  • 1 license of Expression Studio 3 (including Blend, Sketchflow, Web & Encoder)
  • 2 licenses of Expression Web 3
  • 4 processor licenses of Windows Server 2008 R2 (can be used for development and/or production)
  • 4 processor licenses for SQL Server 2008 Web Edition (can be used for development and/or production)

Along with the licenses, WebsiteSpark provides a business network to help grow your business, product support and free, online training.

HOW MUCH IS IT?
The WebsiteSpark program allows you all of the above for free for three years.  At the end of the third year, there is a $100 program fee, but other than that there are no additional costs.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Getting started is easy.  Just go to WebsiteSpark website and sign up.  When you enroll you can either pick a network referral partner (there are five Irish network partners so far, we are signing up more at the moment) or you can enter a referral code which you’ve received at an event or from a Microsoft employee.  If you need a referral code, please e-mail me and I’ll take care of it for you.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?
More information on WebsiteSpark as well as the software included with it is located at http://www.microsoft.com/web.  If you have any questions on the program or are interested in being a network partner, just let me know.

Cross posted from Martha's Blog.