BizSpark - Software for startups

Startups have dramatically changed the industry over the past 30 years. Microsoft was a startup 33 years ago – started off with a vision, some ideas and a couple of great people and has grown to the company it is today.

One challenge that these fledgling companies face is the resources to translate their ideas into reality and fuel that industry change.

I’m excited to announce the availability of a new program we are launching today to help jumpstart these startup businesses – Microsoft BizSpark. BizSpark is a global program designed to help accelerate the success of early state startups by providing them software, support and visibility.

These companies will get fast and easy access to Microsoft current full-featured development tools, platform technologies, and production licenses of server products that can be used for immediate use in developing and bringing to market their products with no upfront costs and minimal requirements. Startups will also get access to the community technology preview (CTP) of the Microsoft Azure Services Platform. They will receive professional technical support from Microsoft and community support from BizSpark Network Partners around the world. Network Partners are incubators, investors, advisors, government agencies, and hosters who are vested in software-fueled innovation and entrepreneurship. Lastly, a dedicated website, BizSparkDB, will highlight these companies from around the world.

Every day, we will nominate the ‘’BizSpark Startup of the Day” and we‘ll publish a video or an interview of the CEO of this highly innovative company.

Network partners or Microsoft BizSpark Program Leads will nominate startups that fit the following simple criteria. It must be a private company building a software-based product or service. It must have been in business for less than three years, and it must bring in less than $1M in revenue. You can get more details here or go directly to the BizSpark site.

Namaste!