Microsoft's BizSpark Supports Startups

• By Justin Lee, November 05, 2008

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(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Software giant Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) announced on Wednesday it has launched Microsoft BizSpark (http://www.microsoftstartupzone.com/bizspark), a global program that provides entrepreneurs and startups with full-featured Microsoft development tools and production licenses of server products with no upfront costs and minimal requirements, as well as technical support and market visibility.

The program uses the resources and support of a global network of hundreds of organizations such as economic development agencies, university incubators, hosters and investors, including The National Venture Capital Association and The Indus Entrepreneurs. These network partners provide guidance, mentorship and resources to help drive startup success.

"Entrepreneurs play a vital role in driving innovation and creating the kinds of new jobs that are essential to sustainable economic growth," says Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. "Microsoft BizSpark is an exciting way for us to help provide business startups with the development tools, advice and exposure they need. We look forward to working with organizations and development agencies around the globe to foster entrepreneurship and help new companies succeed."

As part of the new program, Microsoft is providing startups with a three-year Microsoft Developer Network Professional subscription, enabling them to download a wide range 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.

Startups building hosted software will be provided with production licenses for application hosting and management servers including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server, BizTalk Server and Systems Center. The company will also add Microsoft Dynamics CRM soon.

The program will also provide a worldwide network of hosting partners, offering discounted hosting services to those startups looking to take their business or product online using their BizSpark licenses.

Startups will have the opportunity to be profiled and promoted on the online startup directory BizSparkDB, where Microsoft will promote promising startups from around the world on a daily basis.

BizSpark startups will also have access to other Microsoft offerings, such as Microsoft cloud services technologies, including access to the community technology preview of the Azure Services Platform, launched last week, and access to the community technical preview of the Live Framework, which enables developers to use Live Services.

Microsoft will alert BizSpark members of all programs of pertinent to startups, including the Microsoft Web Platform Installer and Microsoft Web Application Installer.

BizSpark is now available on a global basis to privately held startups building a software-based product or service that have been in business less than three years and have less than $1 million in revenue. Members will be asked to pay a $100 program fee when they leave the program instead of upfront when they join.

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