A screenshot of the Windows Azure Connect interface
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Microsoft announced on Monday that it is working with startup accelerator TechStars to provide startups with up to $60,000 of Windows Azure compute and storage at no cost.
TechStars accelerators in Boulder, Colorado, Boston, New York, Seattle and Texas will have access to Windows Azure over a 24-month period.
The partnership, through Microsoft’s new BizSpark Plus Program, is designed to accelerate the success of tech startups around the world. According to the press release, BizSpark Plus works through select incubators and accelerators like TechStars to provide products and services to “high-potential startups.”
Microsoft says it is making the same offer to all founders whose accelerator is part of the Global Accelerator Network, a network comprised of 40 accelerators worldwide.
“Our passion is helping startups succeed around the world by providing funding and mentorship from the best and brightest Internet entrepreneurs and investors on the planet. The enhanced relationship with Microsoft will allow us to provide our founders with even more valuable support and services,” David Cohen, founder and CEO of TechStars said in a statement. “Access to technologies such as Windows Azure and other software and services from Microsoft through the BizSpark Plus program gives our companies a leg up in the all-encompassing race to scale and succeed.”
With cloud applications, startups can drive user adoption, scale their companies and generate financial returns with a lower capital investment. Windows Azure offers a platform for the creation of Web applications and services.
“TechStars is a great partner with a proven track record of attracting world-class startups. We are excited at the opportunity to work together to help startups when they need it most, with the products, resources and connections they need the most,” said Dan’l Lewin, corporate vice president, strategic and emerging business development, Microsoft said in a statement. “Working with entrepreneurs on the forefront of the cloud revolution is especially rewarding. Windows Azure is a powerful, integrated platform, making it easy for startups to get their services up and running quickly with minimal overhead. This is the first offer from our new BizSpark Plus program, and we look forward to supporting TechStars members across a number of markets and technology offerings.”
In October 2011, web hosting provider Rackspace partnered with TechStars Cloud to bring cloud startups to San Antonio for a four-month program where they received seed funding, mentorship, and other perks.
Though Rackspace and Microsoft both have more resources available to them than a smaller web hosting provider, startups represent a huge potential client base to web hosts of any size. Smaller web hosting providers may see an opportunity to do a similar offering with a startup accelerator like TechStars as a means to grow their own business.
About Nicole Henderson
Nicole Henderson writes full-time for the Web Host Industry Review where she covers daily news and features online, as well as in print. She has a bachelor of journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, and has been writing for the WHIR since September 2010. You can find her on Twitter @NicoleHenderson.
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