Microsoft BizSpark a success guide for software startups
Software startups success is not as easy as everyone says. Success only comes with a combination of enormous amounts of hard work, persistence, intelligence, luck and Microsoft.
Key Points to watch out for any software partnership program:
• Direct costs in the form of fees for program participation, and the cost of hiring, training, and certifying staff to meet partner program eligibility requirements
• Dependence on the technology platform-for better (access to technology user base) or worse (missed opportunities due to delays in product releases or shortcomings of the products or platforms themselves)
• Competitive risks that technology company might add features to its OSs or develop new products that compete with partner products
With Microsoft BizSpark any software product startups will be able to mitigate cost and risk on above points by joining Microsoft BizSpark Program. In this program software startups don’t have to pay the money for license high-end software. So to have a program like this, which provides access to the highest level of products within Microsoft Stack, really is a fantastic benefit. Microsoft also helps drives the demand on the products developed on its platform hence customer acquisition becomes easy.
The main question for software startup company is how can we pay the bills while developing our product? In the end, software startup companies want to be a product company & they need to build good products (and accumulate a critical mass of customers). They want to start their business immediately. Because of this, software product startups once decide on what product to develop they would then on parallel perform services on the side as short-term an income generator which is easy with Microsoft Platform & Partner ecosystem.
Microsoft field sales force has Partner Account Managers (PAMs) who looks at Microsoft sales opportunities & identify partners like MAIA Intelligence who can be brought in to help Microsoft win them. Microsoft even helps startups establish connections with local and global startup ecosystems – VCs, angels, incubators, entrepreneur associations, etc. – that are equally involved and invested in software-fueled innovation and entrepreneurship. Microsoft has built fantastic eco system of partners which make its product reach at the deepest corners of the earth. Microsoft has time over recognized the partners expertise, rewards them for their impact in the technology marketplace and help partners with tools and resources to grow their business & become profitable regardless of its size or focus.
Microsoft has always helped us walk you through the vital stages of planning, developing, marketing, selling, deploying and maintaining our product offerings. We at MAIA Intelligence are completely committed to Microsoft vision being partner with Microsoft in various programs offering including BizSpark.
About Microsoft BizSpark: Microsoft® BizSpark™ is a global program designed to help accelerate the success of early stage startups by providing key resources when they need it the most. For more details visit http://www.microsoftstartupzone.com/BizSpark/Pages/At_a_Glance.aspx or http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/
Find the Times of India, Bangalore coverage on December 18, 2008 at the following link:
http://www.maia-intelligence.com/pdf/MAIA-at-Microsoft-BizSpark-Launch-Bangalore-TOI-181208.pdf
Posted on December 19th, 2008 by Sanjay Mehta
Filed under: Entrepreneurship, View Points & Perspective
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