BizSpark: Spinning the cocoon?

FRESH, raring to go, and carrying an energetic smile on an adrenaline-pumped visage, Matt seems a perfect fit for the hat he dons at Microsoft.

As he walks forth and rubs off a contagious ebullience with his handshake, you know the small but big difference between a vigorous colt and a just-another greenhorn.

More so, because that’s exactly what his job description reads.

Fondly addressed as Matt, Matthew Clark is senior director, Startup Engagement for the Strategic and Emerging Business Team (SEBT), where he is responsible for creating and delivering programs globally that accelerate the growth of high-potential start-ups. He thus covers the job to build a supporting community of incubators, investors and advisors around them.

Technology incubation for start-ups. Sounds a relevant but still not a much treaded road. Specially in the frontiers of IT biggies who rationally would rather cater to a sprawling, scaled-up enterprise rather than a midget struggling to fly.

But today’s colts are tomorrow’s stallions. And may be that’s why it makes as much business sense as a do-good endeavour to support business neophytes.

As Matt Clark himself opines, “These start-ups are our next generation partners, and therefore a key focus area for us.”

“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. This includes software, support, and visibility.  Startups receive fast and easy access to current full-featured Microsoft development tools, platform technologies, and production licenses of server products for immediate use in developing and bringing to market innovative and interoperable solutions. And, there is no upfront cost to enroll.”

Having finished a year in innings already, with about 25,000 start-ups (around 900 in India) and 2000 network partners to boast, this program is chugging on well in catering to the needs of tools, platforms etc and making sure that these start-ups spell success.

Matt tells that while the first year has been spent in getting the foundation and tools all set and getting the community started, the second year would be all about gravitating with greater force around the communities and taking-off. Business training and technology training would be important components of this year’s roadmap.

Talking about support, startups receive professional support from Microsoft Network Partners around the world. This includes incubators, investors, advisors, government agencies and hosters that are equally involved and vested in software-fueled innovation and entrepreneurship who provide a wide range of support resources. It also gives the buttress of visibility as start-ups achieve global visibility to an audience of potential investors, clients and partners.

The program caters to any start-up that is actively engaged in development of a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of its current or intended business, is Privately held, is in business for less than three years, and has clocked less than  $one million in annual revenue.

Gullivers in the lands of Lilliputs?

A natural question pops up. Would Gullivers make sense in the lands of Lilliputs?

The answer is simple. Sure, because in the world of technology, size may not just matter (either ways), as long as business sense operates.

Something that is better explained by Andy Harjanto and Tumin Chook, both Co-founders of Guppers, a customer that is all praise for Microsoft. Guppers is a cloud-based solution platform for business that allows companies to bring their services or operations to their employees, partners or customers, over mobile phone and online quickly, sans new investments.

Tumin Chook admits that when they started with Microsoft, there was a leaning, being MS Techies before, but talentpool and quick migration turned out to be important variables.

Push him to compare it with competitive options and Chook answers.

“Cost of storage, bandwidth etc is comparable to Google or Amazon. The thing that gets us excited is that we don’t have to learn brand new stuff. And add to that MS’s plan to extend data centre to Asia next year strengthens our reason.”

Understandably, since the launch of BizSpark in November of 2008 and in response to feedback from the community, the program has been expanded to include such things as technical training and the addition of products like Robotics and Windows Azure.

Ask Matt on how much of Open-Source impact can one read between these lines, and he confidently shrugs that off. “No it’s not a response to that. Plus, we know that our next generation partners should be cloud-oriented.”

The portfolio is going to be stronger with more tools, service-based software business and Azure. As to what geographical pockets of focus, if any, would this program orient towards, Matt tells that there are no atlas areas there. “Our sense is that local innovation can happen about anywhere. With over 100 countries covered, our program will next be available in ten countries and we would have our radars on for higher-potential start-ups.”

The program going ahead will imbibe new contours, now with the colour of Azure being a strong one. Chief among them would be individual focus. Microsoft BizSpark One is the latest expansion of the BizSpark program that seeks to accelerate the growth of high potential startups through a 1:1 relationship between Microsoft and the Startup.

“In this unique, invite-only program, Startups are paired with a dedicated relationship manager who works with them to promote its visibility, expand its network of investors and mentors, expose it to business opportunities, and develop cutting-edge applications. In some markets, BizSpark One goes one step further by forming Advisory Committees to help address common startup needs in those countries — such as access to leading seed and venture capital organizations.” As the company shares.

In the coming months, the BizSpark Program will further evolve by introducing a Community for BizSpark Startups and Network Partners, the availability of  assessments tools, and access to funding.

Looks like Matt’s confidence may shape up as the wings business nestling keep yearning for. He seems convincing enough when he says, “It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a community to raise a start-up. We may not lead this journey but we will make sure we play our roles in catalyzing it.”