Microsoft Ventures Accelerator opens applications

BANGALORE, INDIA: Microsoft India today announced the opening of applications for the fourth batch of Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in Bangalore, India.

Microsoft Ventures Accelerator is a key part of Microsoft Ventures, an initiative to offer startups a single point of entry to engage with Microsoft through a broad-based and holistic approach.

As part of the program, Microsoft and industry mentors provides startups with hands-on expertise in key areas they need help on most-namely technology architecture, user experience/ design, product roadmap, business model development and connections with early adopters, said a press release.

According to release, each startup pursues three tracks simultaneously - customer development, product development and deepening market traction. The Accelerator program team tracks their progress every week, and shares the report with mentors who provide them valuable feedback.

Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in India is currently hosting its third batch of startups, with 80 percent of the 22 companies who have graduated over the last two batches already having received funding.

Inviting applications for the new batch, Ravi Narayan, director, Microsoft Ventures in India, said, "We are looking for exceptional entrepreneurs who are building companies for India and global markets. Our network of about 150 mentors along with our vast network of partners will prove very beneficial to any startup looking to make it big in Cloud, internet, mobile and data analytics technologies. We love startups that are solving interesting problems, requiring enormous scale."

Microsoft Ventures Accelerator hosts two batches a year, from July-November and January-May. The winter batch of 2013, which is also the current batch of startups being accelerated at the facility, will graduate on November 29, 2013.