On July 1, 2015, Microsoft launched a new program called BizSpark Plus in an effort to increase Azure Dynamics utilization. Offering $120,000 worth of credit for Microsoft’s Azure cloud services, the primary purpose of the program is to help small start-ups get going and succeed in highly competitive markets. The companies that qualify for the program will gain access to Microsoft’s App Service and infrastructure services, such as Azure Machine Learning. All these can help early stage companies to reduce their IT costs and manage resources more efficiently for superior service and product delivery.
Understanding the “Ins” and “Outs”
Though working with early stage companies isn’t something new for Microsoft, the BizSpark initiative is a new attempt to build credibility especially with young tech entrepreneurs by helping them accelerate innovation, manage Big Data, and make the most of the Internet of Things.
Microsoft makes available two new programs for start-ups:
- BizSpark – This is the general program, offering start-ups with less than $1 million in annual revenue up to $750 worth of credit per month for Azure cloud over a 3-year period. If you opt for this program, up to five employees will have access to a series of free tools, including Office applications and Visual Studio.
- BizSpark Plus – This program provides up to $120,000 worth of credit for Azure services (disbursed in 12 $10,000 monthly installments) in addition to the $750 offered though the general BizSpark program, totaling $10,750 per month for qualifying start-ups. Once enrolled in the program, your company will be able to access Azure cloud services, free software and tools, training courses, and technical support for one year.
Both programs are administered by Microsoft Ventures, a division within Microsoft Corporation that provides a series of programs along with relevant technical support, mentorship, and consulting from Microsoft experts. Additionally, Microsoft Ventures offers small start-ups the opportunity to connect with large companies that have already achieved success using Azure Dynamics services.
Although Azure cloud credit is the headline of both programs, the mentorship is actually the key element that attracts an increasing number of start-ups. While Azure Dynamics cloud provides access to a complete set of IT resources, mentorship gives young entrepreneurs the chance to learn how to run their businesses more efficiently and get greater return on investment by simply using Microsoft products and services.
The BizSpark Plus program is provided to start-ups through more than 150 accelerators from around the world. This means that the program is open only to the the companies collaborating with Microsoft partners.
Located at the intersection of the Internet of Things and Big Data, Azure cloud enables a company to create unique business models and discover new opportunities for growth by simply connecting its assets, data, processes, people, and systems. Supporting Microsoft’s new concept “The Internet of Your Things,” Azure cloud can help you leverage your existing IT infrastructure, create a favorable environment for innovation, extend your digital business scenarios, and empower your workforce for accelerated business results. In addition, Azure IoT Suite, a new service provided by Microsoft, allows organizations to interconnect devices to capture, manage, and analyze large volumes of data and present information in a usable form to users for better decision making.
Delivering the power and flexibility of Azure cloud, the BizSpark Plus program is what your company needs to achieve sustainable growth, with no reason for concern about potential IT limitations.
To find out more about the BizSpark Plus program and Azure Dynamics, contact our Dallas/Fort Worth sales team at 800.331.8382, or email sales@clientsfirst-tx.com. Our ERP experts will be glad to help you.
