Microsoft announced a $ one-lakh grant to promote innovation among domestic start-up companies

Microsoft has reinforced its commitment towards fostering innovation and nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India Microsoft said India is a strategic market for it, and also announced a $ one-lakh grant to promote innovation among domestic start-up companies.
"Microsoft is happy to reiterate its commitment to India by fostering innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.Towards this, we are pleased to launch the 'Microsoft Bizspark India Start-up Challenge' under which four most promising start-ups will share a prize money of 1,00,000," Microsoft Corp chief operating officer Kevin Turner said.The 'Challenge', launched by Kevin Turner, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft, is a unique contest for start-ups in the field of product software to showcase their creativity and receive constructive feedback, inputs into the technology roadmap, and mentorship from their peers, top investors and Microsoft.On investment plans for India this fiscal, Turner said they will continue to invest here as it is strategically an important market. But he refused to give any specifics in terms of the timeline or quantum of such investment.
The Microsoft Bizspark India Start-up Challenge is a unique contest for start-ups in the field of product software to showcase their creativity, get constructive feedback, inputs on technology roadmap and gain mentorship from peers, investors and Microsoft.
The first two winners will get $ 40,000 each and the two runners-up will get $ 10,000 each under the contest, which will be open to all the 1,300 member-companies of the Microsoft BizSpark platform. The contest opens from 21-April-2011 and will run till June,2011.The contestants will be assessed on three key parameters; innovation, market potential of the business and a compelling story behind the idea. More information about the 'Challenge' is available on http://www.bizsparkstartupchallenge.com/.


The BizSpark platform has been running to promote a local software ecosystem, Microsoft India general manager for developer platform evangelism Moorthy Uppaluri.
Over the years, through the Spark series, Microsoft has helped and guided many aspiring entrepreneurs, Uppaluri said and insisted that this is not a revenue-based business model but an investment being made under personal guidance of Bill Gates.
"What more, with 4.5 million downloads of Microsoft programmes/products, a year, India has become the largest free-software download market in the world," Uppaluri said.
The Spark series include DreamSpark, WebsiteSpark, I-Spark, BizSpark and BizSparkOne aimed at students and entrepreneurs alike.


WebsiteSpark: WebsiteSpark gives Web designers and developers a jump-start by providing the tools and resources needed to build great websites, free of cost.


Microsoft BizSpark:Microsoft BizSpark is a global program that helps software startups succeed by giving them access to Microsoft software development tools, connecting them with key industry players, including investors, and providing marketing visibility to help entrepreneurs starting a business.


I-Spark: A unique programme aimed at fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation students across colleges in India


Microsoft BizSpark One: Microsoft BizSpark One is a new global program to accelerate the growth of high-potential startups through a one-on-one relationship with Microsoft Corp. and a global community of advisors, investors and peers.


DreamSpark: DreamSpark provides professional-level developer and design tools to students and educators around the world at no charge.