CSIA Announces Network Partnership with Microsoft BizSpark Program
As yet another benefit for our members, CSIA is proud to announce that it has been selected as a Network Partner for Microsoft’s new BizSpark Program to unite software development start-ups and resources.
The program will provide start-ups with:
• “Expert access” to Microsoft tools and technologies, for their immediate use in design, development, testing, demonstration, and hosted application production and deployment;
• Connections with Network Partners and a united, global community of support resources; and
• Global visibility on the MicrosoftStartupZone website via the BizSparkDB, an online Startup directory, hosted on the MIcrosoftStartupZone website.
To be eligible, companies need to be:
In the business of software development,
Privately held,
In business for less than 3 years, and
Have less than US $1 million in annual revenue
To be eligible to use the software for production and deployment of hosted solutions, start-ups must also be developing a new “software as a service” solution (on any platform) to be delivered over the Internet.
“We are pleased to be partnering with CSIA on this program to increase awareness to all of the start-up software companies in Colorado, as well as to help us identify new entrepreneurs in this state,” said Dave Drach, title. “CSIA is a very well regarded association in our state and within this industry, so their network of thousands of software companies will help make sure entrepreneurs across Colorado and the region are aware of the opportunities to take advantage of the program,” he added.
CSIA will market the program to the software and technology community in Colorado as well as serve as a portal of information for companies interested. “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our state and global economy, so we appreciate Microsoft creating the BizSpark program to provide entrepreneurs with much-needed software and high-level methods to increase their business success,” said Su Hawk, president, CSIA. “Given the strength of the innovative economy, and especially in software, this is a particularly smart time for companies to take advantage of this program and leverage the acumen that Microsoft tools and technologies have,” she said.
Specifically, companies will provided Microsoft’s current full-featured development tools, platform technologies, and production/hosting licenses for immediate use in developing and bringing to market innovative and interoperable solutions. There is no upfront cost to enroll in Microsoft BizSpark. There is a $100 offering fee due when the start-up exits the program, and start-ups can participate in BizSpark for up to three years. On the first and second anniversary of initial enrollment, the start-up must update their enrollment (e.g., confirm that the company has not gone public and ownership has not changed).
The BizSpark technology offering to start-ups currently includes:
For development, testing and demonstration:
• The software included in the Visual Studio Team System Suite (VSTS) with MSDN Premium, plus VSTS Team Foundation Server (Standard Edition) – for the entire development team.
For production use (that is, to deploy and host the start-up’s new “software as a service” application to be delivered over the Internet to the start-up’s customers:
• Windows Server; SQL Server; BizTalk Server, and Office SharePoint Server for Internet Sites hosting, and
• Systems Center for managing hosting server operations.
For more information about the details and how to apply, please fill out the short application For more details about the full program, please visit BizSpark.
Footnote: Software development means the startup is developing a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of the startup’s own business. Startups cannot be in the business of providing services to others such as hosting, web agency, system integration or outsourced development.
Startups who are actively engaged in software development but have not yet completed the formalities of establishing a business are also eligible for entry into BizSpark
The Program may add local variances on the revenue limit requirement calibrated to local economic conditions in the startup’s place of business.