“Mid-West technology start-ups will benefit from a new innovative programme – Microsoft BizSpark – designed to help accelerate the success of early stage businesses by providing key resources when they need it most.”
This is according to Donnacha Hughes, Manager of the Enterprise Acceleration announcing that Limerick Institute of Technology’s business incubation facility has recently signed up as a Network Partner in the Microsoft ® BizSpark™ program which gives access to current, full-featured Microsoft development tools and production licenses of server products allied to professional technical and expert business support.
There has been significant interest in this new programme from clients of the EAC and other software start-ups in the region; a networking event has been organised to provide information on the programme.
He adds, “The Enterprise Acceleration Centre is delighted to be able to sponsor start-ups to avail of a wide range of supports provided which are fully outlined online at www.microsoftstartupzone.com The eligibility requirements for this global programme are extremely minimal: A business will qualify if it is a privately held company building a software based product or service (even using open source code), in business for less than three years and have less than USD$1 million in annual revenue. There’s no upfront cost to enroll. Companies simply pay Microsoft a USD$100 program fee when they exit the program. Having sponsored a few start-ups our experience is that the process is extremely fast and simple.”
Microsoft Ireland will launch its BizSpark™ programme in the Mid-West at a two hour evening seminar on the 5th February hosted by the Enterprise Acceleration Centre. Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Software Association will also address the event which will focus on key issues for software companies and the supports which are available to fast track their development.
Mr Hughes added that the event is free to attendees once they book in advance.
“I think that this will be a super networking event for software engineers, technology companies and start-ups. There is a range of supports available for software companies from technical, business support, financial and of course networking; the EAC is delighted to play a small part in bringing companies in the region together. For more information, companies are encouraged to check the Events section of our website at www.eac.ie”
