Today, our team, the Microsoft Emerging Business Team, announced a new program for startups: The Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program. There is a good interview with Dan’l Lewin here about the program. Its goal is to help high potential software startups accelerate their success on the Microsoft platform. We provide customized engagement plans that support their software development, provide accessibility within Microsoft and increase market visibility. We are launching the program in the US with 20 companies, including iBloks, tutor.com, Kiptronic, SpotRunner and YuMe.
Don Dodge also has a post about the program here. And our team in the UK announced their program here. More programs will be rolled out around the world. Stay tuned!
Please let us know what you think: startups@microsoft.com.
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About Kris Olson
At Microsoft, I focus on innovative startups on the Microsoft platform as well as the investors who back them. This year I am officially editor in chief of The Microsoft Startup Zone. Our goal is to convey the story of the business value of our platform and programs to future and current entrepreneurs in venture-backed (or similarly scaled) companies.
I was born and reared in Berkeley, California. I majored in English at Stanford and later got my MBA there. I have worked in marketing, primarily with startups – helping pitch to investors, define their products, build positioning and messaging for press/analysts/customers, making sure that every touch point reflected their brand – the experience we wanted customers and partners to have with the company.
In mid-2004, I joined Microsoft – wanting to see what it takes to build a large company for the long run. Most recently I had been co-founder and vice president of marketing for UpShot, an online CRM company bought by Siebel (now Oracle) in November 2003. Earlier I was vice president of marketing for McAfee Associates shortly after it went public, then Rocket Science Games and earlier, head of marketing for Ansa Software, makers of Paradox (relational database), which was sold to Borland – and my first venture into startups. I started my high tech career at Apple Computer where I was initially a product manager, then worked on the Apple IIc launch and headed developer marketing for the Apple II group.
I equate working in a startup to walking on a tightrope: you can’t look down and must always believe. It takes tremendous focus and determination – as well as innovative and scrappy problem solving! I love it.
Your feedback on our site, our programs, our products and how we can be of help to you is always welcome.
