• Diary
  • Koi
  • KoiStrategy
  • About me
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu

Diary of a Change Agent

Towards a Better World
  • Diary
  • Koi
  • KoiStrategy
  • About me
  • Contact
  • Search
 

How Microsoft BizSpark Can Help You

June 29, 2015

Imagine a programme backed by one of the biggest companies in the world, focused on helping you to succeed as an entrepreneur - that's the Microsoft BizSpark programme.

 

BizSpark helps entrepreneurs at each stage of their development:

  • Ideation.  Microsoft funds many events to help you discover a great idea, including my masterclasses and Idea Workshops across South Africa.

  • Building.  Once you have an idea Microsoft provides lots of hands-on help and training - plus all their software for free for three years, plus significant discounts on cloud hosting in Azure.

  • Go-To-Market.  Once you reach this level, with a shipping product or service, you can qualify to enter the Portfolio Manager programme within BizSpark.  You get a top coach like me as your portfolio manager who will spend four hours a month with you, plus you have free access to top resources like marketing, legal, technical, accounting and funding services from top Microsoft partners, plus up to $5,000 pm in free Azure hosting for a year.

  • Scaling.  When you're ready, Microsoft will help you scale your offering out to big clients and international markets.

How is all this funded?  Through a collaboration between Microsoft and the Jobs Fund of South Africa.  Why haven't I heard or read more about it?  The Enhanced BizSpark programme run in SA by Microsoft and the Jobs Fund is unique and very new, so it's not well known yet (which is why I wrote this!)

 

Some examples of BizSpark in action for the startups in my portfolio:

  • exposure through paid interview on It's Africa's Time TV show to 2m business viewers for Vigo
  • fully paid collateral and stand at Cards & Payment Expo for Wallettec, plus arranged meetings with top players from across Africa
  • indepth hands-on database performance tuning assistance for a Financial Mail 100 account of another startup
  • exposure to top decision makers at some of the biggest metros at a special Microsoft event arranged for this, for our Smart City startups
 

If you're in the B2B space focusing on SME's then you'll be interested to know that Microsoft is also rolling out a pan-African portal for SME's for its Biz4Afrika programme - and that it is keen to promote BizSpark member's services within the portal.

  • So for example Vigo's website building service is now being promoted across Africa in the Biz4Afrika portal.
BizSpark_team.jpg

The thing I like best about working with the BizSpark programme though is that it is like a big rowdy family, rather than a formal programme.  Everyone knows everyone, from the Microsoft team behind BizSpark (pictured above), to the portfolio managers, to the providers of all the extra BizSpark services, to all the startups in the programme.  Everyone communicates all the time, via WhatsApp groups, social get-together's (including NOW - Networking Over Wine!), and inside my Koi Group for Entrepreneurs on Facebook.  It's a lot of fun!

Want to know more?  drop me a line...

Prev / Next

About

Neil Hinrichsen works with people and new ventures in South Africa


Tweets

  • RT @Koi_Waves: Superb article on the threat of #automation - expect millions more middle-class jobs to be lost.… https://t.co/79cpkCKnuE
    about 5 months ago
  • RT @jsr_stera: @vulingqondo it was great start for gathering with @NeilHinrichsen entrepreneurs have learned KOI Fish Strategies https://t.co/ozJWBhUzGy
    about 5 months ago
  • RT @Koi_Agriculture: "This Tiny Country Feeds the World" how the Netherlands has become the globe’s #2 exporter of food thru innovation… https://t.co/obdfYQe3QJ
    about 7 months ago
  • RT @Koi_Economy: Why Africa’s development is so slow - sectoral changes, but not productivity gains... https://t.co/s7jBSCkWu6 https://t.co/l00O3mTYI9
    about 8 months ago
  • Trust Google to screw it up... I've been reading Google News for years, but the new format is unworkable. Switching to Bing News instead
    about 9 months ago
  • RT @MacAffinity: Affinity Photo for iPad: the power of professional photo editing on iOS. Buy now with 30% discount (ends 29 June)… https://t.co/2c1i7hDFgd
    about 10 months ago
  • RT @MicrosoftAfrica: Are you looking for an internship opportunity? You have 2 days to apply for the 4Afrika Skills Initiative apply now… https://t.co/foXUrhu5ks
    about 11 months ago
  • RT @alanknottcraig: Our reason for being then and now has always been to achieve the fragile balance between profit and humanity. https://t.co/eL9hRC22sN
    about 11 months ago
  • RT @Koi_Economy: Richard Baldwin's new book "The Great Convergence" throws a clear light on the real nature of globalization...… https://t.co/cNEwi5YtXx
    about 11 months ago
  • RT @TheLaunchLab: The big day is here! Make your way to the Launchlab tonight for the water and waste idea pitching finale. #LLIdeas… https://t.co/JsrlIgW63x
    about 11 months ago
  • RT @Koi_Waves: "China’s $1 Trillion Plan to Shake Up the Economic Order" w/massive infrastructure projs across Asia Africa & Europ… https://t.co/h5rzUujyjZ
    about 11 months ago
  • RT @Koi_Education: "How Google Took Over the Classroom" fascinating https://t.co/hIBzLcJZop https://t.co/OxLGbeFieF
    about 11 months ago
  • RT @Koi_Economy: "Why Trumponomics won’t make America great again" - tech, not trade, is ravaging jobs in retail and mfgr in USA...… https://t.co/i6hk6zaE28
    about 11 months ago
  • RT @Koi_Waves: "The remarkable promise of cell-free biology" opens up whole new vistas for the production of food, fuel, pharma...… https://t.co/9xJa9putCW
    about 11 months ago
  • RT @Koi_Cities: "The Age of Spectacle" interesting new book on how cities have transformed to compete for investment and employment… https://t.co/ICXRoF5PhL
    about 11 months ago
  • RT @Koi_Agriculture: "#China is on a mission to modernize African farming". Helping, creating ties and space for Chinese agri players.… https://t.co/nTXqN9yXaW
    about 11 months ago