The Microsoft BizSpark Program

May 15, 2009 - Microsoft names Propel Wisconsin Innovation a BizSpark partner - Press Release

Microsoft's BizSpark program provides eligible startups with a wide array of software to help them get off the ground. For more information about the program, please see http://www.microsoft.com/BizSpark/. For a more complete listing of software available to startups, see http://www.microsoftstartupzone.com/Software/Pages/Products_at_a_glance.aspx.

To enroll in the program, please contact Henry Sanders at sanders@propelwi.com or Dale Beermann at beermann@propelwi.com.

Startup Eligibility Requirements
An eligible startup must have the following characteristics at the time of joining:

• Actively engaged in development of a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of its current or intended business,
• Privately held,
• In business for less than 3 years2, and
• Less than US $1 million in annual revenue

To be eligible to use the software for production and deployment of hosted solutions, startups must also be developing a new “software as a service” solution (on any platform) to be delivered over the Internet.

Term
Startups can participate in BizSpark for up to 3 years. On the first and second anniversary of initial enrollment, they must update their enrollment (e.g., confirm they haven’t gone public and their ownership hasn’t changed).

Fee
A USD $100 program offering fee is due when the Startup exits the Program. As part of Microsoft’s commitment to Startup success, there are no initial costs for Startups to join BizSpark.

Technology offering
The BizSpark technology offering to Startups currently includes:

• Design, development, testing and demonstrations rights with regard to:

• All the software included in the Visual Studio Team System Team Suite (VSTS) with MSDN Premium subscription  Expression Studio (Version 2) VSTS Team Foundation Server (Standard Edition)

• Production Use rights to host a “software as a service” solution (developed by the startup during their participation, on any platform) over the Internet, with regard to products including: Windows Server (all versions up to and including Enterprise); SQL Server (all versions); Office SharePoint Server; Systems Center, and BizTalk Server