Microsoft BizSpark, is a global program designed to help accelerate the success of early stage software Startups. BizSpark, announced in November of 2008, has signed up over 12,000 startups in just 6 months. BizSpark is world wide, and now includes over 1,300 Network Partners in 82 countries who can offer the program directly to startups.
Some of the active network partners are Seedcamp, Thefunded.com, 47hats, TiE, SoftLine, Senac Sao Paulo, Mashable, Startups.ro, China Business Angel Network, etc. These and other BizSpark Network Partners can offer the program directly to startups.
BizSpark hosting partners like RackSpace, Peer1, GoGrid or Navisite, are also significantly driving enrollments and helping startups to get hosting service with a significant discount. The List of BizSpark hosting partners keep growing and we recently announced that GoDaddy just joined the program.
BizSpark provides Visual Studio, development tools, Windows Server, SQL Server, SharePoint, an MSDN subscription, and lots more. A more complete list can be found on the BizSpark site.
BizSpark is a global program. The USA is obviously the largest source of startups, but Brazil, Russia, India, and China are also enrolling lots of startups.
BizSpark is for startups building software products or services. The startups must be a private company, less than 3 years old, and have less than $1M in annual revenues. Startups can stay in the program as long as they qualify, up to 3 years. After 3 years they pay a $100 lump sum fee.
See the BizSpark site to learn more, or find a Network Partner to sign you up. You can also contact me directly to get into the program.