Microsoft Ventures enters China market

Microsoft Ventures, an integrated platform unifying Microsoft's three existing VC investment programs including BizSpark, Accelerator program and Bing Fund, was formed last month.

Microsoft Ventures China will continue the existing programs' strategy of supporting entrepreneurs, Weiqian Lin, representative at Microsoft Ventures China, told local media.

Initiated in 2008, BizSpark allows a wide range of start-ups access to Microsoft tools and technologies, including Windows and Office, Visual Studio and Windows Azure.

Selected applicants then get access to business mentors, technical and design experts, development tools and key resources under Microsoft's Accelerator project, with a view to helping them turn business plans into businesses.

Bing Fund, which launched last year, is the third arm of the accelerator, providing capital for entrepreneurs to expand their nascent businesses.

To qualify for Microsoft funding, start-ups should have a viable product with demonstrated customer traction, a full-time founding team, or alignment to Microsoft domain expertise, including enterprise software, big data, security, artificial intelligence, advertising, gaming, SaaS and cloud services.

More than 75,000 start-ups from over 100 countries have so far received access to tools and resources through BizSpark. Along with Microsoft-owned and operated accelerators currently in Bangalore, Beijing, Paris, Seattle and Tel-Aviv, it is looking to expand further locations including Berlin, Moscow and Rio de Janeiro.

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• Topics
• Greater China
• Venture
• Technology
• Early-stage
• China
• Venture
• TMT
• seed