Microsoft launches project for Filipino software start-ups

MANILA, Philippines - Microsoft Philippines recently launched BizSpark, a program that intends to provide development tools to Filipino software start-up companies at no upfront cost. The project’s beneficiaries will be identified by Microsoft’s local partners such as the the Commission of Information and Communications Technology (CICT), the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), the newly-formed National ICT Conference of the Philippines (NICP), and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines. BizSpark, which has a student counterpart program called DreamSpark, is intended to give local start-ups free access to Microsoft development tools and production licenses of server products. Selected small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) benefiting from the project will only be required to pay a $100 fee after successfully completing the three-year program, Jay Joson, developer platform evangelist at Microsoft Philippines. “That’s just a small amount compared to the huge business opportunity that will be opened to them," said Joson, who added that technical support as well as “community network" will also be extended to the small firms. The program targets to accept at least 80 applicants, Microsoft Philippines managing director Rafael “Pepeng" Rollan said. “I think that’s very achievable considering there were 20 new start-ups joining the program every day when it was launched in other countries," he said. Selected start-ups can also use Microsoft’s Innovation Centers located in Metro Manila. “That way, they can operate almost without cost," he said. The BizSpark program is available to all privately held companies and individuals building a software-based product or service who have been in business less than three years and have less than $1 million in revenue. For startups building hosted software, BizSpark includes production licenses for the application and management servers including Windows Server, SQL Server, SharePoint Portal Server, Biztalk Server and Systems Center, with Dynamics CRM to be added soon. Finally, startups will have the opportunity to be profiled and promoted on the BizsparkDB, an online startup directory, where promising startups from around the world are highlighted and promoted every day. - GMANews.TV