14 DAY TRIAL // Over 37,000 startups Network partners has embraced Microsoft BizSpark, and excellent initiative from the software giant designed to deliver free technical resources to nascent companies to help them spark their business.
“After two years, BizSpark has enrolled over 35,000 startups and 2,000 Network Partners, and the response to the program has been extremely positive. These startups are often early adopters of our technology, so helping them also helps us understand what these innovators really need from us,” revealed S. Somasegar, Senior Vice President, Developer Division.
Debuted in November 2008, the BizSpark program was designed to have a lifespan of three years for each startup accessing free software solutions from the Redmond company.
No less than 12,000 companies had joined BizSpark ahead of the end of May 2009, and some of them are already entering their third and final year of the program.
Microsoft has thought ahead, and come November 2011 the company will launch the BizSpark Graduation Offer, which Somasegar announced on November 4th, 2010.
“The BizSpark Graduation Offer allows BizSpark startups to keep, at no charge, all the software they acquired through the BizSpark program. They also have an option to purchase a subscription or maintenance program so they can stay up-to-date when future releases are available,” he explained.
By mid-2009 the number of startups taking advantage of BizSpark had grown to over 15,000, and it has more than doubled since.
Although the majority of the members of BizSpark are still far away from completing their three years with the program, they should nonetheless have a look at the Graduation Offer and plan ahead.
Somasegar revealed that companies exiting the program after three years will no longer have to pay $100. And there are additional offerings on the table for them, such as:
“Startups can renew their MSDN subscriptions at any level, starting at $935 per developer for two years. MSDN renewals also include Windows Azure benefits.
“Startups can purchase the first two years of Microsoft Software Assurance at a 50% discount. Microsoft Software Assurance provides upgrades and ongoing maintenance for server licenses.”
Companies that leverage the graduation offer will be able to make all their MSDN Ultimate licenses from BizSpark perpetual.
This means that the entire collection of software tools will continue to be available to them, for development purposes and in testing environments.
“If startups want to keep that software updated and get ongoing MSDN support, they can choose to renew at any level,” Somasegar added.
“Graduating startups also have perpetual rights to all of their Windows and SQL Server production licenses. If they want to keep that software current, startups can purchase a two-year subscription to Microsoft Software Assurance at a 50% discount for the first two years.”