14 DAY TRIAL // In excess of 12,000 companies worldwide have already embraced the Microsoft BizSpark program, the Redmond giant has revealed. Out of the total number of companies that have jumped at the chance to take advantage of the offerings provided via BizSpark almost 3,500 are from Europe. And the number is bound to increase, as Microsoft signed new BizSpark Network Partners at the 6th Annual European Investor Summit. The software giant's startup-centric program has been joined by HSBC as a global partner and BT Business as a UK-based partner.
“More than 12,000 companies worldwide are benefiting from the BizSpark program – with more than 1,300 Network Partners in 82 countries offering the program to their own networks and delivering more value to young software companies,” stated Dan’l Lewin, corporate vice president, Strategic and Emerging Business, Microsoft. “In Europe, we have seen in excess of 3,400 companies join the BizSpark program through more than 500 Network Partners so there is clearly a huge amount of innovation coming out of Europe that needs funding.”
Lewin applauded the new BizSpark partners and indicated that the collaboration with HSBC and BT Business represented a chance for Microsoft to fuel innovation and growth for European companies. The BizSpark program was introduced in November 2008. At that time, the software giant emphasized that it was vital for startups to access the technological resources necessary to drive success in the early stages of their business. In this regard, the program offers companies software and support with no upfront costs.
"The technology sector is extremely important to HSBC and accounted for a significant proportion of our start ups within the last year. In the current economic climate, we are constantly looking for new ways to support our startups and HSBC's participation in the Microsoft BizSpark programme demonstrates our commitment, by providing a crucial business sector with access to software, support and exposure designed to accelerate their success in a challenging time," added Amanda Rendle, head of Marketing Commercial Banking Global at HSBC.