Desafio Brasil 2010 has released a list of the 130 60 competitors who have made it to the next round. Of the 160 applicants, 30 did not satisfy the requirements. The next step of the process is mentoring, which run during July. Read more…
This week I attended Microsoft’s national conference for managers of Brazilian MIC’s (Microsoft Innovation Centers) that was held at the Centro Universitario Senac Santo Amaro in São Paulo. The focus of the gathering was a two-day symposium led by Malcom Fraser, CEO of the International Institute for Software Economics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
While at the symposium I caught up with Silvia Valadares, national director for Microsoft SOL (Startups On Line) program (and the majority of Brazilian MICs) and with the director for emerging markets and world-wide director of Microsoft’s Local Software Economy, Juliano Tubino (photo). Read more…
The morning of November 18th marked an event co-sponsored by Startupi, The Hub São Paulo and Microsoft SOL (Startups OnLine). The program included speakers on the subject of management support and access to credit for startups, and was part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (organized by the Endeavor Institute). The slogan for Global Entrepreneurship Week: Make It Happen! (Bota pra fazer!)
At this event Microsoft announced BizSpark One, a new addition to their program supporting software entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs and investors talked about information technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, management support and access to credit. Read more…
Imagine a world where technology helps solve the world’s toughest problems. This was the theme of the Imagine Cup 2009, an international competition for technology students. Imagine, too, that among over 300,000 competitors from 142 countries, five Brazilian teams won four of the nine official categories, plus three of the ten special prizes. Brazil was on top of the world in this year’s edition of the event. Check out the winning teams and their projects. Read more…
This is interesting. On Friday I went to Microsoft at the invitation of Galileu Vieira, Director of New Technologies, to get to know Microsoft SOL, SOL being “Startups On-Line.” The program, also known as BizSpark, is designed to diminish the barriers to entry for small entrepreneurs in the software market.
I spoke to Sílvia Valadares, recently arrived in São Paulo, formerly of Porto Digital and now working exclusively with SOL. The program offers eligible startups free licenses for practically all the software of the Redmond giant, support in the MSDN network, and visibility to investors and institutions who encourage new business, such as Sebrae, Endeavor and Porto Digital.
Eligibility is not complicated. One needs to be a software business up to 3 years old and revenue of less than R$1.2 million. I asked if being a startup that works with open-source software was a problem. The response was that there is no barrier; we are talking about a program to draw attention to Microsoft’s new technologies, but these are compatible with other methods.
In Brazil, the program includes training and support on both the technical and business sides, as well as mentoring. Through this process several startups are chosen annually to present at the international Microsoft SOL/ BizSpark event.
The idea of running an incubator is interesting. Microsoft more or less developed out of startup culture. By reducing barriers to entry, the Redmond giant returns to its origins by encouraging new ideas. Or not.
Some see this initiative as a threat to open-source. Startups in general begin without much funding and are pulled in the direction of open-source solutions. Microsoft SOL could provide a means to change that tendency. Or not.
Nevertheless it is an praiseworthy initiative. It went global in the last month and already has nearly 100 businesses enrolled in Brazil. It remains to be seen whether the results will be positive.
