Microsoft is the latest international giant to join forces with London’ s Tech City cluster with a new start up program focusing on gaming and technology companies. It’ s the latest high profile recruitment to the fastest growing tech cluster in Europe, with over 3,000 companies located in one area boasting names such as Intel, Cisco and Google, among others.
The Microsoft Ventures Accelerator will provide technology founders and entrepreneurs with the opportunity to cultivate their businesses efficiently through easy access to investors and mentors within the tech community along with the company’s network of contacts in the field. It serves as a strategic partner for promising startups around the world focused on business growth and customer development and has assisted 119 companies throughout the world and, to date, 85% have received funding straightaway or within six months.
The Accelerator in London is the latest to be announced as part of their world expansion effort of 10 such ‘incubators’ that are schedules to open. It is open to startups at seed stage focused on pursuing their vision full-time. Its members gain from becoming parts of BizSpark, which offers access to three years of free software, support and visibility, as well as a fast track onto BizSpark Plus.
London’s TechCity is Europe’s leading technology cluster and large and medium-sized technology companies have joined it in order to tap into its world class cluster of skills, advisory services and links to leading educational establishments. London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s promotional organization that builds and delivers value to business, students and visitors, has collaborated with Microsoft to support their initiative and provided assistance in setting up the mentor program. The program will initially be held at the business hub Central Working in Shoreditch and will consist of a 12 week program supported by a range of established businesses and organizations, including the London Business School, financial institutions experts, professional services firms and established technology companies.
Anand Krishnan, General Manager, Developer and Platform Group, Microsoft Limited said: “If you’ re a technology or gaming startup with a great team, a great idea and an unfaltering belief in what you do, you are the perfect candidate for the Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in London. […] Microsoft is committed to helping startups grow their business by providing access to our ecosystem of partners and routes-to-market.”
Gordon Innes, CEO, London & Partners added: “London & Partners have been delighted to support Microsoft in the establishment of its Venture Accelerator and it will help deliver a huge contribution to London by directly supporting entrepreneurs and giving them access to world class mentoring, professional expertise and access to venture capital funding. The continued growth of London’ s tech cluster is a major priority for the Mayor of London and we at London & Partners look forward to working on increasing the number of jobs and investment into the sector”.
