Microsoft Ventures opens applications for Spring 2014 Batch

Microsoft India has announced the opening of applications for the fourth batch of Microsoft Ventures Accelerator program in Bangalore, India. The registration has opened from October 1 and is valid till November 15. Microsoft Ventures Accelerator is a key part of Microsoft Ventures, Microsoft’s three-pronged initiative to offer startups a single point of entry to engage with Microsoft through a broad based and holistic approach.

Shortlisted companies will be informed by November 25, and invited for a face-to-face session with a jury panel on December 13. The final list of start-ups, which will make it to the summer batch of calendar year 2014, will be informed by December 20, 2013. The four-month acceleration process at the state of the art Microsoft office in downtown Bangalore will begin on January 22, 2014 and end with a Demo Day in May 2014 when the start ups will showcase their ideas to the key industry influentials, top angel investors and VCs.

Ravi Narayan, Director, Microsoft Ventures in India, said, We are looking for exceptional entrepreneurs who are building companies for India and global markets. Our network of about 150 mentors along with our vast network of partners will prove very beneficial to any start-up looking to make it big in Cloud, internet, mobile and data analytics technologies.

Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in India is currently hosting its third batch of start-ups, with 80% of the 22 companies who have graduated over the last two batches already having received funding. The winter batch of 2013, which is also the current batch of start-ups being accelerated at the facility, will graduate on November 29, 2013.