Coventry University Enterprises Ltd (CUE Ltd), the commercial
arm of Coventry University, today announced that it has been
selected to join the Microsoft BizSpark Program as a Network
Partner.
The BizSpark Program is a new global program designed to
accelerate the success of early stage Start-ups by connecting them
to Network Partners which are active members of the global software
ecosystem who can provide mentorship, guidance and resources to
BizSpark Start-ups.
Louise Marjoram, Senior Project Manager at the Institute of
Applied Entrepreneurship (IAE)*, CUE Ltd, who will be managing the
program said:
"It's exciting news that the IAE is now able to offer its
students, graduates, staff, and the community at large, access to
Microsoft Bizspark as part of its broad range of entrepreneurial
support and services for every level and stage of business start-up
and business growth.
"We believe it is a valuable resource that can make a huge
difference to early stage software development businesses breaking
down barriers, reducing costs and ultimately helping them grow. We
are now urging all software development companies from across the
region to get in contact and attend our launch event on 2 September
at the Technology Park to sign up to the Bizspark program."
The program will form part of the wider Innovation University
Enterprise Network (I-UEN) project that CUE Ltd are delivering on
behalf of the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurs (NCGE)
which is supporting growth businesses in creating, developing and
implementing business opportunities through open innovation and by
using and exploiting collaboration technologies.
The Bizspark project is committed to helping entrepreneurs to
transform their ambitions into sustainable, dynamic businesses and
to foster innovation and entrepreneurialism and as such, provides
Startups with software, support and visibility at a time when they
are most valuable and least affordable.
Software Economist for Microsoft, Lars Lindstedt,
said: "We're delighted to work with Coventry University
Enterprises to support software entrepreneurs in the region. It is
often from start-ups that the ideas that improve the way we live
and work emerge - but at the moment life is even harder for them
than at any time in the recent past. That's why we introduced the
BizSpark programme for software start-up companies.
"BizSpark is all about keeping costs down in the most difficult
time for new ventures, it's about giving them access to people who
can help to solve problems and it's about creating networks of
innovative businesses. It helps people with great ideas turn them
into reality. As one of our BizSpark Network Partners, Coventry
University Enterprises share our passion for software
entrepreneurship and we are working with them to reach as many
people as possible."
To be eligible for the Microsoft BizSpark Program, Startups must
be actively engaged in development of a software-based product or
service that is a core piece of their business model, have been in
business less than three years at the time of enrollment, and have
less than USD$1M in annual revenue. Start-ups may enrol for the
program by obtaining an enrollment code from Institute of Applied
Entrepreneurship.
To find out more about this project or the launch even on 2
September, contact Louise Marjoram on 024 7623 6001, 07974 984283
or at lmarjoram@cad.coventry.ac.uk