First Think Big Accelerator Class Accepted into Microsoft BizSpark Programs

With the announcement of its first accelerator on September 25, 2012, Think Big Partners and the Think Big Accelerator program have also been accepted into the BizSpark Plus Partner Program in addition to their role as a BizSpark Network Partner with Microsoft Corp.  

Think Big Accelerator is a 22-week program in the Midwest for tech-focused, early-stage startups interested in launching a business faster, smarter and stronger.  Think Big Accelerator focuses on technology-based businesses with consumer-facing services, software, web services, apps and supportive solutions. 

As a member of the BizSpark Plus program, Think Big Accelerator will now be able to grant its six inducted startups access to BizSpark Plus, which provides a higher level of Windows Azure cloud access, setting up each entrepreneur for success in the cloud.  Microsoft BizSpark will also provide the six startups in the Think Big Accelerator program with consulting, insight, mentorship and expertise.  With Windows Azure cloud and BizSpark available for Think Big Accelerator startups, the partnership will provide the entrepreneurs with the essential tools needed to build, store, and network when building a profitable startup. 

Headed by Think Big Partners co-founder, Herb Sih, the cooperation with Microsoft aims to foster the growth of Midwest entrepreneurship, create a strong portfolio of startup stories and companies, and to create more successful businesses and jobs in the central region of the United States. 

“We are excited to have Think Big Partners join our BizSpark Plus Partner Program,” said Mark Relph, Senior Director, Strategic and Emerging Business Team at Microsoft. “Think Big Accelerator startups have the potential to spur business growth in the Midwest. With Windows Azure, startups can save the cost of investing in IT infrastructure and only pay for technology resources as they use them.  We look forward providing member startups with access to technology, resources and business connections.”

"The partnership we have developed with Microsoft will not only benefit the startups involved with the Think Big Accelerator program, but will also help to strengthen the entire Kansas City startup community," said Herb Sih, co-founder of Think Big Partners. "We are excited to already provide Midwestern startups with the benefits of the Microsoft partnership, such as the Azure Cloud and Windows 8 App Kickstarts for developers.  This is a great partnership for our startups, the accelerator and Kansas City entrepreneurs." 

To learn more about Think Big Accelerator, please visit www.thinkbigpartners.com/accelerator.  

Think Big and Microsoft BizSpark Offer Startups $60,000 in Cloud Services on Windows Azure

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

Think Big Partners, a technology-focused startup accelerator and mentorship-based collaborative coworking space for entrepreneurs, and Microsoft BizSpark Plus have collaborated to offer startups $60,000 in cloud services on the new Windows Azure program.

BizSpark Plus is an extension of the Microsoft BizSpark program, designed to accelerate the success of startups around the world. The program works through select incubators and accelerators such as Think Big Partners to provide value-added products and services to high-potential startups. The BizSpark Plus package will provide startups up to $60,000 of compute and storage per startup for up to two years.

Microsoft BizSpark has selected Think Big Partners among 40 other incubators and accelerators to become a part of its BizSpark Plus Partners global network and will provide exceptional Microsoft offers to the high-growth startups undergoing the Think Big accelerator process. The 40 accelerators and incubators involved in this program have been chosen by Microsoft based on their ability to attract and work with world-class startups. Over time, Microsoft plans to extend additional offers to startups through the BizSpark Plus Partners.

"We are excited about this opportunity," said Herb Sih, Co-Founder of Think Big Partners. "Microsoft BizSpark is a valuable and proven technology solution for entrepreneurs and startups when they need it most. In addition, BizSpark Plus has given Think Big Partners the opportunity to be faster and smarter when it comes to building profitable companies."

Think Big Partners has worked with high-growth tech startups from across the nation that use cloud computing services. According to TechStars, cloud applications are driving the new startup ecosystem and provide startups the ability to drive user adoption, scale their businesses and generate financial returns faster than ever before. Windows Azure will offer a simple and powerful platform for the creation of Web applications and services.

By providing Windows Azure, Microsoft and Think Big Partners hope to help startups grow their businesses by offsetting cloud computing costs so that they can focus their efforts on other business challenges including research, development, investment and promotion. For more information about the BizSpark Plus program, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/plus.

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